Benefits
Financial aid for foreign students
In some cases, the financial aid for students is also available for non-citizens of Finland.
Quick guide for students
Students can get financial aid from Kela for post-comprehensive school education. This quick guide explains the types of financial aid that could be relevant for you.
See the quick guide for studentsSecondary education
- Financial aid for students
- You can get financial aid for full-time study after comprehensive school.
- Student's age and parental income
- See how your age and your parents' income affect your study grant, housing supplement and student loan.
- School transport subsidy
- You can get a school transport subsidy if your daily trip to school is at least 10 kilometres.
Higher education
- Financial aid for students
- If you are enrolled in a course of study leading to an academic degree, you are considered to be a full-time student and you can get financial aid.
- Making satisfactory academic progress
- We review your academic progress yearly to check that you earn enough credits. But what is enough?
- The effect of other income
- Make sure that any other income you earn in addition to financial aid does not exceed your annual income limit.
- Running out of eligibility months
- The maximum number of months that you can get financial aid depends on the extent of your study programme. It's a good idea to plan in advance how and when you wish to take out financial aid.
After graduation
- Student loan compensation
- If you take out a student loan and complete an academic degree within the target time, Kela pays back part of your student loan.
- Student loan tax deduction
- If you started your course of higher education study before 1 August 2014, you can get a student loan tax deduction.
- Interest assistance
- Kela can pay the interest on your student loan if you have low income.
