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Study opportunities for unemployed people to be expanded from 1 July 2026
Parliament has approved legislative amendments that will expand study opportunities for unemployed people. In future, unemployed jobseekers aged 25 or over will be able to undertake open higher education studies without losing their entitlement to unemployment benefits. The change applies to studies that begin on or after 1 July 2026.
Open higher education studies refer to courses offered by universities, universities of applied sciences, adult education centres and summer universities that can be completed without being enrolled as a degree student.
In future, jobseekers will no longer be required to notify the employment authority of their open higher education studies, and the authority will not assess the impact of such studies on entitlement to unemployment benefits.
At present, open higher education studies may prevent a person from receiving unemployment benefits.
Job search obligations remain during studies
Despite undertaking studies, jobseekers must continue to seek work in accordance with their employment plan and remain available to accept full-time employment. In addition, jobseekers are required to participate in employment-promoting services if such services are offered to them.
The change does not apply to people under 25
The legislative amendment does not apply to jobseekers under the age of 25. For these jobseekers, the employment authority will continue to assess the impact of studies on entitlement to unemployment benefits in the usual way. Studies considered to be full-time will continue to prevent entitlement to unemployment benefits.
Further information
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Legislative amendments facilitating study while unemployed enter into force on 1 July 2026 (in Finnish)
- Parliament of Finland: Legislative processing information – Government Proposal HE 86/2026 vp
