Abstract The attitudes towards inclusion and the terms used related to special needs by pre-service teachers in three Finnish universities were studied. Inclusion is the main educational policy in Finland, and special solutions are avoided when possible. With a questionnaire and a brief survey, data from 488 pre-service teachers (PSTs) were collected and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results indicated that their attitudes towards inclusion were quite negative. Most of the positive attitudes, which were below the mean of the scale, were held by PSTs with special education as their major or as part of their studies, along with early education PSTs. The terms used for special needs were partly traditional, following the medical model of disability, but many students also referred to the structure of the support. The reasons for the negative attitudes and changes in the traditional names of special needs are also discussed.