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Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Oulu International School is a public, city‑owned school in Oulu, Finland, offering Basic Education (grades 1–9) in English. It follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum and combines it with a bespoke English‑language program. Learning is inquiry‑based and phenomenon‑based, with content organized into multidisciplinary units. In Years 1–6, students complete 5–6 units per year; in Years 7–9, modules combine 2–3 subject areas. The school is located at Kasarmintie 4, 90130 Oulu, and is owned by the City of Oulu. It began in August 2001 and opened as an independent school in August 2002. About 446 students are taught by 37 teachers in age‑based classes, with auxiliary staff available. The library is a central resource, and students may pursue a bilingual Reading Diploma adapted from the Oulu City program. Extracurricular clubs include Boardgames, Math, Chess, and Dungeons & Dragons, along with Drama, Animated Film, Cooking and Puuhakerho, plus Erasmus‑driven projects and well‑being activities.
Oulu International School has 446 pupils, instruction in English.
Location
The school is located at Kasarmintie 4, 90130 Oulu, Finland. It is owned by the City of Oulu.
Stages
Basic Education (Grades 1-9).
Type
Public, city-owned international school offering Basic Education in English.
Additional learning support
Student welfare and learning support are provided, including School Health Services (nurse, insurance, dental care, and medical treatment plans) and Student Counselling. A Transition Class supports new arrivals from abroad to develop English skills for up to two years, and Special Education with individual learning plans.
Country affiliation
Finland.
School day structure
The length of the school day varies by grade; class timetables are issued at the start of each term. Afternoon care is provided for grades 1-2.
Fees
Application fees - There is no application fee for applying to Oulu International School. Formal applications and the school's language-proficiency admission test form part of the municipal admissions process; families complete the standard application forms used for Oulu schools.
Tuition fees by year group (Years 1–9) - Years 1–9: No tuition is charged. Basic education at Oulu International School is provided free of charge and includes access to curriculum teaching and free learning materials. There are no per-term or per-year tuition charges for enrolled pupils.
Billing schedule and payment terms (for chargeable services) - Afternoon care (paid service): invoiced monthly in arrears; the invoice is normally sent to the home address as a paper invoice unless an e-invoice option is selected. Late payment interest and standard arrears procedures apply. Payment queries for municipal invoicing are handled by the city's billing service. - Other occasional charges (for example, transport to/from school where applicable, certain optional services supplied by third parties): invoicing and payment schedules vary by service; when the city or a contracted provider charges a fee it is typically billed according to that service's published billing cycle (for afternoon care that cycle is monthly). Guardians living outside Oulu who are admitted should confirm how transport or other costs will be handled with their home municipality.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. Oulu International School is a day/basic education school (Grades 1–9) and does not provide boarding or residential accommodation for pupils.
Other costs and routine out-of-pocket items - School meals: balanced school lunches are provided as part of basic education and are not charged to pupils. - Afternoon care (optional for eligible years): the municipal standard fee for afternoon care is EUR 120 per calendar month for the first child; sibling discount applies (each additional child in the same family is charged EUR 60 per calendar month). The fee is charged from August to the end of May; the fee is fixed regardless of month length. Sick‑leave and partial‑attendance rules can reduce the charge in certain cases. - Clubs and extracurricular clubs: after‑school clubs organised by the school are free of charge. - Class trips and excursions: the city's guidance is that education should not create mandatory costs for pupils. Any extra expenses related to trips may be covered through voluntary fundraising; all students are allowed to participate regardless of whether guardians contributed to fundraising. Guardians should expect occasional voluntary contributions for activities or optional extras (e.g., materials or voluntary trip costs). Supervision and insurance for trips are provided by the school. - Personal/consumable items: parents normally provide practical items such as clothing for outdoor breaks, P.E. kit and any personally required materials or equipment for hobbies and sports. The school requests suitable P.E. clothing and footwear for lessons and outdoor activity.
Refund and cancellation rules (where fees apply) - Afternoon care refunds/adjustments: if a child's illness results in attendance of 10 days or fewer in a calendar month, half the monthly fee is charged; if absence due to illness covers the whole calendar month, no fee is charged. If a guardian cancels an afternoon care place they must give notice by the 15th of the current month to avoid charges for the next month; cancellation after the 15th typically incurs a half‑month charge. Start‑date changes and single permitted postponements are covered by the municipal rules. - Class trip or activity refunds: trips and additional activities organised on a voluntary/fundraising basis follow the published arrangements for that activity; the school provides supervision and insurance but any refunds for voluntary payments or third‑party arrangements are handled according to the organiser's published terms.
Fee payment options and where payments are processed - Municipal invoicing is handled through the City of Oulu's billing processes; invoices for chargeable services (for example, afternoon care) are issued monthly in arrears and list the payment instructions. The city's billing service contact is used for invoicing queries. - Payments to city service points: municipal customer service points (Oulu10 and others) accept the most common bank and credit cards and cash for municipal payments. E‑invoice/electronic invoice options are available where supported. For transport benefit or other income‑based allowances, separate application and handling procedures apply.
Summary (practical points for parents) - There is no application fee and no tuition charge for Grades 1–9; basic education at OIS includes free school meals and free basic learning materials. - The only routine municipal charge related directly to OIS on the school premises is the optional afternoon care: EUR 120/month for the first child and EUR 60/month for subsequent siblings; this is billed monthly in arrears and has defined rules for absence and cancellation. - Extracurricular clubs are free; trips and optional extras may involve voluntary contributions but the school's guidance is that education should not create mandatory costs for pupils. Guardians outside Oulu should confirm responsibility for transport and related costs with their home municipality.
Academics
Oulu International School teaches Finnish Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum.
Curriculum
OIS follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum, and English is taught in accordance with both the national and the school's own curriculum. Learning is inquiry-based and phenomenon-based, with content organized into multidisciplinary units. In Years 1–6 there are 5–6 units per academic year; in Years 7–9 there are one to two modules combining 2–3 subject areas.
Student Teacher Ratio
435 students and 37 teachers; approximately 12:1.
Higher Education Progression
OIS has close links with the IB Diploma Programme of Oulun Lyseo, located in the same building (Kasarmintie 4).
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Student Welfare encompasses services to promote, maintain and facilitate successful learning, good mental and physical health, and social well-being in the school community. Students feel safe and comfortable studying at school and receive help with problems they may encounter. Individual student welfare includes school health care services, the school nurse, and access to the school psychologist and social worker, coordinated by the pupil welfare working group. The school social worker and the school psychologist promote well-being and mental health, and provide support for learning and development; they may be consulted about questions concerning a child's growth, development, or other school matters. The pupil welfare working group comprises the principal, the deputy heads, the school nurse, the special education teachers, the school social worker, and the school psychologist, with Tiia Seppänen coordinating the group. It meets about every four weeks.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Special education is given to students who have difficulties related to learning and/or concentration. Teaching takes place individually or in small groups, and a learning plan is drawn up together with guardians for a student who receives regular support. The special education teachers are Saija Laukka (Years 1-5), Janne Heinonen (1-4 C – Individual learning path group) and Tiia Seppänen (Years 5-9).
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school follows the Finnish national curriculum in English. A Transition Class exists to accommodate children who move from abroad but do not have the required English skills to attend OIS mainstream teaching full time; the class is limited to 10 students and may be attended for a maximum of two years. Admission to the Transition Class requires that the student does not have Finnish skills and meets the listed conditions.
Mental Wellbeing
Student welfare encompasses services to promote, maintain and facilitate successful learning, good mental and physical health, as well as social well-being in the school community. The school social worker and the school psychologist promote well-being and mental health, and may be consulted about questions concerning a child's growth, development, or other school matters. A thriving school community is a place of trust and interpersonal openness, and the pupil welfare working group coordinates these services.
Safeguarding
Student welfare is primarily preventative, communal well-being work that supports the entire school community and promotes safety. The pupil welfare working group discusses communal student welfare matters about every four weeks. The school provides access to a School Nurse, School Psychologist, and School Social Worker to support safety and well-being, with coordination through the pupil welfare team.
Admissions
Admissions
Oulu International School is a City of Oulu Basic Education school for grades 1–9. Entrance is by information evening, application form and entrance tests. 1. Info evening on January 21, 2026 at 5 p.m. 2. Submit the application form via ouka.inschool.fi by February 5, 2026. 3. Take the language proficiency entrance test on February 19–20, 2026: Grade 1 on February 19 from 12:30–14:30; Grades 7–9 on February 20 from 9:00–12:00; Grades 2–6 on February 20 from 13:30–15:30. If absent due to illness, a makeup language test is offered on March 13, 2026 at 13:30–15:30. 4. Tests assess listening, reading, writing and oral skills; admission depends on a minimum English-test score and class vacancies; Finnish children living in Finland must pass the Finnish test to be accepted (as of spring 2021). 5. 6. Entrance tests are held twice a year, in February and August 2026, with August 7, 2026 as the next testing date; there are no exceptions. 7. If applying to Grade 1, complete the afternoon care form by February 15, 2026 if needed.
FAQs
What curriculum does OIS follow?
OIS follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum with English taught in accordance with both national and school-specific requirements.
Does the school offer special education support?
Yes, special education is provided to students who have difficulties related to learning, with dedicated support services.
How many students attend the school?
Approximately 446 students attend Oulu International School in northern Finland.
What age range does the school serve?
OIS serves students from age 7 onwards, following the Finnish comprehensive school system.
