My research examines the benefits the upper secondary school pathway can offer students and the education system

Henna Turja explores how university studies pursued during upper secondary school influence students’ study path, daily life and transition to higher education. Her research reveals what benefits the upper secondary school pathway can offer to students as well as the whole education system.

Published

31.3.2026

In the series Research in the Spotlight, researchers from Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius discuss their current research.

Henna Turja works as a programme manager at the JYU Open University.

I am studying the expectations and experiences of students in the upper secondary school pathway regarding the combination of upper secondary school and university studies, as well as their plans for higher education. In this pathway designed for our partner schools, upper secondary school students pursue university-level IT studies while still attending upper secondary school. They can then use these credits to continue in higher education. My research aims to facilitate the transition from the upper secondary level to higher education.

The study examines the expectations and experiences students on this pathway have regarding university studies and university in general, how these studies affect their other studies at the upper secondary level, hobbies and free time, and what kind of higher education plans they have.

The results will be used to develop cooperation between upper secondary schools and universities and also to identify ways to enable a smooth transition to higher education studies for upper secondary school students.

The impacts of the upper secondary school pathway on daily life and studies

The study’s initial findings suggest students pursue this pathway primarily because of their interest in the field, not with higher education career in mind. The pathway is viewed by students not only as part of their upper secondary school studies, but also as way to gain support and skills related to their personal interests.

Studies on this pathway have generally had no impact on other upper secondary studies, as they are integrated in the school schedule and guidance is readily available. The only area affected is that there has been slightly less time for other elective courses. Participating in this pathway has not affected students’ hobbies but has slightly limited the amount of free time.

University studies have met expectations well, but the courses were somewhat more demanding than anticipated. The next phase of the study will focus specifically on university studies and the development of higher education study plans during upper secondary school.

Cooperation between upper secondary and higher education opens a smoother path for students

The study’s findings are particularly relevant to young people planning to pursue secondary or higher education. Cooperation between secondary level and higher education, as in the case of the upper secondary school pathway, may reduce the stress students experience regarding their matriculation exam grades and admission to higher education.

Higher education institutions have reformed their certificate and entrance exam selection processes, but alongside these, collaboration between higher education institutions and secondary schools can create models that streamline the transition to higher education.

When upper secondary school students can advance their university studies already at school and ensure a place in higher education, this enables a smooth and flexible transition to higher education. This is also likely to speed up their graduation from higher education and contributes to the Finnish government’s objective to increase the number of young adults with a higher education degree.