Study voucher reaches 1,697 young people without higher education places

A new study voucher has been granted to 1,697 people under 29 who did not secure a place in higher education, Yle reports. The voucher can cover up to 30 credits of open studies at Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences.

The Education Ministry hopes 31,000 young people will use the voucher each year. The programme has been allocated 18.7 million euros annually and will run as a three-year trial.

Jonna Korhonen, a director at the Education Ministry, said only about one third of recent matriculation examination graduates immediately receive and accept a place in higher education. Two thirds of this spring’s new graduates therefore have no higher education place in the autumn, she told Yle by email.

Different rules for unemployment benefits

The voucher is valid for two years and can be used for Finnish and Swedish language studies at open universities and open universities of applied sciences. Applicants must be under 29 and have completed either the matriculation examination or a vocational qualification.

For people over 25, studies at an open higher education institution do not affect unemployment benefits. A legislative amendment that entered into force at the beginning of July allows jobseekers over 25 to complete open higher education studies without losing their benefits.

The rules are stricter for people under 25 who receive unemployment benefits. They must follow the conditions governing studies while receiving the benefit, which may require them to spread their studies over different periods, Korhonen said.

Voucher does not cover living costs

The voucher does not resolve all financial issues. Students at open higher education institutions are not eligible for student financial aid.

It is not currently possible to complete an entire degree through open higher education. The government is preparing a proposal that would allow students to complete a full degree through paid open studies. The aim is to submit the proposal to Parliament in October.

Student organisations have expressed concern that access to degrees could become dependent on people’s ability to pay.

The government aims to increase the share of young adults with a higher education degree to 50 per cent by 2030. The current figure is 39 per cent.