On this page

1. Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

2. Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

3. Recognition of learning outcomes

4. Funding

5. Quality assurance

Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

Finland has a legal basis for apprenticeship training. The Act on Vocational Education and Training (in Finnish) (2017) states that an authorisation to provide education may specify the right to provide any qualification included in the qualification structure and the advanced or supplementary vocational education in the form of apprenticeship training.

Also the responsibilities of each party involved in traineeships and apprenticeships are outlined by the law. The organiser of a traineeship is responsible for the occupational safety of a trainee as specified in the Act on Occupational Safety and Health (in Finnish) (2002) and in the Young Workers’ Act (in Finnish) (1993). The law also regulates the daily and weekly maximum working hours of the trainee and specifies that the contract has to include a precise job description of the work the trainee is expected to perform. If necessary, the public employment and business office can demand separate terms and conditions in traineeship contracts. In addition, the Act on Equality between Women and Men (in Finnish) (1986), the Non-Discrimination Act (in Finnish) (2014) and the Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life are also applicable in labour market policy (in Finnish) (2004). 

As described in Key figures on apprenticeship training in Finland (2016) by the Finnish National Agency of Education, the provision of apprenticeship training is based on an authorisation to provide education, which is granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The training provider is responsible for the administration of apprenticeship training and the monitoring of apprenticeships. The training provider is also responsible for, among other things, assessing the suitability of the placement workplace, the identification and recognition of the student’s prior education, approving the apprenticeship agreement, drafting the student’s personal study plan, paying training compensation to employers, paying student financial aid and making arrangements for competence-based qualifications. For more information, see for example the Cedefop European Database on Apprenticeship Schemes (reference year 2019) of the European Commission.

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

According to the Government Programme 2024-2027, the government 'will promote the use of training agreements and apprenticeship training'. They promise for example 'explore the possibilities to stagger the financial compensation for education and training paid during an apprenticeship training as studies progress.'

There is a lot of information about traineeships and apprenticeships. Job Market Finland is a service developed by the KEHA Centre, which is the Development and Administration Centre for the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre), the Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office), and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Details of traineeships and apprenticeships are provided on their On the Job Learning website. Traineeships are recognised as important for students, as they can be a mandatory part of vocational education, training programmes, and university or university of applied sciences degrees. 

The Association of Apprenticeship Organisers offers an online database with a search engine for students, employers, entrepreneurs and its members, see apprenticeship.fi. 

Recognition of learning outcomes

Knowledge, skills, and competencies gained through traineeships, apprenticeships, or training agreements can often be validated as part of a formal degree programme. The methods used for recognition, as well as the compatibility of the credit system with ECTS and ECVET frameworks, are outlined below.

Traineeships, apprenticeships, and training agreements can be integrated into an individual’s personal study plan (HOPS) or a personal competence development plan (HOKS). In such cases, validation occurs within the formal education system, allowing these practical experiences to contribute toward the completion of a degree.

Key documents include the agreement prepared before the training period begins and the certificate granted upon completion. These written agreements provide essential details on the scope, content, and skills acquired during the training period, while also outlining the responsibilities of both the training and education providers.

Traineeships

Traineeships can be either a mandatory or voluntary part of a university degree, depending on the student’s study programme and the policies of the higher education institution. In general, Finnish higher education institutions follow the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Thus, traineeships completed as part of a degree programme are convertible into ECTS credits. One full-time month of traineeship equals 5 ECTS credits. 

In addition, students can complete an EDUFI traineeship. These traineeships can be included in a university degree, with each month corresponding to 5 ECTS credits. Recently graduated students are also eligible to apply for EDUFI traineeships.

The popularity of EDUFI traineeships has reportedly increased. According to a press release (in Finnish) by the Finnish National Agency for Education on 18 November 2024, the number of applications rose by 19% during the spring application period and by approximately 59% in the autumn. 

Apprenticeships and training agreements 

In Finland, students in vocational education can gain recognition for skills acquired in working life through either an apprenticeship or a training agreement. 

Apprenticeship training provides an opportunity to complete either an entire degree or part of one. Vocational upper secondary qualifications, further vocational qualifications, and specialist vocational qualifications can be completed partially or entirely through apprenticeship training. According to the Finnish National Agency for Education (in Finnish), the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) has served as the credit system for these qualifications since August 2015. The Ministry of Education and Culture states (in Finnish) that vocational upper secondary qualifications are 180 ECVET points; further vocational qualifications can be 120, 150, or 180 ECVET points; and specialist vocational qualifications can total 160, 180, or 210 ECVET points. 

The training agreement, again, is made between the education provider and the employer. Similar to apprenticeships, the learning outcomes are recorded in the student’s personal plan, and the training can support the completion of a degree. 

Finally, both universities and universities of applied sciences can apply the Recognition and Validation of Prior Learning (RAVPL or RPL; AHOT in Finnish) principle within their degree structures. For example, Humak University of Applied Sciences (Humak) states on its website that previous training and work experience can be recognised as prior competence if they align with the degree curriculum. 

Funding

In general, Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences receive their funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture. As noted, regarding the funding model, in Eurydice/Finland 13.4: National reforms in higher education, “[t]he funding model for universities and universities of applied sciences will change in 2025.” More information about the reform can be accessed through the Eurydice website. 

Traineeships 

Traineeships are often aimed at students in university or university of applied sciences degree programmes, as well as those who have recently graduated. Traineeships can be either paid or unpaid, and their funding varies depending on the student’s education institution, level of study, and the traineeship provider. 

When a traineeship is completed as part of a degree programme, the student may be eligible to receive a voucher for the internship from their education provider. For example, the University of Tampere offers information on such support through its Voucher for Internship page, which explains how the system can be implemented in higher education institutions. 

These vouchers are usually granted for paid traineeships and typically cover only part of the traineeship costs. Universities of applied sciences generally do not grant vouchers for traineeships. It is important to note that internship voucher practices may vary between education institutions and degree programmes. In some cases, traineeship application criteria may require that the student is eligible to receive a voucher from their home institution. However, traineeship providers may also choose to cover the costs independently. 

Additionally, cross-border traineeships under Erasmus+ and Nordplus programmes may offer financial support. 

Apprenticeships and training agreements 

According to the Act on Vocational Education and Training (in Finnish, also available in Swedish), apprenticeship training is based on an employment contract between the employer and the student. In addition, the education provider and the employer must have a written agreement outlining how the apprenticeship training is organised. The Finnish National Agency for Education also states (in Finnish) that the student receives a salary from the employer. The student may also be eligible to receive a daily allowance, financial assistance for families, and compensation for housing and travel costs from the education provider. 

If the apprenticeship training causes costs for the employer, they may be eligible to receive financial aid, i.e. training compensation from the education provider, based on the previously mentioned agreement between the employer and the education institution. 

Training agreements, on the other hand, are unpaid, as the student is not in an employment relationship with the employer. However, as outlined in the Act on Vocational Education and Training (in Finnish, also available in Swedish), the employer may receive training compensation if the student is eligible for demanding special support in their studies.

Quality assurance

The Finnish National Agency for Education follows the key figures and indicators of apprenticeship training. These figures include, for example, the number of students in vocational education and training, time taken to complete a qualification, and the progress of study. Furthermore, information about gender, language, educational background, as well as the special needs of students in apprenticeship training, are also monitored.