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Tartu Finnish School

Estonia, Tartu

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Finnish, English
Fees €1,740 - 2,400
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 15
Type Co-educational
Opened 2000
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Finnish Curriculum
Taught languages English, Estonian, Swedish
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Tartu Finnish School is a private overseas Finnish basic-education school for grades 1–9, located in the city center in a building shared with Tartu International School. It follows the Finnish curriculum and is affiliated with Finland. The school delivers a large-scale bilingual program with English as the target language, while Estonian instruction is offered in a language-immixed format with less than 25% of content in languages other than the target language. Most subjects are taught in English, with some lessons in multi-age classes delivered in joint sessions with Tartu International School using CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). The aim is for pupils to continue their studies in Finland when they return home. Established in autumn 2000, the school has a small student body (around 15 pupils) and is run by the Tartu Finnish School Association ry. The curriculum mirrors Finland's basic education, and language immersion is supported by exchanges, projects, and collaboration with the Finnish school community, including trips within Estonia and to Tartu.

Tarton suomalainen koulu, J. Liivi 2d, 50409 Tartu, Estonia

The Essentials

Tartu Finnish School has 15 pupils, instruction in Finnish, English.

Location
Tartu, Estonia. The school is located at J. Liivi 2d, 50409 Tartto, Estonia. It is a small private Finnish overseas school for Finnish children living in Tartu and shares a building with the Tartu International School. Most lessons are conducted together with the Tartu International School, enabling language development and multicultural experiences.

Stages
Grades 1–9.

Type
Private Finnish overseas school equivalent to Finnish basic education.

Country affiliation
Finland
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch is provided as part of the school day.

Governance and Ownership
The school is operated by the Tartton Finnish School Association ry. The association's registered office is in Helsinki. Postal and visiting address: J. Liivi 2d, 50409 Tartto, Estonia. The 2026 board is chaired by Heidi Iivari; other board members are Lasse Hyyrynen, Markus Nylund, Maili Nurme, and Jonne Köpman. The association's board serves as the school's governing board. The business registration number (Y-tunnus) is 1613705-2.
Fees

Annual tuition at Tartu Finnish School ranges from EUR 1,740 to EUR 2,400 for 2026/27.

Application fees
- There is no separate application fee for enrollment; registration is completed using the school's electronic enrollment form.

Tuition fees by year group (2026–2027 academic year)
- Lower grades (1.–6.): EUR 870 per lukukausi (term). EUR 1,740 per academic year (two terms).
- Upper grades (7.–9.): EUR 1,200 per lukukausi (term). EUR 2,400 per academic year (two terms).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is charged per lukukausi (per term); the school year is organized into an autumn term and a spring term. Invoices reflect the per-term amounts.
- Pupils who are not officially on the school's roll on the September census day are charged an additional, individual pupil fee to cover costs.
- Specific invoice due dates and any installment or late-payment rules are set by the school and shown on the invoice or enrollment correspondence.

Boarding fees
- The school operates as a small day school located in Tartu (shared school building with the Tartu International School); no boarding provision or boarding fees are applied.

Other costs and incidental fees
- A one-off, pupil-specific charge may be applied for pupils not registered by the September counting date.
- Occasional additional costs can occur for school-organized activities such as trips, special projects or optional club activities; these are charged separately when applicable. No standard uniform fee or mandatory uniform purchase is listed.

Refund information
- No standard, published refund schedule for tuition is presented in the routine enrollment information; refund or withdrawal handling is determined by the school/association and communicated in enrollment or invoicing terms.

Fee payment options
- Payments are made by bank transfer to the school association's accounts. The association's payment details (IBANs and BICs) include:
- OmaSP: FI7441080013083186, BIC ITELFIHH.
- Swedbank (Estonia): EE442200221017091823, BIC HABAEE2X.

Currency for all published fees: EUR.
Academics

Tartu Finnish School teaches Finnish Curriculum.

Curriculum
The school offers basic education for grades 1–9 following the Finnish curriculum. It uses a large-scale bilingual instruction model with English as the target language; Estonian language instruction is offered in a language-immixed form in which less than 25% of subject content is taught in a language other than the target language. Instruction is delivered in joint classes with the Tartu International School, using CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) where the language of instruction is also a learning tool. Most subjects are taught in English, and some subjects are taught in multi-age classes. Language immersion and an international dimension are supported by ongoing projects and exchanges, with the aim that pupils can continue their studies in Finland when they return home.

Student Teacher Ratio
Very small class groups; the school has about 15 students in total, and pupils receive a lot of attention and personal guidance.

Higher Education Progression
Student guidance supports transitions to the next stage of education. There is a dedicated guidance plan, and the school collaborates with Tartu International School to align timetables and subject content with both Finnish and international curricula. Guidance activities help pupils plan for further education and careers, with involvement of parents.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school is safe and student-centered, where every student can be themselves. Professional teachers support the diverse intellectual development of students and help them grow into independent young people. The school strives to keep students motivated, to foster the joy of learning, and to ensure they feel safe at school. The school collaborates with Tartu International School to provide a multilingual, intercultural learning environment, with most lessons taught jointly, helping students build practical language skills and experience working in a diverse community.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Language learning is supported in a natural environment, with emphasis on foreign language practice beyond the classroom. Language-immersion experiences include museum visits and theatre/film events to motivate students to use foreign languages in authentic settings. The school participates in the Expanding bilingual education project, funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education, which began in 2017 and continues into the 2025-2026 school year. The project, Kielten opetuksen tehostaminen, provides language-immersed instruction with Estonian as the target language and extensive bilingual instruction with English as the target language, using CLIL. Immersion extends to regular school life in Estonian, and bilingual instruction is delivered in joint classes with the Tartu International School in English.

Mental Wellbeing
Students learn in a safe, student-centered environment. The staff work to support students' development and well-being, with an emphasis on motivation, the joy of learning, and a sense of security within the school. The environment aims to be nurturing and inclusive, fostering positive mental well-being for all students.

Safeguarding
The school is safe and student-centered, where every student can be themselves. Teachers provide professional support for students' academic and personal growth, and the school prioritizes a safe learning environment to ensure students feel secure throughout their time at the school.
Parent Experience

History
Autumn 2000 marked the start of Tartu Finnish School. It is located in the city center in a building shared with Tartu International School. The school is private and operated by the Tartu Finnish School Association ry, serving grades 1–9 with around 15 pupils. Most pupils study here for 1–3 years and then continue their schooling in Finland when their family returns home. The curriculum mirrors Finland's basic education, enabling students to continue in the same grade level.

Community
The school collaborates closely with Tartu International School, with many lessons taught together, building practical language skills and multicultural experience. Tartu International School offers English-language instruction in the following subjects: English, Estonian, German, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, health education, physical education, music, visual arts, geography, environmental studies, and technology. Field trips in Tartu and elsewhere in Estonia are feasible for a small group, and participation in local events and visits to cultural sites is part of school life. We maintain ties with the Finnish educational world and welcome visitors.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school is run by the Tartu Finnish School Association ry. The association provides governance and coordinates school activities and outreach. It maintains ties with the Finnish education system and participates in development projects, including expansion of language-immersion programs and development of after-school clubs. The association organizes clubs and activities for pupils and families based on their wishes. Current projects include language-immersion expansion and club development. The association's contact details are listed on the site.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school is a small private Finnish overseas school located near the city center in the same building as the Tartu International School. The student body is typically around 15, with most students studying here for 1–3 years before continuing their schooling in Finland. Most lessons are taught together with the Tartu International School, promoting language practice and multicultural experiences. Trips to Tartu and elsewhere in Estonia are easily arranged for the small student group.

Academic Facilities
Education is offered for grades 1–9. Extensive bilingual instruction is used, and Finnish students study some subjects in English in mixed-age classes.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Student extracurricular activities are active. A range of clubs focusing on culture and sport is offered. The association can organize activities according to the wishes of students and families. The school participates in programs supported by the Finnish National Agency for Education to develop club activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Most lessons are organized jointly with Tartu International School, enriching language learning. The Finnish School participates in Finnish National Board of Education development projects, including language-immersion expansion. Our school has about 15 pupils. Trips in Tartu and across Estonia support experiential learning.

Arts & Creative
Clubs are active and include culture- and sport-focused activities. The association organizes activities based on students' and families' wishes. We participate in projects to improve club offerings.

Cultural & Language
The Finnish School collaborates with Tartu International School, with many lessons organized together. Tartu International School offers English-language instruction in many subjects. Trips in Tartu and Estonia support language and cultural experiences.

Social & Hobbies
Clubs offer culture- and sport-focused activities. Activities are organized according to students' and families' wishes. The school participates in club-development projects.

Community & Service
The association develops club activities to support the school community. We maintain ties with the Finnish school world and welcome visitors. We participate in Finnish National Board of Education projects on language immersion and club development.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports-focused clubs are offered as part of student activities. Trips within Tartu and across Estonia provide cultural and outdoor experiences. Clubs and activities are organized with input from students and families.
Languages

Language Provision
CLIL informs the curriculum, with Estonian as the immersion target language and English as the bilingual instruction language. Some subjects are taught in English in joint classes with Tartu International School.

Bilingual Teaching
The school uses CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) where the language of instruction is both the subject and the medium of learning. It runs extensive bilingual instruction with English as the target language, and some subjects are taught in English in joint classes with Tartu International School.

Immersion Programs
Language-immersion instruction is offered with Estonian as the target language. Part of the school's activities are regularly conducted in Estonian outside regular lessons to build language skills in a real-language environment.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Moving to Tartu? Contact the school as early as possible when planning the move. Because the school is small, even a single new student affects the teaching arrangements for the next school year. The official enrollment period for the next academic year is in the spring. Enrollment is conducted via an online registration form.

2. Tuition, services, and accommodations: Education at the private foreign school is paid. The amount of the semester tuition is decided annually by the association that runs the school. The school will strive to provide the best possible conditions for students, but it may not offer all the same services as in Finland. If a student requires special arrangements such as tutoring or an assistant, the parents should contact the school well in advance to negotiate.

3. Enrollment requirements and language: The pupil enrolling must be a Finnish citizen and speak Finnish. Enrollment instructions can be requested from the school. The school forms classes together with the Tartu International School and uses extensive bilingual instruction; Finnish students study some subjects in mixed-age classes in English.

4. Mid-year enrollment and cost considerations: Ask the principal about the possibility of joining mid-year. The school evaluates mid-year enrollment on a case-by-case basis. Students who are not on the school rolls by the September counting day will be charged an additional student-specific fee to cover costs.
School Events
The school has not added events
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