All four programmes prepare pupils for further studies, and develop their personal and general competences. The programmes aim at enhancing the pupil's independent and analytical skills as well as preparing them to become democratic and socially conscious citizens with a global outlook. Each of the education programmes has its specific range of shared compulsory subjects for all pupils. With regards to the STX, HHX and HTX programmes, each school also offers a number of different specialised study programmes and elective subjects for pupils to choose between. The specialised study programme is of a longer duration than the basic programme.
With regards to the HF programme, pupils make their choices from among the electives offered by the school. The curriculum and examinations must follow national standards and are subject to external evaluation. The curricula of the HHX and HTX differ from those of STX and the HF in the sense that the HHX besides some general upper secondary subjects include financial and business subjects, and the HTX technical subjects.
The STX and HF programmes consist of a broad range of subjects in the fields of humanities, natural science and social science. The HHX programme focuses on business and socio-economic disciplines in combination with foreign languages and other general subejcts. The HTX programme has its focus on technological and scientific subejcts in combination with general subjects.
The STX and HF programmes are offered by general upper secondary schools. This sort of school is called a Gymnasium. Business and technical colleges offer the HHX and HTX programmes, respectively. Some schools are mixed schools and offer various types of programmes.The main provisions of relevant upper secondary education laws can be found