The Finnish education system is an democratic Nordic system, with no tuition fees for full-time students. The first nine years of education (primary and secondary school) are compulsory, and the citizens go to their local school. The education after primary school is divided to the vocational and academic systems. The tertiary level is divided to the university and higher vocational school (ammattikorkeakoulu) systems, whose diplomas are not jointly interchangeable. According to the Finnish education system only universities award licentiates and doctorates. Also only university graduates may obtain higher (postgraduate) degrees. Due to the rules and regulations of the Finnish education foreign citizen’s with a bachelor degree from some particular countries might have to redo the programme before having a chance in the labour market. For more information regarding education in Finland and foreign citizens studying in click on the following links: http://opintoluotsi.fi/en-GB     and   http://www.oph.fi/english