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Published: 29 January 2014

Number of students in Finland 1.2 million in 2012

According to the data of Statistics Finland's education statistics, there were 1.2 million pupils and students in Finland in 2012. Of them, 542,100 were studying the comprehensive school curriculum. In post-basic level education the highest number of students was found in vocational education. There were most foreign-language speaking students, whose native language was not Finnish, Swedish or Sami, in Southern Finland. Most commonly, the native language of foreign-language speaking students was Russian or Estonian. Foreign students' nationality was most often Russian, Estonian or Chinese.

Students in education leading to a qualification or degree by sector of education1) in 2012

1) Basic education includes pupils in pre-primary, basic and additional education.

Altogether, 542,100 students participated in basic education, of which 2,500 completed the full comprehensive school syllabus outside comprehensive school. A total of 692,800 students attended post-basic level education leading to qualification. There were 107,400 upper secondary school students. There were 276,500 students in vocational education, of which 220,900 studied in educational institutions and 55,600 were in apprenticeship training (also see Appendix table 2). There were 139,900 polytechnic students and 169,000 university students. Of students in post-basic level education, 24,000 studied in more than one type of education.

New students in education leading to a qualification or degree by sector of education1) in 2012

1) Basic education includes all pupils attending the first grade of comprehensive school.

In 2012, 59,100 pupils began basic level education in the first grade. In upper secondary education, 36,000 students began studying in upper secondary general education and 114,000 students in vocational education. Of the new students in vocational education, 93,100 started studying at educational institutions and 20,900 in apprenticeship training. There were 38,300 new students in polytechnic education and 26,000 new students in university education.

Completers of qualifications by sector of education1) in 2012

1) Basic education includes pupils that received a school-leaving certificate from comprehensive school.

In 2012, a total of 61,200 pupils completed the full comprehensive school syllabus. Altogether, 32,000 matriculation examinations or other upper secondary general school examinations, and 70,800 qualifications in vocational education were completed. A total of 57,800 qualifications in vocational education were completed in educational institutions and 13,000 were completed in apprenticeship training (also see Appendix table 3). A total of 23,900 lower and higher polytechnic degrees and 29,400 university degrees were completed.

Students in education leading to a qualification or degree by sector of education1) and gender in 2012

1) The basic education data include students in pre-primary, basic and post-basic education in comprehensive schools

In 2012, the share of women among all students was 51 per cent. The share of girls in comprehensive school was 49 per cent. Of students in upper secondary general school, 57 per cent were women and in vocational education, 51 per cent were women. Among polytechnic and university students, the share of women was 54 per cent.

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Suvi Vainio 09 1734 2915, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Students and qualifications and degrees completed in education leading to a qualification or degree by sector of education and gender in 2012 1) (29.1.2014)
• Appendix table 2. Students in vocational education by form of education in 2012 (29.1.2014)
• Appendix table 3. Qualifications from vocational education in 2012 (29.1.2014)
• Appendix table 4. The population of Finland and students in post-comprehensive education by sector of education and age group in 2012 1) (29.1.2014)
• Appendix table 5. Foreign-language speaking students and foreign students by Regional State Administrative Agency and sector of education in 2012 1) (29.1.2014)

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Updated 29.1.2014