International School of Helsinki

"Oulu International School (OIS) is a public, not-for-profit, co-educational international school located in the Myllytulli district of Oulu, Finland."

Founded in 2001, the school has established itself as one of a select group of English-speaking schools in Finland offering basic education, and it stands as a trusted choice for expatriate families and relocating professionals seeking a rigorous, internationally recognized education for their children in northern Finland. As a member of the International Baccalaureate network, Oulu International School offers all three core IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP). This continuous IB pathway means that students can progress seamlessly from their earliest years of schooling through to university preparation, all within a single, coherent educational framework. The IB's inquiry-based, internationally minded philosophy shapes classroom life at every level, encouraging students to think critically, embrace diverse perspectives, and develop a genuine sense of global citizenship — qualities that serve families who may move between countries and need educational continuity. English is the primary language of instruction throughout the school, making OIS an accessible and welcoming environment for international families arriving from English-speaking countries as well as those for whom English serves as a common academic language. This English-medium setting, rare in Finland outside of the Helsinki metropolitan area, is one of the school's most practical and distinctive attributes for newly arrived expat communities in the Oulu region. The school is situated in the Myllytulli district, a well-connected part of Oulu, Finland's largest city in the north and a significant hub for technology, research, and innovation. Oulu's reputation as a forward-thinking, family-friendly city — home to the University of Oulu and a thriving technology sector — means that OIS regularly welcomes the children of professionals relocating for work in research, engineering, and international business. The community the school has built reflects this dynamic, bringing together students from a wide range of national and cultural backgrounds under one roof. As a public institution operating on a not-for-profit basis, OIS is governed with a commitment to accessibility and community service rather than commercial enterprise. This structure aligns well with Finnish educational values, which place strong emphasis on equity, well-being, and academic quality. Families can expect the school to combine the global standards of the IB framework with the supportive, student-centered ethos for which Finnish education is internationally renowned. For expatriate families weighing their options in northern Finland, Oulu International School offers something genuinely distinctive: a fully articulated IB education delivered in English, embedded within a supportive public institution, in one of Finland's most livable and internationally connected cities. Whether a family is arriving for a short-term assignment or planting longer roots, OIS provides the academic continuity, international community, and educational quality that mobile families depend upon.