What to do if Kela asks you to explain your study progress

AI-generated summary of Kela’s press release:

Kela has sent a request for further information on study progress to about 25,000 students (around 6,500 upper secondary students and 18,700 higher education students) whose studies have not advanced sufficiently in the academic year 2025–2026. This is about 8.2 per cent of all students who received student financial aid in the previous academic year.

Your studies are considered to have progressed sufficiently if, in higher education, you have completed on average at least 5 credits for each month of financial aid and at least 20 credits per academic year.

If you receive a request for further information from Kela, first check your study record to make sure all completed courses have been entered correctly. In your reply, you should explain openly the reasons why your studies have slowed down – for example illness, a family member’s illness, a difficult life situation or an exceptionally extensive study module.

You must respond to the request for further information no later than 25 October 2026. You can send your reply via OmaKela. If you do not reply to the request, or if your reasons are not accepted, your student financial aid and housing supplement will be discontinued as of 1 January 2027. However, you can apply for aid again once your studies are progressing sufficiently.

Read the full press release about the monitoring of study progress on Kela’s website.