Study in Kainuu!

In practice, all education in Finland is financed from tax revenue, and the system therefore offers everyone equal opportunities to study. Teachers are highly trained, with university-level degrees and their profession is held in high regard.

You may learn more about the Finnish education system for example following the links to the pages of:

• Finnish National Agency for Education
• Ministry of Education and Culture
• Discover Finland’s higher education at https://www.studyinfinland.fi/

On this page, we aim to give you a general view on schools and education in Kainuu region and to provide links to additional English information as available.

City of Kajaani/ International Info has also produced a comprehensive English introduction to early childhood care and compulsory schooling in Finland and in Kainuu. You’ll find the video on their You Tube channel.

Finnish municipalities are responsible for arranging education for all 6 – 15 years old (this includes pre-primary education). All the eight municipalities in Kainuu provide basic education according to national guidelines in their own comprehensive schools, which are listed below.

Our comprehensive schools mainly offer education in Finnish, but in Kajaani there also are some classes that are taught 50% in Finnish and 50% in English. There also is some support available to upkeep the mother tongue of students who don’t speak Finnish as their first language.

General upper secondary education (senior high schools) provides students with extensive general knowledge and the readiness to begin further studies. At the completion of general upper secondary school studies, students take the Finnish national matriculation examination.

As basic education, also the general upper secondary education is free of charge.

There is something interesting for everyone in the offerings of our nationally and internationally acclaimed educational institutions. We aim to meet the needs of working life in the region, but also to create something new and bring well-being to the whole of Kainuu. The unique degree programs, a global network of collaborations and a learning environment close to nature together guarantee a unique learning experience. Lifelong learning hasn’t be forgotten about either. Kainuu offers great opportunities to increase your skills and to throw yourself into your favorite hobbies, regardless of your age and life situation!

Kainuu doesn’t have its own university, but we cooperate with some universities in order to provide high level education and thereby trained professionals we need in the Kainuu region. In addition, we have a first-class university of applied sciences, offering both bachelor level and master’s level education.

What’s it like to be a student in Kainuu and what kind of services are available for students? In addition to services provided by educational institutes, an extensive municipal network of youth activities offers easy access to services from leisure activities to support services. Here is some information you might be interested in!

Other Educational Institutes

There are also several community colleges operating in Kainuu municipalities, operating on the principle of lifelong learning and arranging a large variety of courses from sports to arts, languages and  so on. Just name a topic!

Kainuu Music Institute organizes basic art education with  extensive curriculum of music and dance in Kajaani, Hyrynsalmi, Paltamo, Puolanka, Ristijärvi, Suomussalmi, Vaala and Vuolijoki, Education is available for all age groups.

There are also open university courses available at Learning Centre Kainula and at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences.

Kainuun Liikunta, one of the fifteen regional sports organizations in Finland, promotes the sporty way of life of all people in Kainuu through development, training, influence, guidance and events.

Read More About Kainuun Liikunta

Nature Experiences

In Kainuu, you can find nature experiences for every taste and season. The region is no less than a year-round paradise for active athletes and nature lovers. Be enchanted by bear watching and summer theater performances surrounded by nature or let the adrenaline flow on the ski slopes and wake board track. The surrounding nature can be easily accessed in any way you like: hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, skiing, snowshoeing, sup-boarding, snowmobiling or even husky sledding. 

There are four national parks in Kainuu. Find these and other national parks at:

www.nationalparks.fi

Explore more possibilities via a national site:

Finland, Naturally Experiences frontpage