Full-time study

Financial aid is available for full-time study. The definition of full-time study varies depending on the type of education.

Higher education

If you study towards a degree in higher education, your studies are full-time.
Other higher education studies are full-time if they consist on average of at least five credits per month of study.

Vocational education

You are considered to be studying on a full-time basis if you are completing

a basic vocational qualification or a part of such qualification
a course of study preparing you for work and independent living (TELMA).

Completing a vocational qualification, specialist vocational qualification or a part of such qualification is considered to be full-time study if the agreed course of study consists on average of at least 4.5 ECVET points per month of study. Other vocational study is considered to be full-time if it consists on average of at least 4.5 ECVET points or 3 credit units per month of study, or of at least 25 weekly hours on average.

General upper secondary school

Full-time study means that the course syllabus consists of at least 75 courses or 150 credits.
If you study in an upper secondary school for adults, your studies are considered to be full time if you are entitled to free education or if you are completing a double degree (upper secondary school for adults and a basic vocational qualification).

If you study in a boarding school, such as a folk high school, your studies are considered to be full-time.

Preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification (TUVA)

Preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification is arranged in some comprehensive schools, upper secondary schools, vocational schools and folk high schools. The preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification at these schools is considered full-time studies and entitle to student financial aid.

Adult basic education

You are considered to study on a full-time basis if the studies include at least 22 courses per school year.