General upper secondary education in Vantaa

Strengths of Vantaa general upper secondary schools

General upper secondary schools in Vantaa are attractive, international, multicultural and innovative educational institutes that constantly strive to develop their operations.

• An extensive range of courses and an opportunity to study several different languages.
• Opportunity to specialise in areas such as sports, theatre, natural sciences or media studies.
• The general upper secondary schools have their own focus areas, such as the English-speaking International Baccalaureate institute and the music and dance-focused upper secondary school.
• Versatile use of information and communications technology.
• Good opportunities for taking part in international visits and projects.
• The student government boards have an active part in the development of the institutes.
• Great transport connections.
• Innovative and student-oriented operational culture that puts focus on wellbeing.
• Learning environments built on long-term development. If you would like to learn more about the joint development of learning environments by the Vantaa general upper secondary schools, take a look at the publication created through the projects Tiloista oppimisen ympäristöiksi (‘From premises to learning environments’) and Tilat haltuun (‘Taking over premises’). 

Studying in a general upper secondary school

• The scope of syllabus is three years but can also be completed in at most four years. 

• The studies comprise at least 150 study credits, 2/3 of which from mandatory courses and the rest from elective subjects. Studies in general upper secondary school comprise study periods.  

• These study periods can range from one to several study credits and include content from just one or several subjects.  

• One school year is divided into five periods. One period usually lasts seven weeks and comprises around 12 study credits.  

• At the end of the general upper secondary school, the students will take a matriculation examination, completing at least five subjects. The examinations can be retaken an unlimited number of times. 

The lessons are usually held between 8.15 and 16.15. Lessons of several different subjects are held during regular days. The studies also include independent working, in addition to the lessons.

The amount of work during a period varies depending on the elected study courses. There is a ‘double week’ between the periods with a different timetable; during this week, the day’s studies only comprise two study units. This allows for various visits and more detailed studies about a certain theme or subject. An individual study unit can also end during the double week.

Finally, every period ends with a closing week with exams or other final assignments related to the ending study period.

General upper secondary schools offer studies mainly in the areas of mother tongue and literature, foreign languages, mathematics and natural sciences (e.g. mathematics and biology), humanities and social sciences (such as history), art and physical education (such as music), and guidance counselling and thematic studies.

A central part of both subject-specific and shared studies are the different areas of transversal competence. All general upper secondary school studies strive to reach the goals of transversal competence. The different areas of transversal competence comprise wellbeing competence, social and interactive skills, multidisciplinary and creative competence, social competence, ethicality and environmental competence and global and culture competence.

The student will receive guidance related to their studies and further studies based on their personal needs. A personal study plan will be compiled for each student at the start of their studies, and this will be updated regularly as the studies progressed. In the future, also students who have dropped out or have graduated but did not find a place in further education are entitled to receive guidance from their general upper secondary school for one year after their studies have ended.