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Maximum period of eligibility in secondary education

For secondary education, you can get financial aid for the normal length of your course of study as long as you study on a  full-time basis. If you have received financial aid for another course of study in secondary education, that does not affect your maximum period of eligibility for your current course of study.

Any financial aid you get for secondary education does not count against the maximum period of eligibility for higher education, or vice versa.

Upper secondary school

If you are in upper secondary school you can initially get financial aid for the first 3 years of school. If you continue to study after that, you must apply separately for additional financial aid. You can first get financial assistance for one academic year and thereafter for up to 12 months.

If you attend an upper secondary school for adult students and are doing a dual qualification, you can get financial aid for up to one academic year at a time.

Basic vocational qualification

If you are studying for a basic vocational qualification, you initially get financial aid for the normal length of your course of study. If you continue to study after that, you must apply separately for additional financial aid. You can first get financial assistance for one academic year and thereafter for up to 12 months. After that you can get financial aid only if your education was interrupted for a good reason.

Other education

If you are in any other kind of secondary education than upper secondary school or studying for a basic vocational qualification, you can initially get financial aid for the normal length of your course of study. If you continue to study after that, you can get financial aid for up to 12 months. You must apply separately for additional financial aid.

As regards adult basic education, student financial aid is awarded for the period of full-time study according to the personal study plan, but at the most for the first four years of study.

  • If you make a study plan together with the educational institution for one year at a time, you can also apply for student financial aid for one year at a time.
  • If you make a study plan for several years, you can be granted financial aid for the whole period, but at the most for four years of study at the same time.
  • Enclose the study plan with the application for student financial aid.

If you continue to study after four years of study, you can first get financial aid for one year of study and after that for up to 12 months.

Apply separately for additional financial aid

  1. Apply online for additional financial aid. Log in to Kela's e-service using your bank ID and password or a mobile certificate. Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
  2. Check the Supporting documents section of the application or notification of changes to see whether you need to include a certificate from your school or other documentation. Scan or take a photo of supporting documents and send them over the internet.
  3. You can use Kela's online service to see whether you application has been decided and the amount you will receive. 

Alternatively you can complete and print out a notification of change for financial aid OT 15e (PDF). The paper application and the necessary supporting documents can be mailed to Kela.

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Last modified 20/2/2024