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Education in Åland is accessible to everyone, from early childhood to adult studies. In this chapter you can read about schools and childcare, higher education opportunities, and the many ways to continue learning throughout life.
Because Åland is self-governing, it has its own laws and education plans for daycare and basic schooling. All teaching is in Swedish.
Children start first grade the year they turn seven. Before that, children can attend early childhood education, including daycare from age 1–5 and one year of pre-primary education at age six.
Basic education (grades 1–9) lasts nine years and is followed by upper secondary education. Compulsory education begins in the autumn of the year the child turns 7 and ends when the child has completed the basic education program or after 10 years at the latest.
The municipalities are responsible for childcare and primary education, while the regional government is responsible for upper secondary education, higher vocational education and free education in the form of schools.
Find out more about schools and educational opportunities in Åland.
Contact your new home municipality before the start of the term to apply for a kindergarten place, enrolment in primary school or notification of homeschooling.
Contact details for Åland municipalities.
Childcare includes day care, after-school care and preschool.
Daycare is well-organized, affordable, and focused on social learning and play. Fees are income-based. Many families care for their children at home for at least 9–12 months after birth. After the official parental leave ends, one parent can receive a home care allowance to stay at home longer.
You must apply at least four months before your child is due to start, but placement is only possible after your local address is officially registered. While all children are guaranteed a daycare spot, it may not always be at your preferred location—especially if you apply on short notice.
Note: Daycare centres are usually closed on national holidays but stay open during school breaks in February, October and December. Many close for all of July. If your child is in municipal daycare, one centre in the area typically remains open in July for families who need care.
As a part of day care, children receive preschool education during the academic year before compulsory education begins. Preschool education is available for six-year-olds as part of day care services. It is not compulsory, and formal education begins the year the child turns seven. The aim of preschool is to support the child’s growth, development, and school readiness through play-based learning and group activities.
Read more about childcare in Åland (kindergarten).
Film and brochure on childcare (in Swedish).
Compulsory education is the education that children are obliged to attend to learn the knowledge and skills included in the comprehensive school curriculum. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to ensure that their child completes compulsory education, either by attending a municipal school, a substitute private school or homeschooling.
Basic education incorporates a nine-year general education programme. In Åland, all children are subject to compulsory basic education from the year they turn seven.
Film and brochure on basic education (in Swedish).
After completing compulsory education, you have the option to attend upper secondary education. You can apply for upper secondary education after finishing basic education.
There are two main options:
Students choose their path during grade 9.
Ålands Gymnasium (Åland Upper Secondary School)
Ålands Folkhögskola (Åland Folk High School) offers free education in a variety of subjects.
Education is highly valued in Finland, and most people continue studying after basic education. Over 70% of the population holds a post-secondary qualification, and many have a master’s degree or higher.
Finland has two types of higher education institutions:
Finnish universities offer four levels of degrees: bachelor’s, master’s, licentiate, and doctoral. Most teaching is in Finnish or Swedish, but many bachelor’s and master’s programmes are available in English. Licentiate and doctoral studies can often be completed in English as well.
Higher education is offered at Högskolan på Åland (Åland University of applied sciences) and corresponds to EQF levels 6 and 7.
Högskolan på Åland (Åland university of applied sciences).
Higher education is free for permanent residents and EU citizens.
For more details about education and learning, visit the Government of Åland.
You can also visit the Finnish National Agency for Education or Study in Finland websites.
Where you live in Mariehamn usually determines which primary school your child will attend. The town has one school for grades 1–6 and two schools for grades 1-9.
Primary schools (grades 1–6):
Primary and lower secondary schools (grades 1–9):
Your school placement is based on your address, but it is possible to apply for another school.
For more information, visit mariehamn.ax.
If you live in another municipality in Åland, your child will attend the local municipal school (grundskola). Most municipalities have their own comprehensive school covering grades 1–6 while in some archipelago municipalities schools cover grades 1–9. On the Åland mainland, there are two school districts, Södra Ålands utbildningsdistrikt (SÅUD) and Norra Ålands utbildningsdistrikt (NÅUD).
School placement is based on your address, and school transport is often provided if the distance is long.
For details, contact your local municipality.
Visit Södra Ålands högstadiedistrikt (SÅUD, in Swedish)
Visit Norra Ålands högstadiedistrikt (NÅUD, in Swedish)
The Government of Åland has gathered information on the rights and obligations a person has when they turn 18 and are considered an adult.
Read more about growing up in Åland on regeringen.ax.
Åland strongly supports lifelong learning and there are many options for adults to study new skills or hobbies. Open universities and summer schools offer individual courses for anyone.
Öppna högskolan (Åland university of applied sciences) – individual courses
Ålands yrkesgymnasium – adult education
Ålands yrkesgymnasium – integration training
Ålands yrkesgymnasium – courses and training for working life
Medis - Medborgarinstitutet (Medis - Institute of Adult Education) offers non-formal, non-degree courses for adults. It is jointly funded by the Government of Åland, the municipalities, and course fees. The aim is to promote lifelong learning, community, and meaningful leisure activities for everyone over 16. Courses are available in areas such as arts, cooking, and sports.
Read more about Medborgarinstitutet Medis.
All municipalities have their own libraries, which offer books, newspapers and magazines in many different languages. Mariehamn Town Library at Strandgatan 29 is the central library for Åland.
Libraries can also order collections of books in other languages for both children and adults from the Multilingual Library of Helsinki.
Read more about libraries in Åland.
