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Taught languages Russian, English, Finnish, Swedish, French, German, Japanese
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, Sport
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Academic and Intellectual
Stages Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction
The Finnish-Russian School is a state-funded bilingual institution in Helsinki offering preschool, basic and upper secondary education with instruction in Finnish and Russian. In basic education, the school follows the national core curriculum, while Russian language and culture are studied to a significantly greater extent. The elementary curriculum is published as part of the school's materials, and the upper-secondary program follows LOps 2021 Lukion opinto-opas for the 2025–2026 academic year. The school welcomes 700 pupils. It operates in a new building completed in autumn 2021 in Etelä-Kaarela. Facilities include a central auditorium seating 200, with a stage and audio-visual equipment, plus a small multipurpose hall for indoor activities and a separate meeting room with hybrid meeting capability. After the school day, learners may join theatre, visual arts and chess clubs, participate in Erasmus exchanges, and engage in student council activities. After-school care runs for younger pupils in a supervised program.
The Finnish-Russian School has 700 pupils, instruction in Finnish, Russian.
Location
The Finnish-Russian School is located in Helsinki, in the Etelä-Kaarela area. Address: Kaarelankuja 2b, 00430 Helsinki. Parking is allowed on school grounds in a clearly marked area along Kaarelankuja and is free for visitors. Drop-off and pick-up points are signposted separately; vehicular access to the school yard is restricted to service traffic.
Stages
Pre-school (esiopetus); Basic education (grades 1–9); Lukio (upper secondary).
Type
Comprehensive state language school (valtion kielikoulu) under the Finnish National Agency for Education, offering esiopetus, perusopetus and lukio.
Additional learning support
Laaja-alainen erityisopetus is provided as part-time support to assist learners with reading and writing difficulties, mathematics, study techniques, and speech therapy; planned in cooperation with the student, guardians, teachers and, if needed, other professionals.
Country affiliation
Finland
School day structure
Daily lessons vary by grade: grades 1–5 have 45-minute lessons; grades 6–9 and lukio have 75-minute lessons; timetables change by term due to staggered meals. The school day follows Helsinki's calendar, with after-school activities for esi- and early-primary students until 17:00.
Diving Deeper
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Fees
Application fees - There is no separate application or enrollment fee charged by the school for admission to basic education (perusopetus, grades 1–9) or upper secondary education (lukio).
Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year) - Perusopetus (grades 1–9): No tuition is charged; basic schooling, required textbooks and other essential learning materials are provided without charge. (No per-term or per-year tuition applies for basic education.) - Lukio (upper secondary): No tuition is charged for full-time lukio studies. (No per-term or per-year tuition applies for upper secondary students.) - Esikoulu / iltapäivähoito (preschool afternoon care): Fees are charged monthly for the paid afternoon care service for esikoululaiset. The stated rates for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 school years are: - Care until 16:00 — EUR 135 per month (reduced rate EUR 83 per month when income-based discount applies). - Care until 17:00 — EUR 155 per month (reduced rate EUR 105 per month when income-based discount applies). - Paid extracurricular clubs and private lessons: Many extracurricular clubs (kerhot) and private music/sports lessons are charged separately. Examples of published 2025–2026 rates include: - Chess club: EUR 6 per lesson; kerhovihko (notebook) EUR 10 for the season. - Bailatino (dance) — EUR 90 for the autumn term (approximately 15 sessions). - Kuvataide (art) classes organized by external provider — EUR 45 per month (provider pricing). - Legokerho (limited-session club) — example season fee EUR 70 (8 sessions). - Private instrumental lessons (piano, guitar etc.) are arranged by external teachers; fees are charged by the teacher/provider and vary by arrangement. - School meals and snack tickets: - A full school meal (lunch) is provided free to pupils on school days. - Välipala (snack) tickets are sold: one snack ticket equals EUR 0.50; tickets are sold in bundles of 25 (EUR 12.50 minimum purchase). Paid snack tickets must be redeemed during the current term and are not refunded. Payment instructions (bank IBANs and payment reference format) are published for these purchases.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Esikoulu / iltapäivähoito: - Fees are charged on a monthly basis. The school may adjust prices in line with the cost-of-living index and will notify families at least one month before a change. Termination of the afternoon-care agreement requires one calendar month's notice. If the child does not attend during the notice month, a half-month fee is charged; if the child attends during the notice month, the full-month fee is charged. - Extracurricular clubs and private lessons: - Club fees and payment schedules are determined by the club provider; some clubs invoice after the season, some require prepayment or monthly payments — invoices normally reflect attendance and the provider's terms. Parents receive the specific billing information from the club provider or instructor. - Snack tickets and small purchases: - Snack ticket purchases are paid by bank transfer to the school's account(s) using the supplied IBAN and BIC details; the purchase receipt is used to collect the tickets from the school office. Snack tickets are non-refundable and must be redeemed within the current term.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered by this school; there are no boarding facilities or boarding fees. Education and services are provided on a day-school basis.
Other costs or fees (uniform, materials, excursions, etc.) - No compulsory school uniform fee is listed for students. Required textbooks and other essential instructional materials are provided free as part of basic education under Finnish law, but optional or non-compulsory items (private instrument rentals/lessons, club materials, some art supplies supplied by external providers) may require payment. Excursion or extracurricular provider fees (transport, entrance fees, special materials) may be charged separately when applicable. Examples of external-provider material or course fees are shown in the clubs listing.
Refund information - Snack tickets: Paid snack tickets are not refunded; they must be redeemed during the current term. - Esikoulu / iltapäivähoito: Termination rules (one calendar month's notice) and the half-month/ full-month charging practice on termination are stated; this determines the applicable charge on withdrawal. Price-change notices are issued at least one month in advance. - Clubs and private lessons: Refund and cancellation policies depend on the external provider or instructor; some providers invoice only for attended sessions while others have fixed-term fees. Parents should follow the provider's stated refund/cancellation terms contained in each club's registration information.
Fee payment options - Bank transfer (IBAN/BIC) is an accepted and published payment method for school-managed small payments such as snack tickets; the school provides the exact account and reference information for these payments. - Club and lesson payments are handled by the external club provider or instructor according to their terms; invoicing, bank transfer, or card payment options may be used depending on the provider. The school's event pages also show that card payments may be accepted for some school events.
Academics
The Finnish-Russian School teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Finnish Curriculum for students aged 6 to 19.
Curriculum
The Finnish-Russian School is a state-funded bilingual educational institution where instruction is delivered in Finnish and Russian. In basic education, the school follows the national core curriculum, with Russian language and culture studied to a significantly greater extent. The elementary-school curriculum is published as part of the school's materials (the 2016 curriculum). The upper-secondary program follows LOps 2021 Lukion opinto-opas for the 2025–2026 academic year. The school has about 700 students.
Higher Education Progression
Opinto-opas provides guidance for planning and completing Lukio, including information about the matriculation examination (Yo). The Yo comprises five tests, including the mother tongue and at least four from specified groups; exams are held twice yearly and may be retaken. The school also provides access to information about the joint application process to Finnish higher education (Yhteishaku).
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
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Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions
Admissions
Admission to 1st grade: The application period for 1st grade for the 2026–2027 academic year has ended. Applications submitted after the deadline are placed on the waiting list. Admission to 1st grade is via an online application form, with the LEOPS attachment. First-grade admissions are prioritized for children who have completed SVK's pre-school. All applicants to 1st grade participate in a school readiness test, and the guardian decides whether the test is taken in Finnish or in Russian.
Admission to 2–9 grades: Applications for basic education classes 2–9 are submitted via an online application form. The next aptitude test will be held on April 9, 2026, and in this test a place in the 7th grade for the 2026–2027 school year can also be awarded. For the 2026–2027 school year, applicants may apply for the 4th or 7th grade; applications for other grades will be placed on the waiting list. Admission to 2–9 is through an aptitude test; if the applicant does not pass the aptitude test, they may re-apply for the next school year about a year later. For more information on applying, contact the assistant principals Katri Barannik-Tolvanen (grades 1–6) at 0295 332 403 and Sanna Torvikoski (grades 7–9) at 0295 332 404.
Waitlist
Waiting list: 1st grade applications submitted after the deadline are placed on the waiting list. For 2–9 grades, applications for other grades will be placed on the waiting list.
School Events
The school has not added events
FAQs
What curriculum does The Finnish-Russian School follow?
The school is a state-funded bilingual institution where instruction is delivered in Finnish and Russian, following the Finnish national curriculum.
How many students attend the school?
Approximately 700 students attend The Finnish-Russian School from preschool through upper secondary level.
Does the school offer welfare support?
Yes, the school has a multidisciplinary pupil welfare team that coordinates support for students with additional needs across all levels.
What age range does the school serve?
The school serves students aged 5 to 18, covering preschool through upper secondary education.
Is the school state-funded?
Yes, The Finnish-Russian School is a state-funded bilingual educational institution in Finland.
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