What is the Matriculation Examination?

Structure of the Matriculation Examination

The Matriculation Examination must include tests in at least five examination subjects. Under the new examination structure, candidates no longer classify their tests as compulsory or extra when enrolling. All candidates must include a test in the mother tongue and literature in their examination. In addition, the examination must include at least four tests in different examination subjects from at least three of the following groups: mathematics, the second national language, foreign languages, and humanities and natural sciences. The tests must include at least one test based on the advanced syllabus.

All tests form part of the Matriculation Examination and are listed on the Matriculation Examination Certificate with equal status. In addition to completing the tests, the candidate must also have completed the general upper secondary school syllabus or another qualification specified in legislation in order to complete the Matriculation Examination.

Read more: Structure of the examination

Completion of the Matriculation Examination provides general eligibility for further studies at higher education institutions.

Matriculation Examination Board

The Matriculation Examination Board is responsible for the governance and organisation of the Matriculation Examination. The Ministry of Education and Culture appoints the members of the Board for a term of three years at a time. At present, the Board has 29 members and approximately 400 adjunct members.

The administration and technical implementation of the Matriculation Examination are handled by the Board’s secretariat, which operates as a separate unit within the Finnish National Agency for Education. The secretariat employs approximately 25 officials.

Why should you complete the Matriculation Examination?

The Matriculation Examination provides general eligibility for Finnish higher education institutions and is also used as part of the student selection process. The Finnish Matriculation Examination also offers good opportunities to apply to foreign universities and higher education institutions.

How does the Matriculation Examination meet today’s needs?

The Matriculation Examination is continuously developed to meet the objectives of general upper secondary education. This is reflected, among other things, in the increased flexibility of the examination and the possibility of spreading the completion of the examination over time.

The Matriculation Examination is taken on a computer. The digital test is completed in a supervised exam room organised by the candidate’s own general upper secondary school.

Read more about the tests of the Matriculation Examination

When did the Matriculation Examination originate?

The examination developed from the entrance examinations of the Royal Academy of Turku, in which candidates’ knowledge of Latin and Christian doctrine had already been assessed since the 1640s. From the early 19th century, the examination functioned as the entrance examination to the Imperial Alexander University.

The Matriculation Examination was first linked to the general upper secondary school syllabus in 1852. This is considered the beginning of the modern Matriculation Examination.

Read more about the history of the Matriculation Examination