Immigrant’s independent study
During the integration period, you can study Finnish or vocational studies independently while receiving unemployment benefit.
This service is available from 1 January 2025.
Independent studies with unemployment benefit means that you can complete full-time studies at an educational institution as a client of employment services. Sometimes independent study can help you find work and integrate faster.
Independent study can be
* completion of comprehensive school
* preparatory education for upper secondary school
* preparatory vocational education
* qualifying studies (e.g. physicians)
* Finnish or Swedish language studies.
The studies must be in Finnish or Swedish. If the studies are included in social orientation, they may be in your native language.
You can study with unemployment benefit for a maximum of 24 months. However, in the case of basic education, you can receive support for a maximum of 48 months. You must progress in your studies as agreed in the integration plan in order to receive support.
Act like this
If you are planning your studies or have already applied to study, contact the employment authority in your region immediately and ask whether it is possible for you to study independently with unemployment benefit.
If you are planning your studies or have already applied to study, contact the employment authority in your region immediately and ask whether it is possible for you to study independently with unemployment benefit.
To whom and under what conditions
You can receive unemployment security for independent studies if
* you have registered as a jobseeker
* an employment authority estimates that studies are the best way to support your employment
* the studies have been agreed upon in your integration plan.