The Best International Schools in Finland

Published on January 29, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Choosing a school for your children is already a headache in your home country. Doing it abroad adds an extra layer of complexity. In Finland, the situation is paradoxical: the public system is renowned as one of the best in the world, but demand for international schools has never been higher. Expatriate families, Finns returning from abroad, parents anticipating higher education outside the country… all are seeking the right balance between local integration and continuity of an international path.

A very international school landscape, in a very Finnish country

The first thing to understand is that international schools in Finland do not form a homogeneous block. Some are private schools with high tuition fees, others are completely free municipal schools. Some follow exclusively the IB, others let the Finnish curriculum coexist with an international or bilingual track, and others still apply French or German programs under the auspices of networks like AEFE.

The table below provides an overview of the main Finnish cities with structured international or bilingual schools.

Beyond the structures, the Finnish context plays a key role. The country boasts a 100% literacy rate, a strong attachment to reading, teachers all holding a master’s degree, and an educational philosophy focused on equality, teacher autonomy, and very limited evaluative pressure. International schools build on this foundation: even when they follow a foreign program, they benefit from the Finnish regulatory framework (safety, well-being, school health services, psychological support, etc.).

Understanding the different profiles of international schools

Behind the “international” label, we actually find three main models of schools, which coexist in Finland and which it is crucial to distinguish before making a choice.

1. Private IB schools, 100% international

These institutions, like the International School of Helsinki (ISH), embody the classic model of international schools attended by expatriate families. They are private, tuition-based, entirely English-speaking, and welcome a very diverse student body, with dozens of nationalities represented.

At the International School of Helsinki, for example, more than 40 nationalities coexist. Founded in 1963, the institution is a complete IB World School: IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) from preschool through high school. The school is accredited by NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), and recognized by the Finnish Ministry of Education. This double (or even triple) accreditation ensures the diploma is accepted both in Europe and North America.

The typical characteristics of these schools:

ISH also illustrates the level of resources: approximately one teacher for five students, a purpose-built campus with science labs, library, gymnasium, sports fields, a three-season sports and cultural activities program, etc.

2. Public international or bilingual schools

The second major category includes municipal schools that offer instruction in English (or bilingually) based on the Finnish curriculum, sometimes linked with IB programs (especially PYP and MYP).

These schools are free, but very selective upon entry, with language or aptitude tests. They primarily cater to children whose family language is English or who are returning from abroad, but also to Finnish families wanting to offer a bilingual path for their children.

Among the most representative examples:

In Helsinki, several neighborhood schools (Maunula, Kulosaari, Ressu) offer bilingual sections or free IB tracks. Access is through English aptitude tests, often organized once or twice a year.

The common feature of these structures: they blend the Finnish DNA (equality, pedagogical support, well-being services, guidance by certified teachers) with an English or bilingual curriculum, making them particularly attractive options for families who want both strong local integration and an international horizon.

3. Schools with a foreign national curriculum

Finally, a third group of schools focuses on a foreign educational system while being physically in Finland. The most visible are:

– The French Jules Verne School in Helsinki and École Areva MLF in Rauma, both part of the French AEFE network, applying the curriculum of the French Ministry of Education, from preschool to high school.

– The Helsinki French-Finnish School, a state school with a specific mission, strongly oriented towards multilingualism.

– Deutsche Schule Helsinki, a private German school, in German, leading to the Reifeprüfung.

– Finnish-Russian schools (in Helsinki and Eastern Finland), with bilingual Finnish-Russian instruction from preschool to secondary school.

These schools are particularly relevant for French-speaking, German-speaking, or Russian-speaking families planning a return to their home system or who want to preserve strict curriculum continuity. Thanks to the AEFE networks or the recognition of the Reifeprüfung, a student can, for example, enter a high school in France without an entrance exam if they come from an accredited French school in Finland.

Focus on Helsinki: the heart of the international network

The capital concentrates the country’s largest offering of international schools. It has almost all the models described above, from private IB to municipal bilingual school, including Franco-Finnish high schools and the Deutsche Schule.

International School of Helsinki: the private IB reference

The International School of Helsinki holds a special place in the landscape. Founded in 1963, recognized as the first school in Finland authorized to offer all three IB programs, it is often perceived by expatriates as “the” true international school of the country. Its operation resembles that of major international schools in Geneva, Brussels, or Singapore, with governance by a Board of Governors elected by the parent association, a student-centered pedagogy, and a resolutely cosmopolitan environment.

Ressu Comprehensive School: public IB in the heart of Helsinki

At the other end of the spectrum, Ressu Comprehensive School shows how the Finnish public system has appropriated the IB. This municipal school offers PYP for grades 1‑4 and MYP for grades 5‑9, while applying the Finnish curriculum for all students. The English-language classes are accessible after an aptitude test, but schooling is free.

Ressu welcomes students of 38 nationalities, has two full-time specialized teachers for special educational needs, and has a tradition of over 120 years. For many families, it’s a way to get a “Finnish IB” without going through the fee-paying private sector.

Bilingual tracks: Kulosaari, Maunula, The English School, and others

Helsinki is home to several schools where English shares the spotlight with Finnish:

In addition, there are The French Jules Verne School, the Helsinki French-Finnish School, the Deutsche Schule, and the Finnish-Russian School, each embodying a bridge between Finland and France, Germany, and Russia respectively.

A comparative table helps visualize the diversity of Helsinki.

For a parent, the challenge is to clarify their project: are they seeking immersion in the Finnish system with an English bonus, or continuity of a foreign curriculum (French, German), or a full IB in English to prepare for studies anywhere in the world? Helsinki allows for all three scenarios.

Espoo and Vantaa: strong public alternatives west and north of Helsinki

In the greater capital region, Espoo and Vantaa offer very attractive public solutions for international families, particularly for elementary and middle school.

Espoo International School: the model of the municipal school in English

Espoo International School welcomes students from grade 1 to grade 9. Instruction is in English, within the framework of the Finnish curriculum, with an IB Middle Years Programme for grades 7‑9. The school is free; admission is reserved for children whose family language is English or who have a sufficient level of English.

The IB high schools of Espoo: Etelä-Tapiolan Lukio and Mattlidens Gymnasium

For upper secondary education, Espoo is home to two reference schools:

– Etelä-Tapiolan Lukio (ETIS): general high school where one can follow either the Finnish program (in Finnish), or the IB Diploma Programme (in English). The school emphasizes social sciences, culture, entrepreneurship, and the arts.

– Mattlidens Gymnasium: Swedish-language high school with an IB section in English. It prepares students for both the Finnish matriculation examination and the IB diploma, and organizes certifications in French (DELF) and German (DSD).

International School of Vantaa: a gateway for families from the northern suburbs

In Vantaa, the International School of Vantaa (ISV) offers instruction in English for grades 1 to 9. The curriculum is based on the Finnish national framework, but adapted for an international population, with thematic teaching and the introduction of additional foreign languages (French, Spanish, German from grade 4, mandatory Swedish from grade 6).

Admission is based on a written and/or oral assessment in English, with priority given to children residing in Vantaa. The school focuses on developing the competence to function in international environments, while placing student well-being at the heart of its mission.

International schools from Rovaniemi to Turku: a national network

One of Finland’s strengths is that the offer of international education is not limited to the capital. Even medium-sized cities have public schools in English or IB high schools, facilitating family mobility within the country.

Oulu International School: IB PYP and MYP in the north

In Oulu, a major city in the northwest, Oulu International School is a municipal IB World School, offering PYP and MYP. The school follows both the Finnish national curriculum and IB guidelines. Instruction is in English, but with enhanced support: coordinator for special educational needs, school psychologist, extracurricular clubs (chess, theater…).

This structure is particularly suitable for families wanting an IB from elementary school, while benefiting from the free tuition and Finnish public services.

Pori and Rauma: English and French on the west coast

In Pori, Cygnaeus School offers kindergarten and elementary school in English (grades 1‑6), based on the Finnish curriculum, with English as the language of schooling and options in French and German. An entrance test verifies the student’s ability to learn in this language.

A bit further south, in Rauma, École Areva MLF de Rauma, part of AEFE, applies the French curriculum from preschool to high school. For children from French-speaking or Francophile families, it’s a way to have a “French” high school in the heart of Finland, with the subsequent possibility to easily integrate any other AEFE school in the world.

Rovaniemi and IB at the gates of Lapland

In Rovaniemi, Lyseonpuiston Lukio, a general high school, offers both the national program in Finnish and an IB Diploma Programme section in English. The IB is organized over three years: a preparatory “preDP” class followed by IB1 and IB2, which concludes with the IB international exams. Access is via an entrance test in the spring.

South Karelia IB World School: an IB high school for Imatra and Lappeenranta

In the South Karelia region, the regional IB World School operates on two sites, Imatra and Lappeenranta, with a shared IB Diploma Programme. This setup illustrates the Finnish choice to pool IB resources in less densely populated areas, in order to still offer an international diploma to high school students in the provinces.

Tampere and Turku: two metropolises, two international hubs

In Tampere, the Finnish International School of Tampere (FISTA) welcomes students from grade 1 to 9 in English, for children in the region whose native language is English (or who have a good level). Language proficiency tests are organized in February.

In Turku, Turku International School offers a continuum from elementary to upper secondary school. The elementary (1‑4) and secondary (5‑9) levels rely on the national curriculum, enriched by ideas from PYP and MYP, while the high school is structured around the Diploma Programme. The school is intended for children born abroad, returning Finns, and Finnish students proficient in English.

A summary table synthesizes these offerings outside the capital region.

IB, national programs, bilingualism: how to choose?

When selecting a school, families are quickly confronted with a forest of acronyms: IB PYP, MYP, DP, EB, Reifeprüfung, national curriculum, Cambridge, etc. In Finland, the International Baccalaureate holds a central place: the country has about twenty IB World Schools, including 17 “Finnish” IB schools (mostly public high schools) and a few private international schools.

In parallel, French programs (via AEFE) or German programs (Deutsche Schule Helsinki) ensure perfect compatibility with home educational systems. Finally, Finnish-English or Finnish-Russian bilingual tracks allow for maximum integration into Finnish society while guaranteeing a high level in an international language.

To summarize, the trade-off is often between three priorities:

– deep integration into Finnish society (local or bilingual school, Finnish curriculum)

– continuity of a foreign program (AEFE, Deutsche Schule, etc.)

– global portability (IB in a truly international school)

The family’s project profile (planned duration in Finland, possible future moves, languages spoken at home, educational ambitions) should guide this choice.

Admissions, tests, and selectivity: what to anticipate

One of Finland’s paradoxes is that, in a very egalitarian public system, public international and bilingual schools quickly become highly sought-after “gems.” Unlike local Finnish neighborhood schools, where zoning is primary, these institutions often practice selective entry.

In English-language or bilingual municipal schools (Espoo International School, ISV, FISTA, Maunula, Kulosaari, Ressu, Cygnaeus in Pori, etc.), the common rules are as follows:

In IB high schools, an entrance exam is the norm. It may include:

– a mathematics test

– an essay in English

– sometimes science tests or an interview

The previous academic record is also taken into account, with particular weight sometimes given to grades in mathematics and English in calculating the base average (this is the case at Etelä-Tapiolan Lukio).

Finally, in schools with foreign programs (AEFE, Deutsche Schule), admission can combine linguistic criteria, priorities granted to nationals of the sponsoring country (children of French families at Jules Verne, for example), and entrance tests.

Tuition fees: from free to very expensive

One of Finland’s major attractions for foreign families is the quality of free public schools. All municipal schools – including the international or bilingual schools listed above – do not charge tuition fees. This includes:

– Espoo International School

– International School of Vantaa

– Oulu International School

– Finnish International School of Tampere

– Turku International School

– Ressu Comprehensive School

– Maunula, Kulosaari, Cygnaeus (English section), etc.

This contrast creates a significant divide in access to certain structures, even though public aid or employer contributions can partially compensate, especially for families employed by multinationals or international institutions.

Well-being, support, and activities: the Finnish “plus”

Regardless of the type of school, students in Finland benefit from a supportive environment that goes far beyond the academic framework alone. Finnish law requires the organization of school well-being services in every institution: school nurse, psychologist, social worker, guidance counselor, specialized teachers, multidisciplinary teams for individual or group follow-up.

Extracurricular activities play a central role in this holistic approach. In the best Finnish international schools, you’ll find:

– varied sports (basketball, track and field, winter sports, martial arts…)

– science clubs, robotics, coding

– music, visual arts, theater

– debates, Model United Nations, European Youth Parliament

– language clubs, cooking, ecology, volunteering

This extracurricular buzz is not a simple bonus: it is an integral part of the Finnish educational philosophy, which sees school as a place for socialization, well-being, and overall development, not just an exam factory.

Families’ dilemmas: Finnish school or international school?

However, expatriate forums and parent testimonials show that choosing a school in Finland can be a source of questioning, even regret. Some parents recount, after several years, that they would have preferred to enroll their children in an ordinary Finnish school rather than an international one, for better mastery of Finnish and deeper integration.

The arguments in favor of “classic” Finnish schools are well known:

– very high average level

– low disparity between the best and weakest students

– strong focus on well-being, anti-bullying, individualization

– complete free tuition, hot meals included

– complete immersion in Finnish language and culture

In contrast, international schools bring to the table:

In practice, many families opt for a compromise: Finnish school with a strong foreign language in elementary school, then IB high school in secondary; or an international school for a few years, then switch to the Finnish system when the stay becomes permanent.

The good news is that in Finland, most of these bridges really exist: the system is flexible enough that a student can, with adequate support, move from an international school to a national high school, or vice versa.

How to navigate concretely?

Faced with the richness of the offer, a structured approach helps clarify the options. Without making an exhaustive list, several steps emerge from observed practices on the ground:

First, clarify the family project: probable length of stay, level of Finnish (or Swedish) of parents and children, possible return to the home country, university ambitions. A family destined to move frequently will not have the same priorities as one wanting to settle permanently in Helsinki or Tampere.

Then, look closely at admission conditions: language tests, geographical priorities, registration calendar. Many schools organize assessments at the beginning of the calendar year for an autumn start; families arriving mid-year must inquire about possibilities for integration outside the normal cycle.

Finally, consider practical and financial aspects: distance from home to school, tuition fees (if applicable), transportation cost, but also the “opportunity cost” of a more or less strong integration into Finnish society.

What the best Finnish international schools have in common

While profiles vary greatly from one school to another, institutions considered the “best international schools in Finland” share a core of characteristics that explain their appeal:

In a country where 90% of adults speak at least some English, where equity and excellence are equally valued, and where trust in teachers is almost total, these international schools constitute less an alternative to the Finnish system than one of its variants. For foreign families, it’s a rare opportunity: to benefit from one of the best educational systems in the world, while maintaining a clear international path for their children.

Cyril Jarnias

Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.

On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.

Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.

Find me on social media: