The directory service contains all schools in Finland that have submitted their home page address to the administrator of this site. The search result also includes the official e-mail address as well as special mission of the school, if these have been submitted by registry form. The search is carried out so that all chosen search criteria apply simultaneously. Using more criteria limits the number of search results (AND operation).

1. Name of school

The names of schools are entered in the directory in lowercase letters (except for the initial letter and in cases when the school's name includes a proper name(s)). The school may thus write its name differently as to initial letters than given in the directory. The search targets the beginning of all words in the school name (lower and uppercase letters yield the same result).

2. Type of school

Schools are classified according to the school classification of Statistics Finland. The classification of comprehensive and upper secondary general schools has been made more exact so that you can search e.g. by grade (grades 1-6 and 7-9) in comprehensive schools or by special mission of upper secondary school, or you can limit your search to upper secondary schools for adults (under special mission). On the other hand, vocational special institutions, which can be searched for under special mission, are included in vocational institutions. Specialised vocational institutions are however entered as a separate group (they are mostly schools run by industrial corporations, giving continuing vocational training to adults). Also included are the Finnish schools abroad that are part of the Finnish education system (comprehensive schools giving Finnish basic education). Additional information about the Finnish education system and various schools types is available at the National Board of Education.

3. Special mission (schools providing general education)

With the aid of special teaching arrangements, a possibility for education is ensured for all those who due to handicap, illness or some other reason have difficulties in completing their studies without special teaching or student counselling arrangements in schools providing special education (as an exception, this category also includes vocational institutions). Teacher training schools are comprehensive schools and general upper secondary schools that form part of university departments of education.

4. Municipality

If the school operates in several locations, the municipality refers to the municipality where the main operation or administrative office of the school is located. There are 446 municipalities in Finland of which 111 are cities (2003).

5. Province

If the search is done by municipality, there is no need to choose province. Finland is divided into six provinces.

6. Language (Finnish/Swedish)

By choosing Finnish or Swedish as language of instruction you can limit your search to Finnish or Swedish/bilingual schools.
NB: this option does not cover the so-called language schools.