The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) expressed its disappointment after the Government was unable to address Finnish students’ concerns about their livelihoods in its budget session on 3 September. The cuts decided in the session on spending limits for student housing will be implemented in next year’s budget, and their impact may eventually force students to live on the street every summer.

“Even in its previous incarnation, the housing supplement for student financial aid contained clear issues that need to be addressed before its reintroduction. The most significant of these was related to the livelihood of students during the summer, and if this isn’t taken into account, the model won’t be able to support their housing needs”, says Akseli Tiitta, President of SYL.

SYL wishes to remind the Government about its commitment to raising the level of education in Finland – a goal that will slip further away if the Government does not get serious about ensuring the livelihood of Finnish students. Students who work during their studies graduate later, and runaway indebtedness creates a negative incentive for studying.

Before the budget session, SYL urged the Government to find a solution for securing the livelihood of students during the summer, especially after the Government decided, as part of its spending limits session, to transfer students from the general housing allowance scheme to the housing supplement for student financial aid. The housing supplement is linked to the months a student is eligible for student financial aid, whereas the general housing allowance is a year-round benefit. As a result of the reform, students will be left without any housing benefits during the summer. However, students must still pay rent even when they are not studying.

“The government wants students to switch to cheaper housing. However, the utilisation rate of student housing has risen to unprecedented levels, and new housing cannot be built fast enough to meet demand due to the cuts in the Government’s investment subsidies. Many students across Finland have already had to resort to emergency housing”, Tiitta notes.

The Government must find a solution in its supplementary budget proposal to ensure the livelihood of students during the summertime. SYL proposes that the housing supplement be made into a year-round benefit. Alternatively, the number of months of student financial aid should be increased by at least six months, and student loans should not be designated as income for those months not spent on one’s studies.

Further information:

Akseli Tiitta
President, SYL
044 906 5004
akseli.tiitta@syl.fi