There are altogether 29 permanent polytechnics. Most of these institutions are multisector establishments. 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. additional two years after 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. General adult education is provided by independent sponsoring organizations and evening schools. Vocational adult education is given by all vocational institutions and, specifically, by vocational adult education centres.