In a significant financial development for students in Finland, Kela, the Finnish social insurance institution, announced that it would require repayment of study support from more than 28,000 students. This repayment measure affects those whose earned income surpassed the annual income limit for student financial aid in 2024. The income threshold is determined based on the number of months students received financial support; for instance, those who received aid for nine months in 2024 had a limit of 18,720 euros. On average, each student faces a repayment obligation of approximately 1,087 euros, adding up to a substantial total of 30.7 million euros that Kela will seek to reclaim from students this year.

The increase in repayment decisions marks a notable change, with an estimated 2,500 more students receiving these notifications compared to the previous year. However, Kela's student support group planner, Else Turtiainen, noted that while the increase is minimal, students are usually quite aware of the income limits associated with their support, which is critical for financial planning. The announcement serves as a reminder for students to monitor their earnings carefully to avoid exceeding the thresholds set by Kela, which could lead to the repayment of essential financial support intended for their education.

Students who receive a repayment decision are required to settle the owed amount to Kela by April 15, 2026, highlighting the institution's timeline for reclaiming these funds. The potential financial impact on students could be significant, as many depend on this support for their living expenses and academic costs, raising concerns about the broader implications for student welfare and accessibility to education in Finland.