Owing to shorter stays and difficulties in learning Finnish, many expats choose to send their children to international schools in Helsinki. The biggest advantage of these schools is that they allow students to continue studying a curriculum they’re familiar with, often in their home language.
International schools in Helsinki also offer extracurricular programmes aimed at well-rounded student development. These institutions are often fairly pricey, but the rigorous academic standards and excellent facilities tend to justify the expense.
Parents looking to enrol their children in international schools should be mindful of the school’s distance from their homes and workplaces, as a long commute can be inconvenient. That said, some schools will offer bus and lunch services, often at an additional cost.
International schools can be difficult to get into, so parents should plan well in advance and contact the schools directly for a full list of entrance requirements. Parents should ensure they have their children’s academic and medical records ready and that they help prepare their children for any admission examinations the school may require.
Below is a list of some of the top international schools in Helsinki.
International schools in Helsinki
Deutsche Schule Helsinki
The Deutsche Schule Helsinki offers students the opportunity to learn both the German and Finnish languages and cultures in a small group setting. Established in 1881, it is the oldest international school in Helsinki. The school offers German and German-Finnish streams to its roughly 700 students and places equal emphasis on academic success and personal development.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: German
Age: 3 to 18
Website: www.dsh.fi
École Française Jules Verne
École Française Jules Verne is a small French-curriculum school that prides itself on providing individualised education. It is part of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), the world’s largest network of French schools abroad. More than 10 nationalities are represented in the student body, and instruction is in French and English. The school has partnerships with the European School of Helsinki and the French Finnish School of Helsinki. Families who live in the city can therefore continue their children’s education at any of these institutions.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: French
Age: 2 to 10
Website: www.ecolejulesverne.fi
The English School
The English School offers the Finnish Core Curriculum. Its approach centres on phenomenon-based learning, which enables students to make real-world connections to the theory they study. As a bilingual school, the English School is home to about 700 students who are provided with a motivating learning environment where academic excellence is the priority.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: Finnish
Age: 5 to 19
Website: www.engs.fi
The International School of Helsinki
The International School of Helsinki (ISH) is a truly globally minded school whose mission is to develop students’ unique talents through individualised learning. Around 500 students from more than 50 nationalities attend the school. ISH became Finland’s first fully IB-accredited school in 2005 and holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). The school has a technology programme integrated with its IB curriculum to inculcate key digital skills in students. ISH’s pedagogical approach is based on inquiry-based and student-centred learning. The goal is to develop lifelong learners.
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Age: 4 to 19
Website: www.ishelsinki.fi