Immigrant’s independent study
Independent studies with unemployment benefit means that you can complete full-time studies at an educational institution as a client of employment services. Sometimes independent study can help you find work and integrate faster.
Independent study can be
- completion of comprehensive school
- preparatory education for upper secondary school
- preparatory vocational education
- qualifying studies (e.g. physicians)
- Finnish or Swedish language studies.
The studies must be in Finnish or Swedish. If the studies are included in social orientation, they may be in your native language.
You can study with unemployment benefit for a maximum of 24 months. However, in the case of basic education, you can receive support for a maximum of 48 months. You must progress in your studies as agreed in the integration plan in order to receive support.
Independent study with unemployment benefits means that as a customer of employment services, you can pursue full-time studies at an educational institution. Sometimes, independent study can speed up your employment and integration process.
Independent study can include:
- completing basic education
- preparatory or preparatory education for upper secondary school
- vocational training or preparatory education for a profession
- qualification studies, for example, for doctors
- studying Finnish or Swedish.
The studies must be in Finnish or Swedish. If the studies are part of societal orientation, they can be in your native language.
You can study with unemployment benefits for up to 24 months. However, if you are completing basic education, you can receive support for up to 48 months. You must make progress in your studies as agreed in your integration plan in order for the support to be paid.
Do the following
If you are planning your studies or have already applied to study, contact the employment authority in your region immediately and ask whether it is possible for you to study independently with unemployment benefit.
If you are planning to study or have already applied to study, contact your local employment service immediately and ask if it is possible to study independently while receiving unemployment benefits.
To whom and on what terms
You can receive unemployment security for independent studies if
- you have registered as a jobseeker
- an employment authority estimates that studies are the best way to support your employment
- the studies have been agreed upon in your integration plan.