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Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Elementary, Middle School
Introduction
Oulu International School is a public, city‑owned school in Oulu, Finland, offering Basic Education (grades 1–9) in English. It follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum and combines it with a bespoke English‑language program. Learning is inquiry‑based and phenomenon‑based, with content organized into multidisciplinary units. In Years 1–6, students complete 5–6 units per year; in Years 7–9, modules combine 2–3 subject areas. The school is located at Kasarmintie 4, 90130 Oulu, and is owned by the City of Oulu. It began in August 2001 and opened as an independent school in August 2002. About 446 students are taught by 37 teachers in age‑based classes, with auxiliary staff available. The library is a central resource, and students may pursue a bilingual Reading Diploma adapted from the Oulu City program. Extracurricular clubs include Boardgames, Math, Chess, and Dungeons & Dragons, along with Drama, Animated Film, Cooking and Puuhakerho, plus Erasmus‑driven projects and well‑being activities.
Oulu International School has 446 pupils, instruction in English.
Location
The school is located at Kasarmintie 4, 90130 Oulu, Finland. It is owned by the City of Oulu.
Stages
Basic Education (Grades 1-9).
Type
Public, city-owned international school offering Basic Education in English.
Additional learning support
Student welfare and learning support are provided, including School Health Services (nurse, insurance, dental care, and medical treatment plans) and Student Counselling. A Transition Class supports new arrivals from abroad to develop English skills for up to two years, and Special Education with individual learning plans.
Country affiliation
Finland.
School day structure
The length of the school day varies by grade; class timetables are issued at the start of each term. Afternoon care is provided for grades 1-2.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees
Application fees - There is no application fee for applying to Oulu International School. Formal applications and the school's language-proficiency admission test form part of the municipal admissions process; families complete the standard application forms used for Oulu schools.
Tuition fees by year group (Years 1–9) - Years 1–9: No tuition is charged. Basic education at Oulu International School is provided free of charge and includes access to curriculum teaching and free learning materials. There are no per-term or per-year tuition charges for enrolled pupils.
Billing schedule and payment terms (for chargeable services) - Afternoon care (paid service): invoiced monthly in arrears; the invoice is normally sent to the home address as a paper invoice unless an e-invoice option is selected. Late payment interest and standard arrears procedures apply. Payment queries for municipal invoicing are handled by the city's billing service. - Other occasional charges (for example, transport to/from school where applicable, certain optional services supplied by third parties): invoicing and payment schedules vary by service; when the city or a contracted provider charges a fee it is typically billed according to that service's published billing cycle (for afternoon care that cycle is monthly). Guardians living outside Oulu who are admitted should confirm how transport or other costs will be handled with their home municipality.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. Oulu International School is a day/basic education school (Grades 1–9) and does not provide boarding or residential accommodation for pupils.
Other costs and routine out-of-pocket items - School meals: balanced school lunches are provided as part of basic education and are not charged to pupils. - Afternoon care (optional for eligible years): the municipal standard fee for afternoon care is EUR 120 per calendar month for the first child; sibling discount applies (each additional child in the same family is charged EUR 60 per calendar month). The fee is charged from August to the end of May; the fee is fixed regardless of month length. Sick‑leave and partial‑attendance rules can reduce the charge in certain cases. - Clubs and extracurricular clubs: after‑school clubs organised by the school are free of charge. - Class trips and excursions: the city's guidance is that education should not create mandatory costs for pupils. Any extra expenses related to trips may be covered through voluntary fundraising; all students are allowed to participate regardless of whether guardians contributed to fundraising. Guardians should expect occasional voluntary contributions for activities or optional extras (e.g., materials or voluntary trip costs). Supervision and insurance for trips are provided by the school. - Personal/consumable items: parents normally provide practical items such as clothing for outdoor breaks, P.E. kit and any personally required materials or equipment for hobbies and sports. The school requests suitable P.E. clothing and footwear for lessons and outdoor activity.
Refund and cancellation rules (where fees apply) - Afternoon care refunds/adjustments: if a child's illness results in attendance of 10 days or fewer in a calendar month, half the monthly fee is charged; if absence due to illness covers the whole calendar month, no fee is charged. If a guardian cancels an afternoon care place they must give notice by the 15th of the current month to avoid charges for the next month; cancellation after the 15th typically incurs a half‑month charge. Start‑date changes and single permitted postponements are covered by the municipal rules. - Class trip or activity refunds: trips and additional activities organised on a voluntary/fundraising basis follow the published arrangements for that activity; the school provides supervision and insurance but any refunds for voluntary payments or third‑party arrangements are handled according to the organiser's published terms.
Fee payment options and where payments are processed - Municipal invoicing is handled through the City of Oulu's billing processes; invoices for chargeable services (for example, afternoon care) are issued monthly in arrears and list the payment instructions. The city's billing service contact is used for invoicing queries. - Payments to city service points: municipal customer service points (Oulu10 and others) accept the most common bank and credit cards and cash for municipal payments. E‑invoice/electronic invoice options are available where supported. For transport benefit or other income‑based allowances, separate application and handling procedures apply.
Academics
Oulu International School teaches Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 7 to 16.
Curriculum
OIS follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum, and English is taught in accordance with both the national and the school's own curriculum. Learning is inquiry-based and phenomenon-based, with content organized into multidisciplinary units. In Years 1–6 there are 5–6 units per academic year; in Years 7–9 there are one to two modules combining 2–3 subject areas.
Student Teacher Ratio
435 students and 37 teachers; approximately 12:1.
Higher Education Progression
OIS has close links with the IB Diploma Programme of Oulun Lyseo, located in the same building (Kasarmintie 4).
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions
School Events
The school has not added events
FAQs
What curriculum does OIS follow?
OIS follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum with English taught in accordance with both national and school-specific requirements.
Does the school offer special education support?
Yes, special education is provided to students who have difficulties related to learning, with dedicated support services.
How many students attend the school?
Approximately 446 students attend Oulu International School in northern Finland.
What age range does the school serve?
OIS serves students from age 7 onwards, following the Finnish comprehensive school system.
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