The polytechnics were established during the reform process of the 1990s, and now a network of 29 polytechnics covers the entire country. Polytechnic degrees are Bachelor-level higher education degrees with a professional emphasis and take 3,5 to 4 years to complete. There are 20 universities in Finland, ten of which are multifaculty institutions and ten specialist institutions. Of the specialist institutions three are universities of technology, three are schools of economics and business administration, and the remaining four are art academies. In addition, university-level education is provided at one military academy under the Ministry of Defence.
All universities engage in both education and research and have the right to award doctorates.
The first university degree, which roughly corresponds to a Bachelor s, can generally be attained in three years of full-time study and the higher, Master s degree in five years, i.e. a further two years following the Bachelor s degree. Full-time studies for a doctorate take approximately four years following the Master s degree. Adult education , which is designed for the entire working-age population, has expanded rapidly in the past few years. Independent sponsoring organizations and evening schools provide general adult education. Adult education at universities comprises further education and open university courses.