Managing financially during studies

When you study, you can receive your income from Kela’s student financial aid, wages, or unemployment security. Other possibilities include apprenticeship training and various grants.

In addition to wages, you can only receive one benefit at a time. You should also take into account that your pay affects the amount of benefits you can receive. There are income limits applicable to student financial aid, and unemployment security is adjusted to your earnings.

You must register as a job seeker to be entitled to unemployment security. As a job seeker, you must inform the employment service specialist of all studies to determine their potential impact on your eligibility for unemployment security. Please note that if you cut back on your working hours or quit your job to study, you lose your right to unemployment security.

Financing your studies in different situations

Studying while unemployed 

While unemployed, you can finance your studies with either unemployment benefits, or student financial aid from Kela if your studies last two months or longer. Studying does not prevent you from receiving unemployment benefits if you have agreed on it with an employment service specialist. Labour market training is free of charge and you can also be paid an expense allowance.

Studying while working full-time 

If you are working full-time, you can finance your studies with your earned income or student financial aid. In addition to earnings from your work, you can only receive one benefit at a time. You should also take into account that your pay affects the amount of benefits you can receive. If your studies last longer than two months, you are entitled to student financial aid.

Studying while working part-time 

When working part-time, you can finance your studies with your earned income or an unemployment benefit adjusted to your earnings. If your studies last longer than two months, you are also entitled to student financial aid or adult education allowance. 

Studying while laid off 

If you are laid off, the options for financing your studies are the same as if you were unemployed. You must register as a job seeker and notify your regional employment service office of your studies.

Studying as an entrepreneur 

As a full-time entrepreneur, you can finance your studies with the income from your business or if your studies last longer than two months, with student financial aid. Part-time entrepreneurs have the same options as unemployed people.

More information

Different types of benefits

Student financial aid

Student financial aid is meant to support you during your studies. The conditions for granting financial aid are different for higher and upper secondary education.

Social assistance

As a student, you may be entitled to basic social assistance, also known as income support, in certain situations, such as when your financial aid payments have been stopped or you have used up all of your eligibility for financial aid. You may also be entitled to social assistance over the summer if studying is not possible and you have not managed to find employment. Please note that your situation in life and your existing assets affect your right to basic social assistance. Social assistance is a last-resort form of financial assistance.

Adult education allowance

Adult education allowance has been abolished. Parliament has approved the government's proposal to repeal the act governing adult education benefits, resulting in the cessation of payments for adult education allowance. It will be possible to receive the adult education allowance until the end of 2025, provided that the studies and the support period begun no later than July 31, 2024.