Immigrants usually participate in the same early childhood education and care, education and training as the rest of the population. In addition to these, integration training and support for learning as well as preparatory teaching are available. Integration training is intended to support the integration of adult immigrants.

The municipality organises pre-primary and basic education and upper secondary education for immigrants under compulsory education living in its area. The municipality provides early childhood education and care for young children who are not yet subject to compulsory education. In addition, municipalities may organise instruction preparing immigrants for basic education. The municipality organises integration training for integration clients who are not within the scope of compulsory education.

Prior to vocational education and training or general upper secondary school, immigrants may participate in preparatory education for upper secondary qualification (TUVA). In addition, higher education institutions offer a great deal of education in English or other languages and preparatory studies for higher education. 

Teaching of Finnish and Swedish and supporting one's mother tongue

The Finnish and Swedish skills of adult immigrants can be promoted, for example, through separate language courses or in connection with integration training. When an immigrant attends integration training in Swedish, studies may include Finnish language studies.

From the perspective of immigrant learning, mastering one's own mother tongue is also important. Developing one's own mother tongue also supports other studies and Finnish or Swedish language studies. 

If necessary, immigrants may also receive reading and writing instruction. The teaching of literacy for the adult immigrants is provided in basic education for adults and in liberal adult education institutions. 

Read more:

Education for immigrants
Finnish National Agency for Education web page on education for immigrants