Studying on unemployment security eases 1.7.2026 

Topics

• Income security
• Law change
• Unemployment

The amendment, which makes it easier for people over the age of 25 to study with unemployment benefit, has been approved by Parliament.  The Act will enter into force on 1.7.2026. The new regulation will apply to studies starting on or after 1.7.2026.  The purpose of the amendment is to clarify and increase study opportunities when unemployed and to ease the administrative burden.   

Under the new law, unemployed job seekers who are 25 years of age or older will be able to pursue open university courses at universities and universities of applied sciences without restriction. Nor would studies at summer universities or adult education centers affect the payment of unemployment benefits.

Job seekers are not required to report their studies to the employment authority, nor are the employment authority or the KEHA Center required to investigate those studies.

Despite their studies, job seekers remain obligated to seek employment opportunities as agreed upon in their employment plan and to be prepared to accept full-time work. In addition, job seekers are obligated to participate in employment promotion services if they are offered such services.

The legislative amendment also means that, going forward, open university courses and open university of applied sciences courses can no longer be taken as self-directed studies supported by unemployment benefits.

This change does not apply to individuals under the age of 25, who, under current law, are entitled to pursue open university studies without losing their unemployment benefits, provided that the duration of the program, as specified in the study plan, is no more than three months in total – whether continuous or in segments – and the workload averages no more than five credits per month of study.