Bilingual Study Programme BSP

The bilingual Finnish-English programme is designed for students who want to study in a Finnish-speaking upper secondary school but do not have sufficient Finnish language skills to start their studies entirely in Finnish. The goal of the Bilingual Study Programme is to support and promote students' Finnish language skills so that they can complete upper secondary education and their matriculation examination in Finnish.

In BSP, the primary language of instruction is Finnish, but English is used to varying degrees depending on the subject matter and the student’s individual needs. English is used as a secondary, supportive language; therefore, students are expected to have fluent English skills to participate in the instruction.

Students develop their Finnish language skills not only through intensive preparatory Finnish as a second language courses but also through language-aware approaches throughout their studies. Students are encouraged to use Finnish in various situations both inside and outside of school. Towards the end of their studies, students are expected to be able to use Finnish independently in all study-related matters. The goal is to improve students' Finnish language skills so that they can participate in the Finnish matriculation examination.

Applying to the Bilingual Study Programme

All applicants are required to have a basic understanding of Finnish, as they are expected to develop their language skills to eventually meet the requirements of the matriculation examination in Finnish. Students with more advanced Finnish language skills should apply to the upper secondary education conducted fully in Finnish. Applicants who do not have sufficient English language skills are encouraged to explore other Finnish preparatory programs (e.g., TUVA).

Prospective students with a Finnish basic education certificate must apply through the national joint application system for upper secondary education. The minimum required admission score of 7.0 is based on the grade average of academic subjects with Finnish weighted x2 and English weighted x3. Applicants must also fill in a separate form to cover their motivation and interests to study in the Bilingual Study Programme.

Applications from students without the Finnish certificate will be considered separately. Such applicants will be invited to a face-to-face interview session during which they must demonstrate their motivation to study in the programme and their written and oral skills in both Finnish and English.