StadinAO / International Stadin AO

International Stadin AO

Introduction to Stadin AO


What kind of education does Stadin AO offer?


Stadin AO, Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute provides both young and adult students with a diverse learning environment and supports students’ well-being, broad and practical vocational skills development and lifelong learning. It also provides students with knowledge and skills necessary in further studies and promotes employment. Each study unit is assessed independently in real working-life situations.

What language skills are required?

All studies are conducted in Finnish with the exception of the Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry, which is conducted in English.

Participation in general vocational education and training in Stadin AO, Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute requires you to have basic Finnish language skills. You can demonstrate your language skills by taking a language proficiency examination or test. Read more about demonstrating language proficiency on the Finnish National Board of Education website.

Stadin AO, Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute

  • Is a multi-disciplinary vocational college run by the City of Helsinki
  • Is funded by the Finnish Government and the City of Helsinki
  • Provides free education
  • Is divided into 5 campuses
  • Operates in 18 locations around Helsinki
  • Offers modern learning facilities
  • See our campuses and 29 areas of study here

In Stadin AO, students have their personalised study plan based on their personal style of learning. Each unit is assessed by competence demonstration.

International co-operation network

We work in close connection with our European and International partner colleges. More about possibilities to work with us please go to International mobilities and projects

What kind of qualifications are available at Stadin AO?

There are 29 areas of studies at 3 qualification levels from 5 campuses located around Helsinki. (link: please find list of qualifications here)

The qualification levels are:

  • Vocational Upper Secondary Qualification
  • Further Vocational Qualification
  • Specialist Vocational Qualification

all provide eligibility for entry to higher education studies and/or different career stages.

Vocational Upper Secondary Qualification consist of:

  • Vocational units 145 cp
  • Common units 35 cp

Each unit is assessed by either one or a combination of smaller competence demonstrations during on-the-job learning.

Further and specialist qualifications comprise only vocational units. If necessary, common units can be assessed when preparing the personal competence development plan.

Level of certificate: National Qualifications Framework (nqf) 4 / European Qualifications Framework (eqf) 4 ISCED 3