Finland Launches Free 30-Credit Study Voucher for Eligible Young People Without a Study Place

Finland Launches Free 30-Credit Study Voucher for Eligible Young People Without a Study Place

(IN BRIEF) Finland is introducing a new study voucher on 5 August 2026 to support young people who completed upper secondary education but did not secure or accept a higher education study place in the spring 2026 joint application process. The voucher covers 30 study credits in open Finnish- or Swedish-language studies at universities and universities of applied sciences. It is available to eligible young people under 29 and is valid for two years after activation. The initiative is designed to help young people use a gap year productively, explore different fields of study, maintain their study rhythm and try higher education without financial risk or concern about using up student financial aid months. The voucher can be activated and used through Opin.fi, a shared service for Finnish higher education institutions that brings together open study offerings from 37 universities and universities of applied sciences.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 5-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — A new study voucher is being introduced in Finland to give young people who did not secure a higher education place the opportunity to complete open university or university of applied sciences studies free of charge.

The fixed-term trial begins in August 2026 and is designed to provide additional support for young people during gap years, while helping them explore higher education pathways without financial risk.

Each year, thousands of young people are left without the study place they hoped to receive after the results of the joint application process are announced.

The new study voucher aims to ease that situation by offering access to 30 study credits in higher education.

The voucher is an electronic payment method that can be used to pay for open Finnish- or Swedish-language studies at Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences.

It is available to people under the age of 29 who completed their first upper secondary education after 1 December 2025.

Eligible qualifications include the matriculation examination or a vocational qualification.

To qualify, young people must also have applied for studies in the joint application process in spring 2026 but either did not receive a study place or did not accept one.

The study voucher gives young people a way to try higher education studies without worrying about course fees or using up months of student financial aid.

It also offers a practical route for those who are still deciding on their future field of study or who want to begin through the open university route before progressing toward degree studies.

Jenni Krapu, Head of Services, said the study voucher is a valuable tool for young people who are still looking for their field or who want to start studies through open university as a possible path toward degree studies.

She said open university studies can help young people test whether a particular field is the right direction for them.

Krapu added that the voucher removes the financial risk of exploring different fields and helps young people maintain their study rhythm during a gap year.

The voucher is valid for two years after activation.

Recipients can use it flexibly and complete studies at their own pace.

The study voucher can be activated and used through Opin.fi, a joint service for Finnish higher education institutions.

Opin.fi brings together open study offerings from 37 universities and universities of applied sciences in one place.

The service offers thousands of courses, giving voucher recipients broad opportunities to try studies across different fields and institutions.

Young people can check whether they are entitled to the study voucher through Opin.fi from 5 August 2026.

Login to the service is secured through Suomi.fi e-Identification.

Those who are eligible can activate the voucher and begin using it immediately.

Students can select and enrol in courses covered by the study voucher directly through the service.

Registration for the first open university courses for the autumn will begin in August.

Students can find further information on the 2026–2027 academic year’s open university offerings through the relevant study information channels.

Those who need help choosing a field of study or understanding open university options can also contact student advice services.

Advisers are available to guide young people toward suitable courses and help them make informed choices about their next steps.

Through the study voucher trial, Finland is creating a practical new pathway into higher education for young people who did not receive a study place, while supporting flexible learning, continued study engagement and informed educational choices during a gap year.

Media Contact:

Minna Herno
Chief Specialist
Education Services
minna.herno@helsinki.fi
+358294128053

SOURCE: University of Helsinki