Education and training

This page provides the Defence Forces’ civilian and military personnel with information about possibilities for further education and training. In the Defence Forces, education and training of the regular personnel can be divided, first, into graduate and post-graduate degrees in military sciences, and second, continuing training also aimed at civilian personnel.

Education and training in the Defence Forces

The degrees available include the following: Bachelor’s Degree in Military Sciences (undergraduate), Master’s Degree in Military Sciences (graduate), and Doctoral Degree in Military Sciences (post-graduate).  The Defence Forces also offers various types of continuing training to its personnel. Studies completed in the Defence Forces can be included in studies in other Finnish educational establishments and vice versa.

Officers of the Finnish Defence Forces are trained in the National Defence University. The number of officers in training varies according to the needs of the Defence Forces. Other employees of the Defence Forces, for example civilians and Officer Specialists, are hired on the basis of the skills and competence they have acquired as civilians and possibly during their conscript service.

The goal of training and education of the personnel is to ensure the military capability of the Defence forces. Personal development plans are made to improve the skills of personnel on an individual level. Competence of both individuals and organizations is being charted at regular intervals and further training is provided accordingly.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees in military sciences

Officer education is organised by the National Defence University in Helsinki as well as the Service, Branch and Functional Area Schools all around Finland. Applying for bachelor’s degree studies in Military Sciences takes place in Spring through the Finnish universities’ joint application system. The scope of the Bachelor’s in Military Sciences is 180 ECTS credits, and it takes three years to complete the degree. The training programme can be found here. The Bachelor’s degree and the military vocational studies completed simultaneously make the students eligible for a fixed-term junior officer’s commission. Bachelors of Military Sciences are the rank of lieutenant, and they serve as junior officers for about four years before starting their studies for the Master’s degree.

The scope of the Master’s in Military Sciences is 120 ECTS credits, and it takes two years to complete the degree. Masters of Military Sciences are the rank of First Lieutenant. The Master’s degree, the military vocational studies completed simultaneously and the work experience as a fixed-term junior officer make the graduates eligible for appointment as an officer.

The National Defence University has a Master’s programme also for others than future officers. Those interested in the Executive Assistance Programme (120 cr) can apply for it through a separate application procedure by submitting a motivation letter and a curriculum vitae. To be admitted to the programme, applicants must have completed an appropriate bachelor’s or master’s degree elsewhere. 

Post-graduate degree in military sciences

Those with a Master’s in military sciences or in other branches of science can apply for doctoral studies in the National Defence University and graduate as Doctors of Military Sciences.

Continuing Training

The Defence Forces provides its civilian and military personnel with a wide range of continuing training opportunities.  All training available for personnel is counted as continuing training, excluding degree studies in military sciences. Continuing training includes courses such as General Staff Officer Course, NCO training courses, Senior Staff Officer Course, courses for Chiefs of Functional Areas, comprehensive national defence and professional development studies and Senior Command Course.

Continuing training courses can be divided into service-specific and functional-area-specific training. The objective of continuing training specific to a functional area is to strengthen and maintain professional skills and to learn new ways to manage tasks, working methods and tools. There are 12 functional areas in the Defence Forces. Service-specific continuing training aims at ensuring that we have the capabilities and skills needed in wartime and other emergency conditions.

Training of NCOs

The Defence Forces trains NCOs to be specialists in their own field. The NCO training is built on a four-tier system where continuing training is offered throughout the NCO’s career, from basic-level duties to the senior level.

The NCO training is largely learning by doing under guidance of a more experienced professional. To show that they are qualified for their duties, NCOs demonstrate their skills in practice.  NCOs competence is also enhanced by offering them military vocational courses, which take a maximum of one year during the NCO’s career and are organised by service and branch schools.

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