After completing general upper secondary education or vocational upper secondary education and training, students can apply for higher education. The Finnish higher education system has two parallel sectors: universities and polytechnics (or AMK institutions). Universities concentrate on academic and scientific research and education whereas polytechnics are more oriented to working life and they base their functions on the high standards it demands. The education and training provided by the polytechnics respond to labour market needs. Their task is also to conduct R&D which supports instruction and promotes regional development.
General eligibility for universities is provided by the matriculation examination or a vocational qualification with a scope of at least three years. The majority of new students have completed the matriculation examination. Eligibility for polytechnic studies is gained through upper secondary education – either the general education completed in an upper secondary school or an upper secondary vocational qualification.
Finland has 16 universities. Under the new Universities Act, which was passed by Parliament in June 2009, Finnish universities are independent corporations under public law or foundations under private law (Foundations Act). The universities operate in their new form from 1 January 2010 onwards.
There are 25 polytechnics in the Ministry of Education sector: six are run by local authorities, seven by municipal education consortia and 13 by private organisations. In addition, there is Åland University of Applied Sciences in the self-governing Province of Åland and a Police College subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior.
Degree instruction at institutions of higher education is free of charge. In the university sector, undergraduate students (those on Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes) pay a small membership fee to the student union every year; in return, they get reduced price meals, health care services and other social benefits. Students are also responsible for acquiring the required books and materials.