Student loans for the autumn term can be taken out starting 1 August

Kela has sent decisions granting a student loan guarantee for the upcoming academic year to 109,150 financial aid recipients and to 1,200 recipients of adult education allowance. Students who have an application for financial aid, notice of a change in circumstances or other matter which is pending will be sent a decision on their loan guarantee when the other matter is decided. This applies to 680 students.

A year ago, 111,800 students received a loan guarantee decision.

Government guarantees for student loans are granted by Kela one academic year at a time and for the maximum amount of student loan credit available under the guarantee. The typical loan guarantee is EUR 650 per month. A student can receive EUR 2,600 or EUR 3,250 in student loan in the autumn and usually EUR 3,250 in the spring.

The student loan and other forms of financial aid are intended for all the months of study in the academic year. Kela cannot grant loan guarantees that exceed the maximum amount. However, students may qualify for additional financial aid if their studies are extended into the summer months or otherwise. A larger loan guarantee can also be granted for periods of study abroad.

Students can check the period the loan guarantee is valid using the OmaKela e-service or by contacting Kela by phone.

Student loans are disbursed by banks

Students must agree with their bank when and how they will take out a student loan. The decision whether to take out a student loan and how much is up to each student.

Most students take out their student loan in two disbursements per academic year. The first disbursement is available starting from the beginning of August. Any student loan funds not yet released for the academic year 2021-2022 can be taken out before the end of July.

According to Bank of Finland statistics, the average interest rate for student loans taken out in the academic year 2021–2022 was 0.3%. The current general increase in interest rates will also result in higher rates for student loans.

Study grants will be index adjusted in August

Kela has adjusted the amounts of study grants in conjunction with issuing student loan decisions for the upcoming academic year. The euro amounts of study grants are adjusted yearly in line with changes in the national pensions index. A 5.7% increase will be made for the upcoming academic year. Starting in August 2022, study grants for students aged 18 or over who are living independently will be raised by EUR 14.54 to EUR 268.23 per month.

Kela does not issue separate decisions on the annual index adjustments. Students can check the amount of study grant they will get by logging into the OmaKela e-service. The loan guarantee decision for the next academic year also shows the amount of the study grant.