This page compares the education systems of Finland and South Korea.
Education System Overview
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Predominantly public provision with a small non-state sector; administration is decentralized, with municipalities responsible for local provision while national legislation and curricula steer the system. [EDUFI] | Public/private mix; mixed governance combining national policy and standards with decentralized local education administration. The Ministry of Education operates at the national level, while 17 Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education oversee local education. [Korea MOE] |
| Governing Body | The Ministry of Education and Culture oversees national education policy, while the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) develops curricula, qualifications and education services. [EDUFI] | Ministry of Education (MOE); 17 Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education; and local Offices of Education. [Korea MOE] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 5.2% of GDP for primary through tertiary education in 2022, compared with an OECD average of 4.7%. [OECD] | 5.4% (2022). [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Compulsory education covers ages 6–18. It begins with compulsory pre-primary education at age 6, followed by primary and lower secondary education from about age 7 and continued upper secondary study until age 18 or completion of an upper secondary qualification. [EDUFI] | Approximately age 6 to age 15, covering six years of elementary school and three years of middle school. [Korea MOE] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | Up to about 12 years, from age 6 until age 18. Compulsory education may end earlier if the learner completes an upper secondary qualification before turning 18. [Finnish Government] | 9 years: 6 years of elementary education plus 3 years of middle school. [Korea MOE] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Early childhood education and care before age 6 is optional; one year of pre-primary education at age 6 is compulsory. Participation among children aged 3–5 reached 89% in 2023. [OECD] | Optional; enrollment among children aged 3–5 was 95.7% in 2023. [OECD] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 1 + 6 + 3 + approximately 3: one year of pre-primary education, grades 1–6, grades 7–9, followed by general or vocational upper secondary education. Basic education itself lasts 9 years. [EDUFI] | 6 + 3 + 3: six years of elementary school, three years of middle school and three years of high school. The broader system is commonly described as 6-3-3-4 when the standard four-year university stage is included. [Korea MOE] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | — | 14.9% Vocational / 85.1% General (2023). [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August. In the 2026–2027 school year, most primary and lower secondary schools began on 12 or 13 August 2026, with local variation. [EDUFI] | March. The first semester begins in March. [Korea MOE] |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June. The 2026–2027 primary and lower secondary school year ends on 5 June 2027. [EDUFI] | February, following the second semester and winter vacation period. [Korea MOE] |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | About 38 weeks, based on the annual number of statutory working days and local holiday schedules. The 2026–2027 school year contains 189 working days. [EDUFI] | — |
| Instruction Days per Year | 189 days in 2026–2027. Finnish law sets a base of 190 working days, reduced when specified public holidays fall on weekdays. [EDUFI] | At least 190 days per school year for elementary, middle and high schools, subject to limited statutory reductions in specified circumstances. [Korean Law] |
Grading System
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | Assessment is descriptive in lower grades, with numerical assessment introduced by grade 4 at the latest. The national numerical scale is 4–10: 10 is excellent and 4 is fail. [EDUFI] | Assessment varies by school level. Middle-school achievement commonly uses A–E achievement levels. For students entering high school from 2025, the former nine-grade internal ranking system was replaced by a five-grade system under the 2028 university admissions changes. [Korea MOE] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Commonly 0–5, with 5 as excellent and 0 as fail; some studies use Pass/Fail. [University of Helsinki] | Institution-specific; 4.5 and 4.3 GPA scales with letter grades are commonly used. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Finnish and Swedish are the two national languages and the main languages of instruction. About 90% of primary and lower secondary schools are Finnish-speaking and about 10% Swedish-speaking. [EDUFI] | Korean is the main language of instruction in the national school system. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Sámi languages are used in relevant areas, and approved bilingual or foreign-language provision includes programmes taught partly or fully in languages such as English, French and German. [EDUFI] | — |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Latest comparative figures place the public share at about 97% in basic education and about 90% in upper secondary education. [Education Profiles] | Primary: approximately 98% / Secondary: approximately 72% (2024). [World Bank] [World Bank] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0. Pre-primary and primary and lower secondary education are tuition-free, with learning materials, school meals and specified pupil services also provided without charge. [EDUFI] | $0 standard tuition for public elementary and middle education; nationwide free high-school education was extended to all grades from 2021, covering admission fees, tuition, school operation support fees and textbooks within the statutory scheme. [Korea MOE] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Municipalities are responsible for arranging education for children and young people aged 6–18 living in the municipality, with pupils normally allocated a nearby school place. [EDUFI] | Yes. Public schools operate nationwide under the metropolitan, provincial and local education administration system. [Korea MOE] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Latest comparative figures place the private share at about 3% in basic education and about 10% in upper secondary education. [Education Profiles] | Primary: approximately 2% / Secondary: approximately 28% (2024). [World Bank] [World Bank] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | The sector is small nationwide, with private and specialized schools more visible in larger population centers. Private basic schools operate under national education rules and constitute only a small part of total provision. [Education Profiles] | — |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | 45 government-listed foreign/international K–12 institutions: 38 foreign schools, 3 foreign educational institutions at elementary/secondary level and 4 Jeju international schools. [ISI] |
| Number of IB World Schools | 20 schools in Finland are listed in the current IB school directory. [IB] | 134 schools are listed by the International Baccalaureate school finder for the Republic of Korea. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate programmes are widely represented, while the European School of Helsinki offers the European Baccalaureate. Finland also has bilingual and foreign-language national education routes. [EDUFI] | International Baccalaureate (IB), American, British, Canadian and other authorized foreign curricula, depending on the school. [ISI] |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | Class teachers and subject teachers generally require a Master’s degree together with the prescribed teacher education and pedagogical studies for the post. [EDUFI] | A recognized teacher qualification certificate is required. Standard Grade 2 regular-teacher routes are completed through approved university-level teacher education with prescribed major and teaching coursework; public-school recruitment also follows the applicable appointment process. [Korean Law] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | About 19 pupils in grades 1–6 in the latest national EDUFI brochure reporting teaching-group averages. [EDUFI] | 18.6 students (2026). [KEDI] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | About 17 pupils in grades 7–9 in the latest national EDUFI brochure reporting teaching-group averages. [EDUFI] | 24.5 students (2026). [KEDI] |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | 23.1 students (2026). [KEDI] |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 507 / 520 / 522 [EDUFI] | 526 / 514 / 519 [OECD] |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 484 / 490 / 511 [OECD] | 527 / 515 / 528 [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 469 / 474 / 504. Finland remained above the OECD averages of 463, 461 and 482 respectively. [OECD] | 522 / 501 / 526 [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | In 2025, Finland scored lower than in 2022 in mathematics and reading and about the same in science. Across all three subjects, 2025 performance was lower than in any assessment before 2022, extending a long-term decline in mean scores since 2006. [OECD] | Korea has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and science performance was about the same, while reading was lower. Compared with a decade earlier, mathematics and science were about the same in 2025, while reading was lower. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science, with a mean score of 504. In science, 81% of Finnish students reached at least proficiency Level 2 and 11% reached Level 5 or 6. [OECD] | Science — 526 points. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 35 in the main civilian higher education system: 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences. The National Defence University operates separately. [Study in Finland] | 416 higher education institutions (2026). [KEDI] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 13 universities. [Study in Finland] | 188 general universities in the official 2026 higher-education classification. [KEDI] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 22 universities of applied sciences. [Study in Finland] | 126 junior colleges (2026). [KEDI] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS). Universities emphasize academic research and research-based education, while UAS institutions have a more professionally oriented role. [Study in Finland] | General universities, universities of education, junior colleges, graduate-school universities, cyber universities and other specialized higher education institutions. [Korea MOE] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | — | Public: 20.3% / independent private: 79.7% (2023). [OECD] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | More than 600 English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes are listed across Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences. [Study in Finland] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027 is used here for a consistent current comparison of Finnish universities. [Study in Finland] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 0 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Finland’s highest positions are the University of Helsinki at 123 and Aalto University at 126. [Study in Finland] | 4 in QS 2027: Seoul National University (#38), Yonsei University (#42), Korea University (#=52) and KAIST (#65). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 6 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [Study in Finland] | 17 South Korean universities are ranked within the top 500 in QS 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 9 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [Study in Finland] | 31 South Korean universities are ranked within the top 1000 in QS 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | FINEEC — the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre — is the national external evaluation authority for higher education and conducts institutional quality audits. [FINEEC] | Korean University Accreditation Institute (KUAI), affiliated with the Korean Council for University Education, is the recognized institutional accreditor for four-year universities. [KCUE] |
| International Students (Total) | 37,380 international full-degree students in Finnish higher education institutions in 2024, the latest full-degree total published by EDUFI. [EDUFI] | 307,464 foreign students in higher education (2026), including 223,191 degree students and 84,273 non-degree students. [KEDI] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 10.7% of higher education students in 2024 were international full-degree students. [EDUFI] | 10.0% in 2026 (307,464 foreign students among 3,072,261 higher-education students). [KEDI] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 tuition for Finnish and EU/EEA students in regular Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes. Doctoral programmes do not charge tuition regardless of nationality. [Study in Finland] | Approximately $3,180 average annual undergraduate tuition at national/public universities, based on the official national/public average of KRW 4,265,841.8. [Study in Korea] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Approximately $9,300–$23,200 per year for non-EU/EEA students in English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, based on the official fee range of €8,000–€20,000 converted to U.S. dollars. Actual fees vary by institution and programme. [Study in Finland] | — |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | Approximately $9,300–$23,200 per year for tuition-paying non-EU/EEA students. University scholarships may reduce the amount for eligible students. [Study in Finland] | — |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Finland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Finland has a publicly funded, municipality-led education system with national legislation and curricula providing common requirements across the country. Compulsory education covers ages 6–18: pre-primary education begins at age 6, nine-year basic education normally begins at age 7, and students then continue into general or vocational upper secondary education. Public basic education is tuition-free and includes learning materials, school meals and specified support services. Finnish and Swedish are the main languages of instruction, with Sámi and several bilingual or foreign-language options also available. Higher education is divided between 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences. In PISA 2025, Finland scored 469 in mathematics, 474 in reading and 504 in science, remaining above the OECD average in all three domains. Mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same; science remained the highest-scoring domain. Recent changes include the revised learning-support system introduced in August 2025 and the start of authorized English-language general upper secondary education in August 2026. [EDUFI] | South Korea uses a 6-3-3-4 education structure with national policy led by the Ministry of Education and local administration carried out through 17 Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education and their local offices. Elementary and middle school provide nine years of compulsory education, while free high-school education has applied nationwide across all grades since 2021. The school year begins in March, and elementary, middle and high schools normally provide at least 190 instructional days. Korean is the main language of instruction. The system includes general and vocational high-school pathways, with vocational programmes accounting for 14.9% of upper-secondary enrollment in 2023. In PISA 2025, Korea scored 522 in mathematics, 501 in reading and 526 in science, with science recording the highest of the three scores. Higher education included 416 institutions in 2026, while the number of foreign students reached 307,464. Current school changes include the High School Credit System, the five-grade high-school internal ranking system for cohorts entering from 2025 and revised credit-completion rules from 2026. The Ministry is also expanding AI-related teaching support in schools and funding general AI curricula at selected universities. |