Asiakasnäkymä
Independent studies while on the unemployment benefit
Service implementation:
Life situation and service category:
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Charges:
The studies may include course fees, study material fees and other similar fees that are paid by the client.
Who is the service for?
Independent studies supported with the unemployment benefit are intended for jobseeker clients who are deemed by their employment area to be in need of education and whose chances of entering the workforce will improve as a result of the studies.
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How can I participate in the service?
You can receive the unemployment benefit for the duration of your studies if:
- you have registered as a jobseeker and your jobseeker status is valid
- you are 25 or older
- a specialist deems that you are in need of education and the studies will improve your professional skills and chances in the labour market
- you agree on the studies being supported with the unemployment benefit in your employment plan before undertaking the studies.
Before you start your studies, your assigned specialist will assess whether you meet the conditions for receiving unemployment security, so contact your assigned specialist as soon as possible. If you are an unemployed jobseeker, please notify your assigned specialist about any studies that you intend to undertake. Also notify your assigned specialist about your studies if you are not receiving financial aid for students.
The supported studies must be full-time. Studies leading to a qualification are usually full-time studies, as are other studies comprising, on average, at least 5 credits or 4.5 competence points per month of study or 25 hours of study a week.
When you want to look into your eligibility for independent studies supported with the unemployment benefit, contact Employment Services as early on as possible by submitting a contact request via Job Market Finland’s E-services, for instance.
If you have already agreed in your employment plan that you will apply for studies, you can deliver the forms required for supporting your independent studies to Employment Services for processing without a separate contact request. In order to process this matter, we need your arguments for your need for education and an account of the planned studies from the education provider.
As a general rule, the decision to support your studies must be made before you start your studies, and the financial support will not be granted for studies that you have already started. However, applying for a student place does not affect your unemployment security.
Independent studies will improve your professional skills and chances of finding and retaining a job.
How is the service organised?
The educational services are provided by the educational institution, while the benefit is paid by Kela or an unemployment fund. The implementation method, location and language of the studies depend on the studies for which you are accepted.
Neither the minimum nor maximum duration of the studies is restricted by law, but you may receive the unemployment benefit for independent studies for up to 24 months per each study module agreed on in your employment plan. The maximum period for which you can receive support for preparatory instruction and lower secondary studies is 48 months if you have been deemed to be in need of such studies.
What kind of studies can be supported?
- The independent studies supported with the unemployment benefit must be full-time. Full-time studies refers to:
- studies aimed at completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree (=right to study)
- studies comprising, on average, at least 5 credits / 3 credit units / 4.5 competence points per month of study
- 25 hours of study a week if the scope of the studies is not defined in terms of credit units, credits or competence points.
- Neither the teaching methods nor the method of implementation affect the interpretation of whether the studies are full-time.
- The unemployment benefit is only used to support studies that are considered to substantially improve the chances of the client in question to find employment on the open labour market. The focus is on short-term education and training that supports a quick entry into the labour market.
- Studies leading to a licentiate or doctoral degree are not supported.
As a general rule, support for studies must be agreed on in the employment plan before the studies start. Unfinished studies may also be supported if they were started during an employment relationship or if at least a year has passed since the studies were discontinued.