Kela and financial aid

If you are a full-time student in a higher education institution, you can get

You can also get meal subsidy, in other words, low-cost meals in most student restaurants.

There are different criteria you have to meet to get these benefits and different criteria also apply to the benefit amounts.

You must also pay the healthcare fee for students in higher education twice a year. The healthcare fee gives you the right to use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). You must pay the fee even if you do not use the services.

Financial Aid for International Students

VAMK students from non EU countries and paying tuition fees are eligble for applying a scholarship.

International students are eligible for Student Financial Aid from the government of Finland if they have lived in Finland at least two years for some other purpose than studies, and their residence in Finland is regarded to be permanent. International students from the EU countries are not eligible for the Finnish government study support if studying is their only reason for coming to Finland.

If you are not a Finnish citizen and have come to Finland for study purposes, the general rule is that you cannot get financial aid from the government.

However, you may qualify for financial aid if:

You have been granted a continuous (A) or permanent (P) residence permit or an EU residence permit for third-country nationals (P-EU or P-EY).
If you are a citizen of another EU or EEA country or of Switzerland, the family member of such a person, or a citizen of a Nordic country, you only have to register your right of residence or present your residence card.
If you are living in Finland permanently
If you have arrived in Finland for some other reason than to study. Such a reason can for example be employment, family ties or return migration.

In order to get financial aid, you must make satisfactory progress with your studies. Your progress is regarded as satisfactory if your period of full-time study does not substaintially exceed the standard study time for oyur course of study.

You must complete at least 5 credits on average for each month of financial aid and at least 20 credits in each academic year (the minimum requirement)

Maximum period of eligibility

210 credits à 35 of eligibility in months
240 credits à 39 of eligibility in months

Study grant for students in higher education

You can be paid the study grant if

you complete studies that give you the right to student financial aid
you make progress in your studies
you need financial assistance

In addition, where and with whom you live and your marital status may affect the amount of study grant you can get.

Student loan in higher education

Student loans are part of student financial aid. In order to get a student loan you need a loan guarantee from Kela. The guarantee is also called a government guarantee. You do not need any other guarantee for the loan.

If you get a loan guarantee from Kela, you can apply for a student loan at any bank of your choice. You do not need to take out the whole student loan from the bank. Instead you can take out only the amount you need. If you wish to withdraw student loan funds, you must agree on this with the bank separately each academic year.

You must pay back the student loan to the bank. You will start to pay back the loan about 1-2 years after your student financial aid has ended.

If you take out a student loan during your higher education studies and you complete your degree within the target time, you may have the right to a student loan compensation. It means that Kela pays back part of your student loan.

Student loan in higher education | Our Services | Kela

Students living in rental accommodation in Finland can get general housing allowance. A household comprises the persons sharing living quarters. The housing allowance is granted to the household collectively. Students can get general housing allowance under the same conditions as all other customers. This means that months of study or the maximum time limits for financial aid will not be considered when awarding housing benefits. The general housing allowance is 80% of the difference between the acceptable housing costs and the basic deductible. You can use an online calculator to estimate the amount of housing allowance you can get.

Can you get a government guarantee?

You can get a loan guarantee from Kela if you get study grant.

You can also get a loan guarantee if you are studying for a bachelor’s degree in military sciences at the National Defence University and your school pays you a daily allowance, and therefore you cannot get study grant.

When is a government guarantee not available?

You cannot get a loan guarantee from Kela if

we are collecting your old student loan from you that you have not paid back to the bank
you are serving a prison sentence in a high security prison, open prison or release unit.

FSHS- Student healthcare services

Enable the Self service when visiting FSHS

All new students should log in to the Self service and update their contact information there. You can update your contact details, manage your appointments, use the chat service with a professional, renew contraceptive prescriptions, and fill out other forms there.

Service point opening hours
Open Mon-Thu from 8 am to 3 pm, Fri from 8 am to 2 pm.

Visiting addresses:

Wolffintie 30 (VAMK), 65200 Vaasa (entrance from the backyard)
Wolffintie 27-31 (Alere), 4th floor, 65200 Vaasa (access through Alere’s inner courtyard)

Assessment of treatment needs and appointment booking

By phone

Mon-Thu 8 am – 3 pm, Fri 8 am – 2 pm
General and mental health services, phone: 046 710 1073
Oral health services, phone: 046 710 1085

In SelfChat

For general and mental health matters: Mon-Fri from 09:00 to 11:00
For oral health matters: Mon-Fri from 09:00 to 11:00

FSHS Frontpage

Log into FSHS Self when you start using FSHS services

Self-online service – FSHS

Student Healthcare Fee in Higher Education

Student healthcare fee

You must pay the student healthcare fee if you are studying for a higher education degree and have registered as attending for the current term. The healthcare fee covers medical care and mental health services as well as oral health services from the Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS). You must pay the fee even if you use occupational or other health services instead of the FSHS.

You are not billed for the student healthcare fee but must make sure to pay it in OmaKela for each academic term. Visit Kela’s website for information about how to pay the student healthcare fee.

The due date for paying the student healthcare fee is determined based on the date on which you register as attending.

If you have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain or Northern Ireland, you do not have to pay the healthcare fee, but you must still contact Kela. However, you can use the FSHS’s services. Visit Kela’s website for information about how to proceed if you have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

Welcome Office - Information and Guidance

Are you new in Finland?

Welcome Office provides basic information in several languages on matters such as immigration, public services, integration, the Finnish society, language courses, working life and leisure activities. We provide general guidance and give advise on how you can settle in Vaasa on a step by step basis.

Our low-threshold service is free of charge and our drop-in service does not require an appointment. We can also advise by phone, email or chat. You can also book an appointment for an online meeting.

Whatever your question or matter: Welcome, free of charge!

You can get advice and help with:
official paper work & applications
making appointments
immigration matters
working life
public and government services and the Finnish society
language courses
education and training possibilities
day care
social and health care services
housing
leisure activities

Book an appointment to consultation

in Vaasa or online

Contact details

+358 06 325 1551
English, Finnish and Swedish 040 569 6046
Ukrainian, Russian and Finnish 040 1938595
Arabic, English and Finnish 040 1397290

welcome.office@vaasa.fi

Visit us

Tammipiha, Teräksenkuja 1 Pitkäkatu 30, 65100 Vaasa

Welcome Office – Information and guidance for newcomers | Vaasa

Ohjaamo Vaasa

Ohjaamo Vaasa is a guidance center for those under 30. Ohjaamo is low-threshold service, wich means that you don’t need to have an admission note to visit us.

Ohjaamo is always the right place to come to when you don’t know what kind of help you need!

We at Ohjaamo will help and guide you with your worries. The service is free and open to everyone.

More information

Support for mental well-being

FSHS Group Activities and Online Courses

The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) offers a wide range of preventive and therapeutic group activities throughout the year. These are organized as in-person groups at various service locations, as well as remote groups via the Teams platform.

You can find detailed information about the groups and registration here: Groups and virtual courses – FSHS

MIELI Crisis Helpline

MIELI Crisis Helpline in English 09 2525 0116

MIELI Mental Health Finland provides crisis assistance and support in order to prevent mental health problems and suicides. MIELI Crisis Helpline allows you to discuss your thoughts, feelings and situation in life with a crisis worker or a trained volunteer, for ex. all kinds of traumas, divorces, issues in the family or drug abuses. You can call us anonymously and confidentially.

Opening hours:

Mondays 4 pm – 8 pm
Fridays 9 am – 1 pm

MIELI Crisis Helpline offers help also in Finnish (09 2525 0111) and Swedish (09 2525 0112).

MIELI Crisis Helpline can help you if

your life has just changed and you are suffering
you have gone through a traumatic event
you feel you are unable to cope with your fear, anxiety or grief on your own
you are having self-destructive thoughts, or
you are worried about a loved one.

The on-call staff of the Crisis Helpline includes professionals of crisis work, people studying in the field and volunteers. If the line is busy, we recommend calling again after a few minutes.

If you need the help of the authorities, for example if you are in a life-threatening situation, please call the emergency number 112, go to the nearest emergency room or contact the social or crisis emergency services of your hometown.

MIELI Crisis Helpline – MIELI

Nyyti ry

Nyyti ry is an organization that promotes students’ mental health and study ability. It provides information, support, and activities for students and student communities to enhance mental well-being and coping in studies. Nyyti helps students with life’s challenges, and our services are always free for you.

On this page, you’ll find information about Nyyti’s preventive services for students and other organizations offering support, help, and advice for various life situations.

Our operations are in mostly Finnish, but on this page we have summarized our activities and services we provide in English. Take a look and join us!

Nyyti ry is promoting students’ mental health | Nyyti ry

Pastor of an educational institution

The University Chaplain

The Lutheran Church in Vaasa is cooperating with the universities, and wants to support human dignity, equality, justice, environmental liability, and love in the education and society. The University Chaplain is for all students and staff regardless of their spirituality or worldview.

Are you in a need of conversation? You’re welcome to talk with the University Chaplain in various life situations:

in joys and sorrows of the studies and work
when facing challenges in the relationships
when struggling with wellbeing and being close to burnout
when searching something new for your life
when reflecting questions related to worldview, religion, and your spirituality

The University Chaplain Laura Kallatsa is working for the students and staff of the University of Vaasa and Vaasa University of Applied Sciences. She is available

At the University of Vaasa on Tuesdays at 1–3 pm, Tervahovi, B115
At the VAMK on Wednesdays at 1-3 pm, WA1128, Wolffintie 30

You can also schedule a confidential discussion on campus, at the church premises or elsewhere. You can also arrange a meeting with the chaplain via Zoom or Teams.

University Chaplain Laura Kallatsa