The better your education and training, the better your chances of finding a job are. It also pays to study because studying opens doors to your favourite kinds of jobs. This page gives you information, and links to sources of additional information, about education and training opportunities.
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When you are choosing a field of study, think about the following questions:
If you are an unemployed jobseeker aged under 25 without vocational skills, you must apply for at least two places in education and training leading to a qualification. Otherwise you risk losing your entitlement to labour market subsidy or unemployment benefit. You can also apply to education and training leading to a qualification and general upper secondary studies that are not part of the joint application system.
When you keep an open mind and investigate all opportunities to study, you may find that there are more options open for you than you ever imagined.
The Studyinfo.fi (Opintopolku.fi) service provides basic information about all studies at various levels of education. It also offers other valuable information about how to develop your skills and links to information sources.
The educational guarantee included in the youth guarantee guarantees a study place for each young person finishing their basic education
Many types of funding are available for students. Your life situation influences the type of subsidies for which you are eligible.
For example, a different type of support is granted for studies following basic education than for studies that you pursue while in working life. Specific support forms are available for the unemployed. A separate allowance is usually granted for your living costs.
More information about funding your studies:
If you did not get a place in education or training, do not remain sitting at home. You can take part in the second round of joint applications and look for an alternative for your first preference. Typically, the first year of studies teaches basic capabilities that are useful in later studies.
One gap year is not necessarily a risk if you can obtain work experience during it that will support your access to further studies. However, several gap years will increase your risk of being left out for good. According to Statistics Finland, 90 per cent of those aged 24 or over who do not have a job, a post primary qualification or uncompleted studies seem to be left permanently without further education.
If you did not get a place in the secondary level joint applications, have a look at your options at
If you have interrupted your studies leading to a qualification, you can finish them at a later date. It is often possible to continue your studies where you left off.
If your study right is no longer valid, you must re-apply for a place following the normal application procedure. Once you get a study right, the studies you have completed earlier can be included in your degree.
Contact educational institutions and the TE Office to ask about various possibilities of completing your studies.
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If you are aged 20 or over and unemployed or about to become unemployed, labour market training could improve your possibilities of finding a job. You can apply for the training even if you do currently have a job.
Labour market training mainly comprises vocational training, including education and training or further training that prepares your for a vocational or a further vocational qualification. Labour market training may also give you an opportunity to finish your university degree if you have dropped out, or a degree at a university of applied sciences as conversion training.
Labour market training is free, and you will be entitled to a training subsidy or a labour market subsidy that corresponds to your unemployment security while in training. You can apply for a place in labour market training through the TE Office either by filling in an online application form or a form that you can pick up at the TE Office.
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Apprenticeship training is vocational training that comprises practical work in a fixed-term employment relationship. On-the-job learning is complemented by studies at a vocational institution or an adult education centre. The training usually takes 2-4 years to complete.
As a rule, you can study for the same vocational qualifications and further and specialist qualifications through apprenticeship training as you would at an educational institution. Apprenticeship training will also give you an opportunity to take part in versatile further vocational training of 4-12 months. An entrepreneur can also obtain training under an apprenticeship training agreement.
A salary in accordance with the collective agreement will be paid to you while you are working. While you are studying at an educational institution, you will be entitled to other financial support.
The best way of finding an apprenticeship training place generally is to contact employers directly. In apprenticeship training questions, you will be served by the apprenticeship training office in your own area and educational institutions that organise apprenticeship training.
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If you are a customer of the local government trial on employment, contact your municipality of residence if you are interested in studying. Notify your municipality of residence of your study plans well in advance of starting the studies. You can also ask your municipality of residence about completing your studies and finding an apprenticeship job.