Things for students to remember at the start of a new academic year
The start of a new academic year is approaching! Remember to check that your affairs with Kela are in order before you go back to school. On this page, you will find the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to Kela and studying.
If you are in upper secondary education, for example studying in an upper secondary school or an institute of vocational education, you can get financial aid for students. Here are some tips for handling your affairs with Kela.
You can get financial aid for post-comprehensive school studies if you need financial assistance and study full-time. In addition, the total duration of your studies must be at least 2 months and you must make satisfactory progress with the studies.
Find out what kind of benefits you can get.
Use the student financial aid calculator (in Finnish or Swedish) to estimate the amount of financial aid you can get. Your income will affect the number of months per year for which you can get financial aid. You must make sure that your annual income does not exceed a specified limit.
You can get a student loan of EUR 400 to EUR 850 per month. You must apply for the loan at a bank, and you can withdraw the loan funds 4 times a year.
Read more about the amounts and disbursement dates of student loans.
If you have a long commute to school, you can also get a school transport subsidy from Kela. You can apply for school transport subsidy easily and conveniently in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish). If you take public transport to and from school, you can get your ticket from most online ticket vendors as soon as you have submitted your application.
Congratulations on your admission! We put together these Kela tips for new students so that when your studies begin, you can focus on making friends with the other students, selecting courses and sewing patches onto your overalls.
You can apply for financial aid for students as soon as you accept your offer of admission. Financial aid for students consists of a study grant and a student loan.
The student loan is a government-guaranteed loan that you must pay back. Interest accrued on the loan is added to the loan amount. If Kela gives you a loan guarantee, you can apply for a loan at a bank of your choice.
Read more about the amounts and disbursement of student loans.
Read more about how to apply for a student loan.
There is an annual income limit for student financial aid that you should not exceed. The income limit depends on the number of financial aid months: the more months you receive financial aid, the lower your annual income limit is. You must keep track of your income yourself. One way to check your income limit for student financial aid is to visit the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish). Keep the income limits in mind, especially if you work while studying or in the summer.
Read more about the annual income check for student financial aid.
Students living in Finland can get general housing allowance. You must apply for general housing allowance separately. Apply for housing allowance once you have a signed rental agreement. Remember that you must notify Kela if your income or circumstances change significantly. The housing allowance scheme has no specific annual limit on income. Instead, your income is considered on a month-to-month basis. If you study abroad or in the Åland Islands or live in a school dormitory, you can receive a housing supplement instead of general housing allowance.
If you are a higher education student and registered as attending, you have the right to use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS.fi). You have to pay a student healthcare fee to Kela for every term. The 2024 rate of the student healthcare fee is EUR 36.80 per term. Kela will not send you a bill for the fee, so you must make sure to pay it on your own initiative. We recommend that you pay the fee at the same time as you apply for financial aid for students.
Pay the healthcare fee in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish).
Learn more about the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS.fi).
You are eligible for discounted meals at student restaurants participating in Kela’s meal subsidy scheme. You get the discount by presenting your student card.
Are you going abroad to study? Financial aid for students is also available when you complete a degree abroad.
Here we go again! Now is a good time to try to recall which Kela-related matters still need handling before you dive back into your studies.
Make sure that your annual income does not exceed the annual income limit for financial aid for students. For purposes of financial aid for students, it is not relevant at which point during the year you earn your income. This means that any income from summer jobs also affects your financial aid. In addition, you must make satisfactory progress with your studies in order to get financial aid for students.
Check how many months of student financial aid you have left and plan your studies accordingly. If you run out of financial aid before graduating, you can apply for an extension to the aid. If you are not granted an extension, you can apply to Kela for social assistance. First, use our online calculator (in Finnish or Swedish) to see if you can get social assistance.
Do you receive general housing allowance? Remember that you must notify Kela if your income changes substantially or if your circumstances change, for example, if you move in with your partner. Please note that there have been changes to the general housing allowance that reduce the amount of housing allowance available to students.
Read more about reviews of the general housing allowance.
Remember to pay the healthcare fee for students in higher education well in advance. We recommend that you pay the fee in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish) at the same time as you handle your other affairs with Kela at the start of the academic year. The fee must be paid for each term.
How to pay the healthcare fee for students in higher education.
Are you going on student exchange? Financial aid for students is also available when you leave Finland to study abroad.
Read more about financial aid for students studying abroad.
Are you struggling to cope? Sometimes the limits of your mental health and well-being are tested. That is when rehabilitative psychotherapy provided by Kela or other forms of rehabilitation can be helpful. If you fall ill and cannot study, you can take a sick leave. During that time, you can get sickness allowance.
Read more about taking a sick leave as a student (in Finnish at elämässä.fi).
Are you about to graduate? If you complete your higher education degree within the specified target time, Kela can pay back part of your student loan. Kela will usually grant student loan compensation automatically, so you do not have to apply for it.
Read more about the student loan compensation.
If you cannot find a job immediately after graduation or your income is low, interest assistance for student loans can help you make ends meet. Interest assistance means that Kela pays all of the interest due on your government-guaranteed student loan.
Did you know that you can opt out of receiving paper mail from Kela by letting us know about your choice in OmaKela?
When you give up paper documents, you will be informed about your decision quicker than by letter mail. According to your choice, you will receive a text message or an email from us immediately when the decision is available in OmaKela.
What else is going on in your life?
Do you need help with your housing costs?
Students living in Finland can get general housing allowance.
Are you entering military or non-military service?
Financial aid for students is not available during military or non-military service. Temporarily cancel your financial aid for students and apply for conscript’s allowance from Kela.
Are you struggling with your studies?
If illness or disability makes it difficult to cope with your studies, rehabilitation might help.
Do you still have questions?
Call Kela