Info

Yes. You can participate in courses, events, and lectures across city borders – even if your place of residence is abroad. However, the person who pays the invoice of the course must have an address in Finland. Remember, the customer service is specific to each institute. Everyone is welcome!
 

It's always worth signing up for the waiting list. If seats become available due to cancellations, we offer them to those on the list. Waiting lists also tell us the course is popular, and in some cases, we create additional parallel courses based on the number of people waiting for a seat. This helps us plan future course offerings more effectively.
 

Online Payment:
Adult education centres use online payment for course fees. You will receive payment instructions by email.

Ilmonet.fi website:
You can pay the invoice via the ilmonet.fi website after you have received the instructions. Log into your account and go to the 'Payments' page.

Invoice by post:
If you don’t have an email address, the invoice will be sent to your home by mail.

Other notes:
Unfortunately, you cannot pay course fees at Helsingin työväenopisto or Vantaan aikuisopisto using culture/sports vouchers. In Espoo, these are accepted. For more information, see the website of Espoon työväenopisto. Esbo arbis also accepts culture/sports vouchers as payment for some of the courses.
 

Discounts are available for certain courses. Check each institute's website for the eligibility criteria and terms.
 

Yes, you can switch to another course within the same institute during the term if there is a seat available. The change must be arranged with the institute’s customer service.
The new course does not have to be in the same subject area.

You can cancel your participation via Ilmonet or by contacting the institute’s customer service.

• In Espoo, cancellations must be made at least 10 days before the course starts.
• In Helsinki and Vantaa, the cancellation deadline is 7 days before the course begins.

If you don’t cancel in time – or cancel on or after the course start date – the full course fee will be charged.

Course fees are legally enforceable without a court decision.

Check each institute’s website for detailed instructions.
 

Senior courses are open to everyone, not just those of senior age. However, they are primarily designed for people over the age of 65 and progress at a slower pace than other courses. For example, physical activity courses for seniors take the specific needs of older participants into account.

The courses are mainly held during the daytime in service housing units and at the institutes' own facilities. A wide range of subjects is available, from languages to dance, handicrafts to self-expression, and IT and digital skills.
 

Subjects are groups of academic or thematic topics into which courses are organized. This classification helps you find interesting courses and better understand what’s offered. Each subject area or field of study includes multiple courses that explore the topic from different angles or skill levels. Examples include home economics, languages, handicrafts, and physical education.
 

Events:
The institutes organize various events annually. Some of them are exhibitions and performances planned and carried out by students – such as theatre, music, singing, or photography exhibitions.

Lectures:
Institutes also hold lectures on various topics, both in-person and online. Lectures are a great way to explore contemporary issues. In addition to current topics, classical themes that regularly appear in the program are also covered. Often, there's time for group discussion after the lecture.
 

New courses are constantly added to Ilmonet. You can enroll all year-round. Each institute, however, has its own schedule when a larger batch of courses opens for the upcoming term:

• Espoon työväenopisto & Esbo arbis: May and November
• Vantaan aikuisopisto: May and November
• Helsingfors arbis: August
• Helsingin työväenopisto: August and November

You can study or take up hobbies in person, online, or through hybrid courses.

In addition to traditional courses, the offerings include, for example, open university studies, comprehensive programs in basic art education, and open learning environments.
 

1. Click on the 'Search' option in the top menu.
2. Select your desired institute under the 'Location' dropdown.
3. To find a specific subject, choose a subject area under 'Subjects.' You can refine the search further using filters like 'Language of instruction,' 'Time,' 'Type,' and 'Target group.'

Quick search options also help you:

• Last minute: Lists all courses starting within the next two weeks.
• New courses: Lists all courses added to the system in the past two weeks.
• Free spaces: Shows only courses that still have room.
• Search with keyword: Use the course number, keyword(s), or teacher's name.
• Ongoing: Displays all currently running courses.

 

You can enroll an underage person by calling or visiting the institute's customer service. An underage person cannot register for courses electronically through the ilmonet.fi website. An underaged person always requires an approval from the guardian to participate in courses.

Courses are mainly intended for individuals over 16 years of age. However, children can participate in family courses together with a parent.