Both languages are compulsory at school. English is widely spoken in Finland, especially among younger people and in major cities. Education Children attend comprehensive schools for nine years, beginning at the age of seven. Teachers' salaries, books, health care, and school meals are paid by municipalities. After completing comprehensive school, students may attend high school for three years or receive an occupational education.
High school prepares students for university studies.
Tuitions at universities are minimal. University students can finance their living expenses with scholarships or guaranteed student loans from banks. Helsinki has international, English, German, Russian, French and Jewish schools in which classes are taught partly in foreign languages and partly in Finnish. The International, English, German and Jewish schools are private and charge tuition. University level education is mainly in Finnish, with the exception of English language B.B.A and M.B.A programs in certain universities and B.B.A. programs in certain newly-established polytechnics.