The training is suitable for those who are interested in human-centered social and health care work and want to work in care assistant positions in residential units for the elderly or disabled.

Care assistants support residents in maintaining their functional ability, wellbeing, and independence in daily living activities.

Applicants are required to be suitable for the social and health sector, have good mental and physical health, and be prepared for shift work.

The studies will initially be conducted in English, but you will need to learn Finnish so that you can cope with your internship in Finnish.

A care assistant’s responsibilities include supporting clients with their basic needs and daily activities. These include, for example, washing, dressing, eating, moving around and going out. In addition, the work tasks are related to maintaining the client's functional capacity and making everyday life meaningful. The work also includes various assisting tasks in the work unit, for example, clothing care and cleaning. You can work in residential service units for the elderly or disabled, as well as in home care.

The studies include contact teaching and learning that takes place in the workplace. The professional skills required in the parts of the degree are demonstrated in demonstrations that are arranged in the workplace.

The studies will initially be conducted in English, but you will need to learn Finnish so that you can succeed in your on-the-job learning in Finnish. You must have Finnish (spoken and written) at level A2.2 before you can start your internship. This assessment is done by Gradia.

The scope of the studies is 75 cp and the studies last an average of 12-18 months.

The study is carried out as full-time education in accordance with the personal competence development plan (PCDP).

• In the training, you will complete the following parts of the vocational qualification in social and health care, i.e. a practical nurse:
• Encounter and guidance of client, 20 cp
• Promoting wellbeing and functional capacity, 25 cp
• Strengthening the clients's ability to function, 15 cp
• Local part of the degree, 15 cp

The training is conducted in English and Finnish. The training also includes Finnish language instruction, but you are required to also study Finnish independently.

You must have Finnish (spoken and written) at level A2.2 before you can start your internship. This assessment is done by Gradia.

Tuition fees for students from outside the EU and EEA starting 1 August 2026
• From 1 August 2026, Finland will introduce tuition fees for upper secondary education students from outside the EU and the EEA.
• Tuition fees apply to students whose residence permit type or basis does not exempt them from the fee.
The tuition fee for this education is 11,500 euros/academic year
• More detailed information about the fees and exemptions: https://www.gradia.fi/en/study-gradia/upper-secondary-education-tuition…