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 20 universities, which work on the principles of academic freedom and autonomy. They are very independent in their decision-making. All universities are state-run, the government providing some 70% of their budgets.
There are 26 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.