Compare European Baccalaureate International Schools in Finland

Instructs in English, Finnish, French

Ages 4 - 18 years

Fees €2,468 - 4,626

Pupils 300

Type Co-educational

European School of Helsinki is a multilingual school in central Helsinki delivering the European Schools curriculum for students aged 4 to 18. The programme follows the European Baccalaureate path, with language sections in English, Finnish and French and opportunities to study second and third languages in later years. The final examination is the European Baccalaureate, enabling university access across the EU and beyond. The school operates in a historic five-storey building (1884–85) renovated in 2009, with 45 classrooms, science and ICT laboratories, a language laboratory, music and art rooms, a library, a canteen, a gym and an assembly hall, and most classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards. After-school activities run daily from 14:30 to 17:30, offering more than 30 clubs across section languages, including arts, theatre and dance, sports, science and language groups. The KiVa Koulu wellbeing program supports a safe, inclusive community and close ties with local and international communities. The school is accredited to the European Schools network.

Location

The European School of Helsinki is located at Bulevardi 18, 00120 Helsinki, Finland. It sits in central Helsinki. It is accredited to the European Schools' network.

Stages

Nursery: N1–N2 (age 4–6); Primary: P1–P5 (age 6–11); Secondary: S1–S7 (age 11–18). The secondary cycle has three language sections: English, Finnish and French.

Additional learning support

Special educational needs teachers are available (EN/FI).

Country affiliation

Finland.

Application fees

- No separate application fee is charged for enrolment.

Tuition fees (by cycle)

- Nursery: EUR 1,234 per term (EUR 2,468 per school year).
- Primary: EUR 1,696 per term (EUR 3,392 per school year).
- Secondary: EUR 2,313 per term (EUR 4,626 per school year).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is charged on a per-term basis at the amounts shown above. Fees must be paid in advance.
- The school does not grant sibling reductions for tuition.

Boarding fees

- The school does not provide boarding; boarding fees are not applicable.

Other costs and regular ancillary fees

- School meals and routine learning materials are subject to additional fees for all pupils. Example amounts are:
- Morning snack: EUR 0.50.
- Lunch: EUR 2.35.
- Afternoon snack: EUR 0.70.
- School supplies (stationery / e-materials etc.): EUR 130 per year.
- Books (e-books, e-licences) and school trips as required by year/class: charged as specified by class teachers.
- After-school activities: EUR 7.50 per 60-minute activity.

Additional administrative fees (on request)

- Additional school certificate (per certificate): EUR 25.
- Additional copy of a school report (per copy): EUR 35.
- Additional European Baccalaureate (BAC) certificate or translations (per certificate): EUR 65.
- Standard documents (regular school reports, certificates of attendance, EB Diplomas) are issued free of charge.
- Processing time for requested additional certificates or copies: approximately 14 working days from the date of payment; digital delivery or pick-up arrangements are used as appropriate. When payment is made for an additional document, send a copy of the payment receipt to info@esh.fi.

Refund information

- Fees are required to be paid in advance. No school refund procedure or refund amounts are specified.

Fee payment options and bank details

- Payments are made by bank transfer to the named recipient. The recipient and bank account details are:
- Recipient: Opetushallitus.
- Bank (option 1): Danske Bank A/S — IBAN: FI07 8129 9710 0117 01 — BIC: DABAFIHH.
- Bank (option 2): Nordea Bank Oyj — IBAN: FI13 1804 3000 0156 51 — BIC: NDEAFIHH.
- Include the pupil's name or the name of the requested certificate as the payment reference. For additional document requests, email a copy of the payment receipt to info@esh.fi.

Notes on common extra items

- School trips, certain textbooks/e-licences and specific class materials may incur extra charges which vary by class and activity; these are billed separately as required. After-school clubs are charged per activity session at the rate noted above.

Curriculum

The European School of Helsinki follows the European Schools curriculum, approved by the Finnish National Board of Education, and emphasizes multilingualism, tolerance and multiculturalism. The curriculum largely follows the syllabi of the European Schools. Language sections are English, Finnish and French, with main subjects taught in the language of the section. The second language starts in the first year of primary (P1), taught in small mixed-nationality groups with native speakers, aiming for A2 by the end of primary; in later years, History and Geography are taught in the second language, and L3/L4 languages such as German, Spanish, French, Finnish and Swedish can be studied where possible. The final examination is the European Baccalaureate (EB), taken at the end of S7, which is recognised for university access within the European Union and beyond (also recognised in the USA, Canada and Australia).

Higher Education Progression

The European Baccalaureate is an officially recognised entry qualification for higher education in all EU countries, as well as many others; European School students attend universities all over Europe and beyond.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The European School of Helsinki provides a safe, healthy, secure, pleasant and supportive environment for all members of the school community. The school encourages every student to play a full and active role in the school community. It promotes the idea of support via its pastoral systems and strives for close relations with local, national and international communities. It promotes awareness of healthy lifestyles and provides appropriate opportunities and support to facilitate students' physical development. It offers a range of extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities to enable students to contribute to the school and to society. The school is a KiVa Koulu, a research-based antibullying program designed to reduce bullying and victimisation and to support a positive school climate.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school has a Special Education Teacher (SEN teacher) who provides intensified support and individual teaching. The SEN teacher consults with class and subject teachers, writes ILPs and is part of the welfare group. The SEN teacher works with pupils across all age groups (nursery through secondary) in all language sections (Finnish, English, French). Those referred to the SEN teacher are mostly students with language or communication problems, difficulties in mathematics, or minor speech difficulties. Usually a pupil has 1-2 lessons per week with the SEN teacher, either one-to-one or in a small group (2-4). Support forms are decided on a case-by-case basis in agreement with parents and teachers.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

L2, or the second language, begins in the first year of the primary cycle (P1). L2 is taught in small groups to create a comfortable and supportive atmosphere. Native speaker teachers provide an essential example for modelling L2 and help learners understand nuance and meaning. L2 is used in language lessons and elsewhere in the school; pupils use their L2 daily. L2 is the second language chosen from English, French or German. L2 is taught as the student's second language and is integrated across the curriculum, including subjects such as Art, Music and Sport.

Mental Wellbeing

The pupil welfare team includes staff with expertise in health and wellbeing, including a school nurse, a school counselor and a school psychologist. The school nurse delivers health care, treats accidents and illnesses, and conducts annual health assessments. The school counselor assists pupils and families and can be contacted for matters related to school, peers or family life. The school psychologist helps pupils succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally and provides counseling. The welfare system is designed to support wellbeing across Nursery, Primary and Secondary and to coordinate with families and health professionals as needed.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is addressed through the pupil welfare framework led by the Pupil Welfare Coordinator. The school counselor can be consulted by pupils, guardians and teachers for safeguarding concerns. The school psychologist supports safeguarding through counseling and wellbeing work. If necessary, the school collaborates with child welfare authorities, family clinics and health care authorities to protect pupils. The SEN teacher provides intensified support for identified needs across all age groups.

Admissions

1. Application period and enrollment categories. Enrollment to the European School of Helsinki happens in two categories: Category I for children whose parent(s) are employed by European Chemicals Agency or other EU institutions, and Category II. For Category I, parents can generate a certificate of employment from the ECHA system and attach it to the application form. The document containing the enrollment rules, procedures and policies is approved by the Administrative Board and downloadable. The application period for the 2026-2027 school year was 7–31 January 2026. Two information sessions are held in the school Assembly Hall: 13 January 2026 (Nursery Cycle) and 14 January 2026 (Primary and Secondary Cycle). Entrance tests (by invitation only) are organized in the first week of March 2026. 2. Enrollment guidelines & instructions. The primary cycle starts at age six, with subsequent classes following chronologically; there is an indicative table of equivalences used for placement. Language 2 (L2) starts in the first year of the primary cycle (P1). When applying to higher classes, L2 must be at the appropriate level. If a pupil's L1 is different from the language of the section (English, French or Finnish), the language of the section must be chosen as L2. For P1–P4, Finnish is offered as an option for L2 alongside French, German and English. Language 3 (L3) starts in the first year of the secondary cycle (S1) and is mandatory until S5. If a pupil is accepted into a language section different from their mother tongue while such a section exists, mother tongue tuition cannot be provided. Students have direct access from lower secondary to upper secondary leading to the European Baccalaureate; no separate application is required beyond completing S4. 3. Fees. The Ministry of Education has set tuition fees for Category II pupils: Nursery 1234 € per term (2468 € per school year); Primary 1696 € per term (3392 € per school year); Secondary 2313 € per term (4626 € per school year). Sibling discounts are not granted. School meals, textbooks, learning materials and after-school activities are charged to all pupils (Categories I and II). Examples include morning snack 0.50 €, lunch 2.35 €, and afternoon snack 0.70 €. School supplies 130 € per year; books (e-books, e-licences) as specified by class teachers; school trips; after-school activities 7.50 € per 60-minute activity. Additional certificates and copies incur fees (e.g., 25 € per certificate, 35 € per extra copy of a school report, 65 € per BAC certificate/translation). Standard documents such as school reports and EB Diplomas are issued free of charge. Fees must be paid in advance. Payment should be made to Opetushallitus (recipient) via Danske Bank or Nordea Bank with the specified IBANs and BICs; the certificate/pupil's name should be noted in the payment reference. Processing time for certificate requests is about 14 working days from payment; certificates are delivered by encrypted email or available for pick-up.

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Compare European Baccalaureate International Schools in Finland

Location

Stages

Additional learning support

Country affiliation

Food Options

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Higher Education Progression

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

Safeguarding

Admissions

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