Obligation to apply for education that leads to a degree for under 25-year-olds

A young person that is under 25 years old cannot claim for unemployment benefit, if he/she has not applied for at least two study places that would start the next fall.

Study place must be applied for, if the person has not completed a study degree providing vocational skills after comprehensive school or high school. In addition, a refusal to accept a study place or abandoning studies may lead to loss of unemployment benefits.

Obligation applies even if the 25-year-old has fulfilled the employment condition for earnings-related allowance. However, it is possible to receive daily allowance during a service that promotes employment, such as labor market training or job trial. Participating in a service that promotes employment does not, however, substitute the obligation to apply for a study place.

The studies do not need to be included in the joint application, but it must lead to a degree. For instance, studies that only prepare or train for vocational studies will not suffice.

It is possible to substitute the obligation to apply for study places, if it has been agreed with the TE Office in the employment plan. These exceptions are usually accepted, if they are caused by state of health or learning problems.

No right to unemployment benefit exists until the young person turns 25 years, he/she completes a degree, or participates, for instance, in a service that promotes employment for at least 21 calendar weeks.

If you have not yet turned 25 years, you do not have a degree after comprehensive school or high school and you are, for instance, temporarily employed, remember to apply for at least two study places that would start in the fall already during your employment period.

For more information on joint application and study options, visit Studyinfo.

If you are unsure of your own situation, ask more about the obligation to apply for study places and about the possible study places that are still open to applications from the TE Office’s education service, tel. +358 295 020 702. You can also check if you could find the answer from the TE Office’s website.