Sonkajärvi High School

Nestled in a cozy village of 4,000 residents, Sonkajärvi high school offers a friendly environment for learning. With 43 students and 13 teachers, our small size fosters close connections between everyone. In Sonkajärvi you can really explore the snow during the winter and a warm, clean breath of Finnish summer winds during the summer. We have it all!

Like in Finland, we keep things informal here – students call teachers by their first names, creating a warm atmosphere where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Through programs like Erasmus, our students get to travel and explore the countries like Poland, Portugal, and Latvia, broadening their horizons.

Located near big cities like Iisalmi and Kuopio, our school and municipality gives you the best of both worlds: peaceful countryside and easy access to town life. We've got top-notch sports facilities, including a gym and ice rink, and plenty of outdoor fun like skiing and swimming in beautiful lakes. When it comes to team sports, we have very active floorball and volleyball teams in the area. Other well liked team sports here are ice hockey and Finnish baseball.

For our international students, we provide free tuition, healthcare during school days and even a mentor to help you settle in. And with a comfy two-bedroom apartment close to everything, they'll feel right at home. Rent is reasonable, around 300-400€/month.

With international students we provide special introductory course aimed to our new international students to feel that they belong here and to help to speed up the integration process.

Join us at Sonkajärvi high school, where every student is supported, and friendships flourish in a welcoming community.