Studying while unemployed

If you are unemployed, you can study under certain conditions while retaining your right to unemployment benefit. The type of studies you can undertake depends, among other things, on the duration and content of your studies and how they affect your chances of finding a job. Consider which studies will genuinely improve your chances of finding a job.

If you are planning to study while unemployed, do the following:

• Contact your local employment office and tell them you want to study. An expert from the employment services will assess whether you meet the conditions for unemployment benefit during your potential studies.
• Find out whether your studies are considered full-time, part-time, short-term or independent.
• Do not start your studies until you have received an answer from an employment services specialist, so that you are not surprised when your benefit is cut off.

Studying on a full-time basis

If you are studying on a daily allowance, the maximum period of your daily allowance entitlement will run normally. Your daily allowance will stop when the maximum period is reached, even if you are still studying. In this case, you can receive labour market support from Kela until the end of your studies or training.

During periods of voluntary study or work training, the daily allowance is not recalculated and the maximum period cannot start again, even if the employment condition is met. The new maximum period and the calculation of the daily allowance can only start after the end of the studies.

Unemployed person’s student expenses allowance

When an unemployed person is studying and participating in training with the support of the employment services or Kela, he or she may be entitled to a reimbursement of expenses in the same way as for other employment services. The allowance is tax-free income that the unemployed person can receive while studying. It is not a study grant as such, but a daily supplementary allowance for participation in training. The allowance is paid for the days you attend your studies.

Where can I get reimbursement of expenses?

You can receive a reimbursement of expenses for, for example, labour market training, a training experiment or self-study to promote employment, agreed with a specialist from the employment services. These studies must not be entirely self-started or independent of the employment services, as the reimbursement of expenses is subject to a decision by the employment services expert.

If you receive unemployment benefit, the expenses allowance you receive will usually be paid automatically when you receive your benefit. When you apply for benefits, state that you are taking part in training and attach the necessary information.

If your training has been approved as independent study, you will need a decision from the employment services, which will be sent to the benefit payer; the kela or unemployment fund.

You cannot get an expense allowance if:

• You study completely independently, without the approval of the employment authority.
• You will not receive unemployment benefit during your studies.
• You are unable to attend a training course, for example due to holidays or sick leave.