I received a request for more information about my academic progress – what should I do?

Every autumn, Kela sends students who have not made enough progress in their studies a request for more information about their academic progress in the previous academic year. You should reply to this request, because otherwise Kela may stop paying you financial aid for students.

You must make satisfactory progress with your studies in order to get financial aid for students. If you have not made enough progress, Kela will send you a request for more information. The monitoring of academic progress concerns the preceding academic year (1 August to 31 July) and, in the case of students in higher education, sometimes the entire period of study. Follow the instructions below to easily reply to the request for further information.

1. Check that all the credits you have earned have been entered into the study record (in Finnish: opintorekisteri). If there is information missing from the study record, ask the educational institution to register the missing credits in the study record.
2. If you have made slower progress because of an acceptable reason, you can still continue to receive financial aid. Acceptable reasons for slower academic progress include for instance your own or a close relative’s illness, some other difficult life situation or the completion of an exceptionally extensive study module. Keep in mind that as a student you can take sick leave from your studies.
3. Reply to the request for further information in OmaKela. OmaKela is available in Finnish and Swedish. If there are credits missing from your study record or you are in the middle of completing an extensive study module, please tell us about it in your answer. Also tell us if there is something going on in your life that has affected your study progress and whether this situation is still currently affecting your studies. You can also complete and print out the application as a paper form. Forms and more information about replying to Kela’s request can be found here.

If you do not reply to the request for information, or if your reply gives no grounds for Kela to continue to pay you financial aid for students, Kela may discontinue your financial aid. If Kela stops paying you financial aid for students, you can reapply for the benefit once you have made satisfactory progress with your studies. If your academic progress needs to be monitored particularly closely, Kela may change your financial aid to be paid out for a specified period of time only. If you want financial aid after that specified period is over, you must apply for it again. The decision notice you receive on student financial aid will tell you what the requirements are for requalifying for the benefit. Read more about the discontinuation of student financial aid.

It is rare for Kela to recover financial aid for students. Financial aid for students is only recovered if it is discovered that you have completed exceptionally few credits and have never intended to study. Read more about the recovery of overpaid benefits.