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What are summer high schools all about?

Summer high schools, taking place during the Finnish summer months (June-August), are intensive and informal alternatives to regular school education. They are camp-like, lasting 1–2 weeks each and usually including full room and board and free time activities. Each one offers a unique variety of study subjects and courses to choose from. Some only have one course option and aim to bring people together around the same topic.

Some summer high schools are organised abroad to promote cultural exchange and understanding, and in many cases language learning.

Other summer high schools offer distance learning courses.

Click here to see all summer high schools in a table.

Who organises summer high schools

Many summer high schools are organised by the Summer High School Association (Kesälukioseura ry founded in 1965) and others by community colleges, folk high schools, other schools, municipalities and non-profit organisations around Finland. The latter work in partnership with the Summer High School Association.

The association is a private, non-profit, state-subsidised organisation and it receives funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture and from STEA.

Where are summer high school courses held

Summer high schools are organised at course centres and schools in different locations around Finland and abroad, often at folk high schools with beautiful, unspoiled surroundings. A couple summer high schools are taught completely online, but mostly they are camp-like courses including full room and board and free time activities.

Because accommodation is available, students do not have to live locally to attend.

Who can attend

Summer high schools usually accept youth between the ages of 15 to 19, but some also accept adult students and others accept students as young as 13. In general, summer high school students are regular students from Finland, attending upper secondary school, vocational school or the top levels of middle school.

If you currently go to upper secondary school in Finland, you are able to include the courses you complete during summer high school in your degree (according to upper secondary school law). We encourage you to ask more about course accreditation from your own school.

Languages of instruction, international students and expatriate youth

Expatriate youth and other international students are welcome to all summer high schools provided that they have sufficient Finnish language skills to follow the lessons. Most summer high schools are taught in Finnish. One summer high school is aimed at Swedish speaking students prepping for their matriculation exams (Sommargymnasiet i östra Nyland).

However, some courses also welcome international students with basic level Finnish skills (or none). These courses may be taught in English or include Finnish language lessons.

Those expatriate youth or international students looking for lessons in Finnish language, should check out

International summer high schools taught in English include

  • Baltic Sea Summer High School (marine ecology and snorkeling in the archipelago),
  • THE kesälukio II (English and Finnish language lessons) and perhaps
  • a new summer school 2026 pending: Bothnian Arc Summer School (learning Nordic languages using methods of visual arts, music and AI) —> more info coming!

The summer high schools abroad are aimed at students living in Finland but may also accept expatriate youth and other international students with a connection to Finland, based on their application. These include

  • Språkbad på Gotland, a Swedish language immersion course held in Gotland, Sweden, and is completely taught in Swedish.
  • Summer School in Scotland, an English language immersion course held in Scotland, and is completely taught in English.
  • Summer School by River Rhine, a course in local geography, ecology, history and culture held in Wesel, Germany, and is completely taught in English.

Themed summer high schools

Many summer high schools focus around a theme or a school subject such as mathematics (Matikkakesälukio in Northern Finland), theatre (Nuori Teatteri Kainuu) or ecology (Baltic Sea Summer High School in the archipelago).

Some courses are targeted at a specific group, such as expatriate youth and anyone wanting to practice their Finnish or to learn about the Finnish culture (Suomen kielen ja kulttuurin kesälukio or THE kesälukio II), or Swedish speaking students prepping for their matriculation examination (Sommargymnasiet i östra Nyland).

Online summer high schools offer realtime distance learning to those who wish to attend from home (Matikan etäkesälukio or Kovien tieteiden etäkesälukio).

If you have any special subjects, hobbies or themes of interest in mind, please write to us or give us a call, so we can make you a personal recommendation for a summer high school.

What happens at a summer high school camp?

In addition to lessons, a range of extracurricular activities and excursions are included in the course package. Using learner-oriented methods, summer high schools offer a non-traditional approach to the learning process. Students are encouraged to take active part in the process and thus make the most of their study period.

Intensive study periods ranging from one to two weeks enable the student to:

  • revise and supplement high school studies
  • gain credit for study units included in the syllabus
  • prepare for upcoming secondary school studies
  • explore new arts, crafts and hobbies
  • gain personal experience on intercultural learning
  • make new friends

During language lessons, for example, role-plays, dramatisations, and conversations among students from different countries may be used. Professionals in different fields teach mathematics, natural sciences, arts and crafts.

Interaction and exchange of ideas continue during free time: there might be excursions, discussions on current topics and games. And, of course, enjoying the Finnish summer in general: sitting around the campfire, swimming and bathing in the sauna.

How do I sign up?

The application period for summer high schools held in Finland opens in January and closes in April-June.

Apply to summer high schools here.

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact Kesälukioseura office to find out more!

Kesälukioseura (Summer High School Association)
Sturenkatu 4
00510 Helsinki
tel. +358 40 757 0481 (inquiries, office)
toimisto (at) kesalukioseura.fi
www.kesalukioseura.fi