Student's survival guide
Big changes came to student benefits in 2025–2026. Here are the most important: where housing is paid from, how much you can earn, where to get help when money runs out mid-term — and a printable checklist for when you move into your own place or to a new town.
1. The biggest change: housing allowance → housing supplement (1 Aug 2025)
Students moved from the general housing allowance to the study grant's housing supplement (opintotuen asumislisä) on 1 August 2025. The change affected almost all students living in rented accommodation. In practice the support decreased for most, you only get it for study months (not automatically for the summer), and it is paid as a flat monthly sum. The good side: the income of a spouse, flatmate or parents no longer affects it — only your own income.
The housing supplement is 80% of the rent, up to the municipality group's maximum: in Helsinki (group I) at most 296 €/month, in large cities (II) 248 €/month and elsewhere (III) 216 €/month.
2. Study grant 2025–2026
There were no increases to the study grant (index freeze). A person aged 18 or over living independently gets 279.38 €/month. An 18–19-year-old living with their parents gets 90.85–204.42 €/month depending on the parents' income, and the same range applies to those aged 20 or over living with their parents.
3. Income limits — how much you can earn
The income limit is calculated with the formula 1,118 € per support month + 3,355 € per non-support month. The practical annual limits: with 12 support months 13,416 €, with nine support months (the most typical) 20,127 €, and with six support months 26,838 €. You can exceed the income limit by 374 € without recovery.
4. Student loan 2025–2026
A higher-education or upper-secondary student (18+) can draw a state-guaranteed student loan of 850 €/month, and an under-18 in upper secondary 400 €/month. The bank grants the loan, Kela guarantees it. The loan is not counted as income in the income-limit calculation. The loan must be repaid, but the terms are usually more favourable to a student than other loans.
5. Where to get help if money runs out during your studies
Social assistance (toimeentulotuki) — a student can apply for it if the student loan has been drawn and the money still isn't enough. Kela counts the student loan as income, but social assistance can be granted for the shortfall. If you have a reason not to draw the loan (e.g. a payment default entry prevents the loan), tell Kela.
Student dining — a Kela-subsidised lunch costs 3.10 €/meal (2026). Restaurants can be found at kela.fi/opiskelijaruokailu.
FSHS and healthcare — the higher-education student healthcare fee is mandatory: 35.35 €/term, a total of 70.70 € per academic year (2026). The fee is paid to Kela on your own initiative in OmaKela — no bill is sent, and many forget it. The spring term due date is 15 March, and you can pay the whole year in one go at the start of the year. A late payment adds a fixed 5-euro charge, and an unpaid fee is eventually deducted from your study grant or sent to enforcement. In return, FSHS services are comprehensive with no per-visit charges. You can ask for a health centre client fee to be reduced or waived on financial grounds — ready-made template.
Food aid — food distributions and community meals are open to students too, and you don't need to prove anything or feel ashamed about seeking help. Find the nearest distribution points by postcode with the food aid finder.
Diaconal work can help students too in an acute emergency — church membership is not required. See also the Emergency help section if the situation is acute.
6. Moving checklist for students
Your first own home or a move to a new study town brings a big pile of things to take care of, and some of them have a hard deadline. This list goes through them in time order — you can print it and tick off items as they get done.
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1
As soon as the apartment is confirmed — before signing the tenancy agreement
- If you can't afford the rental deposit: Kela can grant the deposit as basic social assistance in the form of a payment commitment. Apply for it before you sign the tenancy agreement — a deposit is not usually granted for an agreement that has already been signed.
- Read the tenancy agreement through in peace before signing. By law, the deposit may be at most three months' rent.
- Check the agreement for whether water, electricity or an internet connection is included in the rent — in student housing an internet connection is often included, in which case you don't need your own subscription.
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2
Before moving day
- Make an electricity contract if electricity is not included in the rent. Compare prices in the Energy Authority's service sahkonhinta.fi. A payment default entry does not prevent a contract, but the company may require a deposit or advance payment.
- Take out home insurance — in many tenancy agreements it is a mandatory condition. Compare a few companies: insurance for a small student flat is usually inexpensive.
- Submit a notification of move at dvv.fi or posti.fi — a single notification informs both the Population Information System and Posti. It can be submitted at the earliest one month before the move.
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3
On moving day or within a week
- By law, the notification of move must be submitted no later than one week after the move if you didn't manage to do it in advance.
- Report the new rent to Kela for the housing supplement (OmaKela). Your address updates to Kela from the Population Information System, but the rent amount does not — you must report it yourself.
- Photograph the condition of the apartment on moving day (scratches, stains, defects) and report any faults to the landlord in writing. The photos protect you when the deposit is eventually returned.
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4
During the first weeks
- Check the amount of your housing supplement if you moved to another municipality — the maximum depends on the municipality group (see section 1).
- Update your address with parties the information does not reach automatically: your bank, insurance company, employer and online shop orders.
- Furnish your home cheaply: find nearby flea markets and recycling centres with the second-hand finder.