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Taught languages Finnish, Swedish, Spanish, French, German
Strengths Languages, Sport, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Finnish International School of Tampere (FISTA) is a comprehensive school serving ages 6 to 16, with preschool, primary and lower secondary education (grades 1–9) in Tampere, Finland. The school teaches mainly in English, while Finnish, Swedish, and other languages are offered as part of the curriculum. It follows the City of Tampere curriculum based on the Finnish National Core Curriculum, and applicants complete a language test to participate in English-language education. FISTA began as Amurin kansakoulu in 1954 and became FISTA in 2012. The campus is in central Tampere and serves 910 students with 110 staff in the 2025–2026 year. Features include preparatory education for Finnish learners (up to one year) and two study lines for grades 7–9: bilingual and international. Students take Finnish lessons from early grades, with Swedish from grade 6 and optional A2 languages (Spanish, French or German). A program of clubs supports after-school interests and wellbeing.
Finnish International School of Tampere has 910 pupils, instruction in English.
Location
FISTA is located in central Tampere at Satakunnankatu 60, 33230 Tampere. It is located in central Tampere. The school serves families living in the Tampere area.
Stages
Comprehensive school offering preschool education, and primary and lower secondary education for grades 1-9.
Type
Comprehensive school with English-language tuition
Country affiliation
Finland
Fees
Application fees
- No application fee is charged for admission to the Finnish International School of Tampere.
Tuition fees (by year group)
- Preschool (grade 0): Four hours of pre‑primary education each school day are provided free of charge. Guardians may contract additional complementary early childhood education and care or morning care; fees for complementary services are assessed according to the city's early childhood education fee rules (income‑based).
- Grades 1–9 (primary and lower secondary/basic education): There are no tuition fees for basic education; textbooks and daily school lunch are provided free of charge. The school provides required books and other ordinary school materials.
- Morning and afternoon club (optional care for younger pupils): City‑organised afternoon activities are charged as a monthly client fee. The approved city fee for afternoon activities is EUR 160 per month (applies to the city service option). A private provider operating near the school (Enkku) offers a separate private morning/afternoon club with a published monthly fee of EUR 295 for grades 1–3 (private provider charges apply only to that service). Guardians choose between the city service and available private operators and pay the applicable fee for the chosen service.
- Summer club / holiday activities (optional): Summer club activities are charged per starting week at EUR 80 per week for each starting week of the summer club where applicable.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Invoicing is issued in accordance with the active payment decision; monthly billing is used for client fees. If care starts or ends in the middle of a calendar month, the invoiced amount is the lesser of the full monthly fee and the actual prorated duration for that month. No fee is charged for July in cases where the care agreement continued uninterrupted from the previous August under the stated conditions. Electronic invoicing is available. For invoicing errors or requests to postpone a due date, contact the city's early childhood education and pre‑primary education client fees unit.
- Afternoon‑club specific billing rules: a sibling discount of EUR 10 is applied to the oldest sibling's fee; only half of the monthly fee is charged if a child cannot participate in afternoon activities for more than 10 days in a calendar month due to illness; if absence due to illness lasts the entire calendar month, no fee is charged. Fee exemption (full or partial) may be granted on specified grounds via a written application.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered. The school is not a boarding school and cannot provide accommodation. No boarding fees apply.
Other costs or fees (uniform, books, equipment, optional extras)
- Uniforms: There is no school uniform requirement and no uniform fee. Guardians choose pupils' clothing; outdoor clothing appropriate for Finnish weather is required.
- School materials and meals: The school provides books, notebooks and most learning materials and provides daily school lunch free of charge. Guardians are responsible for personal items such as a school bag, pencil case, personal sports kit and appropriate outdoor clothing.
- Private / optional services: Optional private morning/afternoon clubs (e.g., Enkku) or external hobby providers may charge separate fees (examples: private club fee EUR 295/month for grades 1–3). Guardians who use private providers pay those providers directly. Some hobby or extracurricular activities may carry separate fees when organised outside the city's free/basic offers.
Refunds, reductions and cancellations
- Proration and monthly adjustments: If care or participation begins or ends mid‑month, invoicing is adjusted so the invoiced amount is the lower of the monthly fee and the actual duration. July may be free when the care agreement conditions for continuous service are met.
- Absence and sickness: For city afternoon activities only half of the monthly fee is charged if the child cannot participate for more than 10 days in a calendar month because of illness; if absence due to illness lasts the entire calendar month, no fee is charged. Fee exemption or reduction may be granted on specified grounds through the formal application process.
Fee payment options
- Electronic invoicing: Electronic invoicing (e‑invoice/e‑lasku) is available; an e‑invoice agreement can be set up through the guardian's bank after receiving the first invoice, or the Kivra app may be used for receipt of invoices. For private providers (e.g., Enkku) or hobby providers, payment methods depend on the individual provider's terms. For questions about invoicing, due dates or billing, contact the City of Tampere client fees unit.
Academics
Finnish International School of Tampere teaches Finnish Curriculum for students aged 6 to 16.
Curriculum
FISTA is a comprehensive school offering preschool education and primary and lower secondary education for grades 1-9. It follows the City of Tampere curriculum based on the Finnish National Core Curriculum. The main language of tuition is English. All applicants are invited to a language test to ensure that they are able to participate in English language education.
Admissions
Admissions
The Finnish International School of Tampere (FISTA) is a comprehensive school offering preschool education and primary and lower secondary education for grades 1–9. It follows the City of Tampere curriculum based on the Finnish National Core Curriculum. The main language of tuition is English. All applicants are invited to a language test to ensure participation in English-language education. Preschool admissions for 2026–2027: applications January 9–28, 2026; results sent by email February 9, 2026. Grade 1 admissions for 2026–2027: applications January 5–21, 2026; language tests February 4–5, 2026; invitations sent by email January 23, 2026; results sent by email February 18, 2026. Grade 7 admissions for 2026–2027: applications November 24–December 8, 2025; language tests January 14, 2026; results sent by email February 11, 2026.
FAQs
What curriculum does FISTA follow?
FISTA is a comprehensive school offering preschool, primary, and lower secondary education for grades 1-9 following the Finnish National Core Curriculum with English-medium instruction.
How many students attend the school?
Approximately 910 students attend the Finnish International School of Tampere from preschool through grade 9.
What age range does the school serve?
FISTA serves students aged 6 to 16, covering preschool through lower secondary education (grades 1-9).
Is the school co-educational?
Yes, FISTA is a co-educational day school in Tampere, Finland.
