Compare Finnish Curriculum International Schools in Estonia

allinn Finnish School

Instructs in Finnish

Fees €1,500 - 5,420

Pupils 46

Type Co-educational

Tallinnan suomalainen koulu (Tallinn Finnish School) is a Finnish international school located at Pirita tee 12, 12011 Tallinn. It operates under the official Finnish overseas school framework and teaches primarily in Finnish, with Estonian, English and Swedish studied as part of the program. The school follows the Finnish Basic Education Curriculum, with a national core curriculum, a local plan, pre-primary plan and clear criteria for final assessment; strong attention to ICT education, crafts and language teaching. High school studies can be completed in cooperation with Eira Aikuislukio. The school emphasizes small class sizes and hands-on learning, with regular excursions and a growth mindset toward language and cultural understanding. After-school kerhot provide morning and afternoon care, hobby clubs such as arts, music, dance and language clubs, plus robotics and sports activities. Governance is through a Finland-registered association, and the school welcomes Tallinn-based Finnish-speaking families seeking continuity of Finnish education in Estonia.

Location

The Tallinn Finnish School is located at Pirita tee 12, 12011 Tallinn, Estonia.

Stages

Preschool through ninth grade.

Type

Private school.

Country affiliation

Finland (official Finnish overseas school).

School day structure

Teaching is conducted in Finnish, with Estonian, English and Swedish studied as additional languages. The day features small-group instruction, morning and afternoon clubs, and practical learning. The academic year requires 188 teaching days (190 by law), with holidays aligned to Estonian school calendars.

Application / reservation fee

- EUR 500 (oppilaspaikan varausmaksu).

Tuition fees by year group (per term)

- Esi- ja perusopetus (students with Finnish citizenship and official domicile in Finland on 20.9.): EUR 1,210 / autumn term; EUR 1,210 / spring term.
- Esi- ja perusopetus (students with Finnish citizenship but without official domicile in Finland on 20.9.): EUR 1,960 / autumn term; EUR 1,960 / spring term.
- Lukio (upper secondary) Year I & II: EUR 750 / autumn term; EUR 750 / spring term.
- Lukio Year III: EUR 400 / autumn term; EUR 400 / spring term.

Composition of the annual school fee (mandatory elements)

- Learning fee (Oppimaksu): EUR 1,550 per year (EUR 155 / month).
- Learning support services (Oppimista tukevat palvelut): EUR 357 per year (EUR 35.70 / month).
- School meals (Lounaskulut): EUR 513 per year (EUR 51.30 / month).
- Additional surcharge for pupils without official Finnish domicile (Koulumaksun korotus): EUR 1,500 per year (EUR 150 / month).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Term-based invoicing is used (term amounts are shown above); the school allows the school fee to be paid in instalments.
- Invoices are issued to the guardian specified in the education contract and are sent only by e-mail (invoicing address used by the school: arved@suomalainenkoulu.ee).

Payment accounts and accepted payment methods

- Payments are to be made by bank transfer. The school holds accounts in both Estonia and Finland: LUMINOR (Estonia) IBAN: EE66 17000 17004673316 SWIFT: RIKOEE22; DANSKE BANK (Finland) IBAN: FI46 80001 370212624 SWIFT: DABAFIHH. Payments may be made to either account.

Sibling discount

- First child pays the full fee; for each subsequent sibling the fee is reduced by EUR 100 per child per term.

Other costs or fees

- Possible additional charges for school trips and excursions (retkimaksut) where applicable.
- Membership fee for Tallinnan suomalaisen koulun tuki ry (support association): EUR 20.00 / year.

Boarding fees

- Not applicable; the school does not offer boarding and no boarding fees are listed.

Refund information

- No specific refund schedule or standard refund amounts are published in the school's fee information; refunds, if any, are handled under the school's billing and contractual terms.

Notes on fee decision and review

- The level of term fees is determined by the Tallinnan suomalaisen koulun tuki ry annual meeting on the board's proposal. Sibling discounts and other listed elements apply as stated above.

Admissions

1. Prepare documents. Scan the required attachments in advance of starting the online admission application. The electronic application form is available for completion. Required documents include the student's most recent report card (for mid‑year entrants, a separation certificate), all relevant educational documents and decisions, and copies of both the student's and the primary guardian's passport. Preschool applicants provide the early childhood education plan, the daycare teacher's statement, or an equivalent document.
2. Fill out the online form. Complete the form as accurately as possible. The form collects all required information for admission.
3. Attend an interview if necessary. The school will contact applicants if additional information is needed. The interview can be conducted on-site or via video link.
4. Return the signed contract. The education contract must be signed before the admission decision.
5. Pay the reservation fee. The school will issue an invoice for the reservation fee, and the fee must be paid to confirm the place.
6. Admission decision. The principal makes the admission decision, following established guidelines. The decision is communicated to the applicant after review.
7. Welcome to the school. The Tallinn Finnish School admits pupils year-round. Admissions are primarily for Finnish citizens living abroad, and a sufficient Finnish language level is required and verified during the intake discussion. Mid-year admissions require a separation certificate showing prior academic results; changes to enrollment or arrival times must be reported immediately; the reservation fee is non-refundable.

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Tartu Finnish School

Instructs in Finnish, English

Fees €1,740 - 2,400

Pupils 15

Type Co-educational

Tartu Finnish School is a private overseas Finnish basic-education school for grades 1–9, located in the city center in a building shared with Tartu International School. It follows the Finnish curriculum and is affiliated with Finland. The school delivers a large-scale bilingual program with English as the target language, while Estonian instruction is offered in a language-immixed format with less than 25% of content in languages other than the target language. Most subjects are taught in English, with some lessons in multi-age classes delivered in joint sessions with Tartu International School using CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). The aim is for pupils to continue their studies in Finland when they return home. Established in autumn 2000, the school has a small student body (around 15 pupils) and is run by the Tartu Finnish School Association ry. The curriculum mirrors Finland's basic education, and language immersion is supported by exchanges, projects, and collaboration with the Finnish school community, including trips within Estonia and to Tartu.

Location

Tartu, Estonia. The school is located at J. Liivi 2d, 50409 Tartto, Estonia. It is a small private Finnish overseas school for Finnish children living in Tartu and shares a building with the Tartu International School. Most lessons are conducted together with the Tartu International School, enabling language development and multicultural experiences.

Stages

Grades 1–9.

Type

Private Finnish overseas school equivalent to Finnish basic education.

Country affiliation

Finland

Application fees
- There is no separate application fee for enrollment; registration is completed using the school's electronic enrollment form.

Tuition fees by year group (2026–2027 academic year)
- Lower grades (1.–6.): EUR 870 per lukukausi (term). EUR 1,740 per academic year (two terms).
- Upper grades (7.–9.): EUR 1,200 per lukukausi (term). EUR 2,400 per academic year (two terms).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is charged per lukukausi (per term); the school year is organized into an autumn term and a spring term. Invoices reflect the per-term amounts.
- Pupils who are not officially on the school's roll on the September census day are charged an additional, individual pupil fee to cover costs.
- Specific invoice due dates and any installment or late-payment rules are set by the school and shown on the invoice or enrollment correspondence.

Boarding fees
- The school operates as a small day school located in Tartu (shared school building with the Tartu International School); no boarding provision or boarding fees are applied.

Other costs and incidental fees
- A one-off, pupil-specific charge may be applied for pupils not registered by the September counting date.
- Occasional additional costs can occur for school-organized activities such as trips, special projects or optional club activities; these are charged separately when applicable. No standard uniform fee or mandatory uniform purchase is listed.

Refund information
- No standard, published refund schedule for tuition is presented in the routine enrollment information; refund or withdrawal handling is determined by the school/association and communicated in enrollment or invoicing terms.

Fee payment options
- Payments are made by bank transfer to the school association's accounts. The association's payment details (IBANs and BICs) include:
- OmaSP: FI7441080013083186, BIC ITELFIHH.
- Swedbank (Estonia): EE442200221017091823, BIC HABAEE2X.

Currency for all published fees: EUR.

Curriculum

The school offers basic education for grades 1–9 following the Finnish curriculum. It uses a large-scale bilingual instruction model with English as the target language; Estonian language instruction is offered in a language-immixed form in which less than 25% of subject content is taught in a language other than the target language. Instruction is delivered in joint classes with the Tartu International School, using CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) where the language of instruction is also a learning tool. Most subjects are taught in English, and some subjects are taught in multi-age classes. Language immersion and an international dimension are supported by ongoing projects and exchanges, with the aim that pupils can continue their studies in Finland when they return home.

Student Teacher Ratio

Very small class groups; the school has about 15 students in total, and pupils receive a lot of attention and personal guidance.

Higher Education Progression

Student guidance supports transitions to the next stage of education. There is a dedicated guidance plan, and the school collaborates with Tartu International School to align timetables and subject content with both Finnish and international curricula. Guidance activities help pupils plan for further education and careers, with involvement of parents.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The school is safe and student-centered, where every student can be themselves. Professional teachers support the diverse intellectual development of students and help them grow into independent young people. The school strives to keep students motivated, to foster the joy of learning, and to ensure they feel safe at school. The school collaborates with Tartu International School to provide a multilingual, intercultural learning environment, with most lessons taught jointly, helping students build practical language skills and experience working in a diverse community.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Language learning is supported in a natural environment, with emphasis on foreign language practice beyond the classroom. Language-immersion experiences include museum visits and theatre/film events to motivate students to use foreign languages in authentic settings. The school participates in the Expanding bilingual education project, funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education, which began in 2017 and continues into the 2025-2026 school year. The project, Kielten opetuksen tehostaminen, provides language-immersed instruction with Estonian as the target language and extensive bilingual instruction with English as the target language, using CLIL. Immersion extends to regular school life in Estonian, and bilingual instruction is delivered in joint classes with the Tartu International School in English.

Mental Wellbeing

Students learn in a safe, student-centered environment. The staff work to support students' development and well-being, with an emphasis on motivation, the joy of learning, and a sense of security within the school. The environment aims to be nurturing and inclusive, fostering positive mental well-being for all students.

Safeguarding

The school is safe and student-centered, where every student can be themselves. Teachers provide professional support for students' academic and personal growth, and the school prioritizes a safe learning environment to ensure students feel secure throughout their time at the school.

Admissions

1. Moving to Tartu? Contact the school as early as possible when planning the move. Because the school is small, even a single new student affects the teaching arrangements for the next school year. The official enrollment period for the next academic year is in the spring. Enrollment is conducted via an online registration form.

2. Tuition, services, and accommodations: Education at the private foreign school is paid. The amount of the semester tuition is decided annually by the association that runs the school. The school will strive to provide the best possible conditions for students, but it may not offer all the same services as in Finland. If a student requires special arrangements such as tutoring or an assistant, the parents should contact the school well in advance to negotiate.

3. Enrollment requirements and language: The pupil enrolling must be a Finnish citizen and speak Finnish. Enrollment instructions can be requested from the school. The school forms classes together with the Tartu International School and uses extensive bilingual instruction; Finnish students study some subjects in mixed-age classes in English.

4. Mid-year enrollment and cost considerations: Ask the principal about the possibility of joining mid-year. The school evaluates mid-year enrollment on a case-by-case basis. Students who are not on the school rolls by the September counting day will be charged an additional student-specific fee to cover costs.

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Compare Finnish Curriculum International Schools in Estonia

Location

Stages

Type

Country affiliation

School day structure

Food Options

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Admissions

Location

Stages

Type

Country affiliation

Food Options

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Student Teacher Ratio

Higher Education Progression

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

Safeguarding

Admissions

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Annual fees

Children's Ages

Curriculum offered

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