Studying at Salpaus

Health and Welfare 

Technology 

Agriculture and Forestry 

Natural sciences 

Service Industries 

Humanities and Arts 

Business and Administration 

Information and Communication Technologies

General upper secondary education (matriculation examination) 

Immigrant training 

Our vocational upper secondary qualifications (ammatillinen perustutkinto) are intended for applicants that have completed a 9-year comprehensive school or have corresponding skills. If you complete this qualification, you will have the basic skills and knowledge that you need for working in your field. Vocational upper secondary qualifications are a good choice if you want to get your first occupation or if you are changing careers.

Vocational upper secondary qualifications have Finnish language skill requirements that vary in different programmes. We require Finnish language skills on level level B1.1. for all of our vocational qualifications.

It is also possible to study parts of vocational qualifications. Students are selected through the same process as to complete vocational qualifications. If you only study a part of a vocational qualification, we usually require Finnish skill level B1.1. However, level A2.2 is sufficient for care assistant training (hoiva-avustaja).

Salpaus also offers trainings where you can study the first part(s) of upper secondary vocational qualifications and improve your Finnish skills. These are called “Kielituettu tutkinnon osa”. You can start these trainings on Finnish language skill level A2.1 – A2.2.

After completing these shorter trainings you can apply to study the complete vocational qualification, if your Finnish skills are on level B1.1.  

Our further vocational qualifications (ammattitutkinto) are intended for applicants that have completed their upper secondary vocational qualifications and/or have work experience from the same vocational field. Applicants must also have a job or an internship suitable for this program. Finnish language skill level B1.1 is required.  

Our specialist vocational qualifications (erikoisammattitutkinto) are intended for experienced professionals and experts in their vocational fields. Applicants must have suitable jobs for these programs. Finnish language skill level B1.1 is required.  

TUVA-training offers you a chance to improve your studying skills and clarify your plans for the future. You can get familiar with the different study programmes at Salpaus and get guidance on choosing your career path.  

We have TUVA-training for three different target groups: youth (under 18 years), adults (over 18 years) and immigrants. If you apply to TUVA for immigrants, we require Finnish language level A2.1. For the other two groups you need to be on level B1.1.  

Salpaus offers evening courses in the Finnish language and culture. You can select a level that suits your Finnish skills and sign up for the course. The evening courses start twice a year, in January and in August. These courses are open to anyone with adequate Finnish skills for the course level (from level 0 to A2.2).  

Salpaus also offers integration training for immigrants. Ask about and apply to this training through the employment officials in your hometown in Finland.

You can also participate in evening training that prepares you for a mid-level National Certificate in Finnish Language Proficiency (YKI-testi) and take the test.   

You can participate in short courses and get yourself an occupational safety card, a First Aid Certificate, a Hygiene Passport or many others!  

Continuous application is a flexible way to apply to vocational qualifications and TUVA-training at Salpaus. Each program has their own application periods and start dates. Some programs accept applications throughout the year.  

If you want to apply through continuous application, fill out an application to the program that you are interested in at Opintopolku.fi website .

If your native language is not Finnish, you need to have proof of your Finnish language skill level. If you don’t have a language certificate that we can accept, you will need to take a language test. If you pass the language test you will be interviewed. We select students based on their applications and the interviews. 

Some of our vocational programmes may also have entrance examinations. You will find more information about these on the web page of each program.  

If you have not yet completed secondary vocational education, general upper secondary school or a matriculation examination in Finland, you can also apply through the joint application system (yhteishaku). It is possible to apply to most of our vocational upper secondary qualifications (perustutkinnot) and TUVA-training through the joint application system. Please note that all teaching is in Finnish only.

The joint application system is only open once every year. The application period is in February-March. You need to check the exact dates for each year.  

To apply through the joint application system, fill out an application on Opintopolku.fi website. You can apply to up to 7 programmes on the same application. Applicants are scored based on their basic education certificates and some other factors. Some vocational programmes may also have entrance examinations. 

If Finnish is not your first language, you will need to prove your Finnish skills with a certificate or participate in a Finnish language test.

Normally you need a Finnish 9-year basic education certificate to apply through the joint application system. If you do not have a Finnish or some other basic education certificate, it is still possible to apply. Your application will be considered in the discretionary admission process (harkintaan perustuva valinta). 

Salpaus organizes training that is intended for people who are currently unemployed, working part time or may become unemployed in the near future. You must also be at least 20 years old. If you want to participate in these trainings, you must apply to them through the employment officials in your Finnish hometown. 

All teaching is in Finnish. Please see the language level requirements of each training.

If you have a suitable job, you can apply to study through apprenticeship training. It is possible to study any of the vocational qualifications at Salpaus through apprenticeship training.  

You can study any of the vocational qualifications taught at Salpaus through apprenticeship training. You should get a suitable job of at least 25 hours of work weekly, a workplace instructor and your duties should be versatile and extensive enough for studying for a vocational qualification.  

If you have a job that meets these requirements and you want to start apprenticeship training, fill out an application on Opintopolku.fi website. A teacher from Salpaus will contact you and interview you and then help you get started with your studies. 

Some of our shorter courses are open for registration and there is no application process. These courses include our evening courses for Finnish language and culture and short courses for first aid, work safety, hygiene passport or hot work license. You will find registration forms and instructions on our website.

There is usually a charge for these courses. All teaching is in Finnish.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and EEA, you may have to pay an annual tuition fee for vocational education in Finland. You do not have to pay an annual tuition fee if you are a citizen of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. The fee also does not apply to citizens of Ukraine until 4 March 2027. After this, their temporary protection will cease. 

The tuition fee applies to you if you have a residence permit issued on the basis of your studies in Finland or if you have received your residence permit on the basis of your family member’s studies. 

You do not have to pay the tuition fee if, for example, you are subject to compulsory education, have a permanent residence permit, or have been granted international or temporary protection.

The annual tuition fees apply to all students mentioned above who begin their studies at Salpaus on or after August 1, 2026. 

The tuition fee includes your annual tuition. You will also be entitled to student support services and to receive support for your learning and special needs.  

The tuition fee does not include free meals, accommodation or study materials.