Did you receive a request from Kela for more information about your academic progress – what should you do?
Every autumn, Kela sends students who have not made enough progress in their studies a request for more information about their academic progress in the previous academic year. You should reply to this request, because otherwise Kela may stop paying you financial aid for students.
Students are required to make satisfactory progress with their studies in order to get financial aid for students and housing supplement from Kela. Students in higher education must earn an average of at least 5 credits per month of financial aid and a total of at least 20 credits per academic year in order to qualify for financial aid for students.
If a student has received a request for further information about their study progress, the first thing they should do is check whether all their study credits have been properly entered into their study record. If data are missing from the study record, the student should ask their educational institution to enter the missing credits in the study record and mention this in their reply to Kela.
In addition to missing credits, there are other acceptable reasons for a lack of study progress. Acceptable reasons for a slower study progress include for instance the student or someone close to them falling ill, a difficult life situation or working on an exceptionally extensive study module. Students who are facing any of these challenges should tell Kela about it in their reply.
Not responding to the request for further information may lead to loss of benefits
Higher education students must respond to the request for further information by 25 October 2025 at the latest. The answer can be sent through OmaKela. OmaKela is only available in Finnish and Swedish, but the reply can be in English.
If a student does not reply to the request for further information or if the reasons presented in their reply are not accepted, Kela will stop paying them student financial aid and housing supplement as of 1 January 2026. The changes made to student housing benefits in August 2025 mean that study progress now also affects a student’s housing benefits.
If Kela does stop the payment of a student’s financial aid and housing supplement, the student can apply for it again once they have made enough progress with their studies.