Get to know us
We have a strong tradition with over 60 years of education. We offer two stydy programs, national and sports orientated.
For young athletes, our school offers a highly polished and ready-made package that combines studies and sports training.
Our school is an Erasmus-accredited school, and it enables the development of long-term international activities and funding for mobilities until the end of the academic year 2026-2027.
In English
Studying and costs
In 2021, the Finnish Government decided to extend compulsory raise the leaving age to 18 years. General upper secondary schools do not have tuition fees. In other words, the education is free. Our school gives students all electronic learning materials including ebooks and laptops with necessary software programs.
Every student is also provided with a nutritious school lunch every school day free of charge.
General Upper Secondary schools provide plenty to choose from in terms of studies. In addition to obligatory courses, students can select a variety of courses that suit their preferences. The scope of the syllabus is three years, but one can complete the studies in two, three or four years. Studies must contain minimum of 75 study modules (150 ECTS).
The school year starts in August and ends in late May. The school year is divided into five periods. A separate schedule is given for each period concentrating on certain subjects. Each period ends with a test week, when students are tested on the subjects studied during that particular period.
General upper secondary school studies prepare the students for the matriculation examination which provides eligibility to apply to higher education institutions, universities and universities of applied sciences.
In the matriculation examination student must complete at least five mandatory exams. Exams are held twice a year in September and in March. Students are able to spread their examination into three consecutive examination periods.
Read more of Finnish matriculation examination
About us
Sotkamo General Upper Secondary School (map link) has a strong tradition with over 60 years of education. Over 300 students (aged 16 to 20) from over 70 Finnish municipalities are studying in two study programs in our active environment.
The school staff consists of 20+ teachers and 20+ sport coaches, three study counsellors, a school nurse, a youth psychologist, a sport psychologist, a social worker and a dormitory supervisor.
Our study offer enables wide choices for postgraduate studies, and high-quality study guidance and study maintenance support services are easily accessible in our new, modern school building.
Our school has been awarded four times as the best sports school in Finland, and we have a strong sports tradition since 1976. Vuokatti-Ruka Sports Academy’s professional coaches and experts, flexible schiol system and smooth everyday life offer athletes the opportunity to focus on both sports and studies.
The values our school stands by
Well-being
Student comes first
Participation and orderliness
Safe and positive environment
Subjects studied
Compulsory
Finnish Language and Literature, English, Swedish, Mathematics (standard or higher level), Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, History, Religion, Philosophy, Psychology, Music, Art, Physical Education, Health Education, Study Guidance.
Optional
German, French, Russian and advanced courses in compulsory subjects.
Study programs
Our school offers both a general academic tand a sports programs. Students in the general general program focus on traditional subjects, preparing for further studies in various fields, while those in the sports program combine their education with intensive athletic training, possibly aiming to pursue professional sports careers. Both programs provide a well-rounded education, balancing academics and extracurricular activities.
Sports Orientated Program
Sotkamo General Upper Secondary School is entrusted with a national specific educational mission in providing sports education.
In this program studies include sports training studies worth of 12-18 modules (24-36 ECTS)
Sports students are allowed to exclude 8 mandatory academic courses from their curriculum.
Our main sports are cross-country skiing biathlon, Finnish baseball, ice-hockey, swimming and orienteering.
Erasmus+
Our school is an Erasmus-accredited school, and it enables the development of long-term international activities and funding for mobilities until the end of the academic year 2026-2027.
Our OID code is E10009538.
Goals of our Erasmus plan
The goal is that every member of our school gets versatile and equal opportunities to participate in international activities, regardless of their background. In particular, we want to support the participation of people who until now have had fewer opportunities to participate, for example sports high school students and students living away from home, as well as students and staff with little international experience.
We offer opportunities to participate in mobilities, use the language in authentic environments and get to know foreign cultures also through virtual connections. Interest and respect for foreign languages and cultures as well as one’s own background is growing. International activities increase young people’s interest in our school.
A sufficient number of students guarantees the possibility of maintaining a wide range of study courses and high-quality coaching activities. Co-curricular activities bring to theoretical high school studies joint activities that support well-being and coping.
With the help of digital pedagogy and evaluation methods, we bring more flexibility to studies, the teachers’ skills are strengthened in the courses.
In high school, the competence related to well-being is important to combat the increased stress and burnout experiences among high school students and teachers.
The skills acquired in the courses for taking care of well-being improve.
Job-shadowing sessions provide practical practices for the everyday life of your own school.
Sustainable development and the UN’s Millennium Goals have been strongly highlighted in LOPS and the municipality’s educational program. Teaching these and developing attitudes is an important task of schools, it is reflected in positive attitudes in families. International courses strengthen the staff’s knowledge and skills about global citizenship in a practical way.
Courses on entrepreneurship education and future working life skills strengthen the position of entrepreneurship education in our school, and in this way we can offer young people a brighter picture of the future and employment.
The general conditions for the destination’s eligibility are:
• the destination country is a country participating in the Erasmus+ program
• the course is in line with the goals of our application
• the participant and the organization have made a quality and price comparison in the selection
Search for courses and trainings in different subjects, for example, in the course list of the School Education Gateway online forum.
Sports high school students make up more than half of our student population, and sports coaches make up half of our staff. High-quality coaching and flexible study arrangements are our strengths, but sports high school cooperation with international sports schools has not yet been a significant part of our operations.
Now we are building a cooperation model and network of sports schools with our European partner schools. International cooperation increases awareness and the quality of coaching. Our school’s strong position as a national sports high school is strengthened as the operating environment expands to become more international. At the same time, we export high school sports and coaching expertise to Europe.
The project offers athletic high school students, regardless of their background, equal opportunities to participate in international activities, e.g. for student exchange, group mobility and hosting of regular guests. The coaching management and the coaches are now strongly involved in the internationalization of the school, it will be a thing that unites the entire school.
Exchange year with us?
Sotkamo is a unique destination for your exchange. You will get to know a culture and a language that not so many people know!
No previous language experience required — beginners welcome! Exchange students are recommended to attend extra Finnish language courses outside of school. A basic knowledge of the language serves as a foundation for a successful exchange experience.
The school year runs from August till late May or early June. The year is divided into five study periods, each of which lasts about eight weeks. At the end of each study period we have an exam week. The exchange students are expected to take five courses in each study period and sit exams or write essays during the exam week. Courses are held in Finnish.
School will borrow a laptop and provide free ebooks as study materials. School lunch and a bus card to school transportation are also free of charge.
Welcome! Tervetuloa!
Contact
Opettaja, Sotkamon lukio
24B ryhmänohjaaja, biologia, kv-koordinaattori, 0447502428
Opettaja ja opinto-ohjaaja, Sotkamon lukio
maantiede, 0447502366