Government bills24
- HE 93/2026 vpPassed
Free open higher education for young people
Young people graduating from upper secondary education who do not secure a study place will be given the opportunity to complete 30 credits of open higher education studies free of charge. The aim of the pilot is to make the transition of young people into higher education smoother and faster, and to help them choose their field.
22 Jun 2026 · 2 votesClosest vote · Proposed statement
143 jaa44 ei - HE 197/2025 vpPassed
Streamlining further training for nurses
Nurses will be able to qualify as paramedics, midwives and public health nurses through separate supplementary education without completing a second full university of applied sciences degree. Paramedic and public health nurse qualifications can still also be completed directly as an integrated programme in connection with nursing studies.
22 May 2026 · 3 votes91 jaa77 ei - HE 191/2025 vpPassed
Prohibiting overlapping higher education places
Higher education students will no longer be able to hold multiple study rights leading to degrees at the same or a lower level at the same time. If a student accepts a new higher education place, any existing right to study at the same or a lower level will automatically expire.
27 Apr 2026 · 1 vote148 jaa19 ei - HE 16/2026 vpPassed with amendments
Establishing a police reserve
A police reserve will be established in Finland for serious disruptions and emergency conditions. The reserve will consist of police students and police-trained individuals who do not work as police officers.
13 May 2026 · passed without a vote - HE 51/2024 vpPassed with amendments
Raising tuition fees for non-EU students
Tuition fees for higher education students from outside the EU and EEA will have to cover the actual costs of education, and an application fee of 100 euros will be introduced for them. In addition, avoiding tuition fees by changing residence permit grounds will be prevented, and protection for students participating in commissioned education will be improved.
15 Nov 2024 · 3 votes103 jaa45 ei - HE 203/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Wellbeing services county representation in Keva
Wellbeing services counties will gain representation on the council and board of directors of earnings-related pension institution Keva. At the same time, accrued supplementary pensions for employees at universities of applied sciences will be safeguarded until 2035.
1 Feb 2023 · passed without a vote - HE 178/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Transferring training compensation to the state
The state will begin compensating units providing practical training places for the costs incurred from practical training included in universities of applied sciences degrees in health and social services. Universities of applied sciences will be exempted from paying compensation, which will improve the availability of training placements and the quality of supervision.
24 Nov 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 91/2021 vpPassed
Extending higher education Covid-19 exceptions
Higher education students would be able to register as absent during their first academic year if the coronavirus epidemic prevents them from beginning their studies. In addition, delays in teaching arrangements caused by the pandemic would be compensated to students through additional time to complete their degree.
18 Jun 2021 · passed without a vote - HE 229/2016 vpPassed
Reforming student aid and increasing loans
The study grant for higher education students will be cut and the government guarantee for student loans will be increased, alongside students moving primarily under the general housing allowance. At the same time, the maximum aid period for higher education studies will be shortened and means-testing of student financial aid will be removed for some upper secondary students.
19 Dec 2016 · 2 votes101 jaa64 ei - HE 157/2016 vpPassed with amendments
Transfer of rescue officer training
Responsibility for organising university of applied sciences education for rescue services officers will be transferred from Savonia University of Applied Sciences to the Police University College. At the same time, the training programme and its funding will be transferred entirely to the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior.
25 Nov 2016 · passed without a vote - HE 84/2020 vpPassed
Flexibility for higher education during coronavirus
New higher education students will be able to register as non-attending in their first academic year if the coronavirus epidemic prevents them from starting their studies. In addition, students will be granted an extension to complete their degree if their studies are delayed because of teaching arrangements caused by the epidemic.
24 Jun 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 145/2018 vpPassed with amendments
Expanding FSHS to UAS students
Students at universities of applied sciences will be covered by the same student healthcare as university students. Kela will organise healthcare for higher education students and the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) will provide the services across the country.
3 May 2019 · passed without a vote - HE 152/2018 vpPassed
Facilitating higher education and continuous learning
The flexibility of higher education studies and opportunities for continuous learning will be increased to meet the needs of working life. Student admissions and internal transfers within higher education institutions will also be made easier.
20 Dec 2018 · 5 votesClosest vote · 2. lakiehdotus, 28 a §, mietintö / Sami Savio
164 jaa16 ei - HE 151/2018 vpPassed
Permanent Nordic higher education agreement
The agreement between the Nordic countries on admission to higher education will be made valid indefinitely. The agreement guarantees students the right to apply for higher education in another Nordic country on the same terms as the country's own applicants.
29 Nov 2018 · passed without a vote - HE 73/2017 vpPassed with amendments
Merging Tampere universities and educational cooperation
The two universities in Tampere will be merged into a new foundation university, with Tampere University of Applied Sciences also brought under its auspices. At the same time, all Finnish higher education institutions will be given the opportunity to organise and procure teaching from one another more flexibly.
14 Dec 2017 · 5 votesClosest vote · 3. lakiehdotus, 3 §, mietintö / Pilvi Torsti
99 jaa82 ei - HE 135/2017 vpPassed
Licensing rehabilitation counsellors, registering practical nurses
Rehabilitation counsellors will be granted the right to practise as licensed social care professionals in the same way as Bachelors of Social Services and geronomists. In addition, practical nurses on the healthcare register will automatically receive title protection in social care without a separate fee.
5 Dec 2017 · passed without a vote - HE 153/2017 vpPassed
Temporary tax exemption for educational property transfers
Properties used for vocational education and training and by universities of applied sciences could be transferred to a limited liability company without transfer tax in 2018–2022. The amendment would support mergers between educational institutions and operational restructuring.
1 Dec 2017 · passed without a vote - HE 27/2017 vpPassed
Universities of applied sciences in Keva
Universities of applied sciences will be permitted to remain members of Keva, the public sector pension system, until the end of 2025, even if their ownership transfers from municipalities to universities. The amendment will safeguard employees' accrued supplementary pensions in mergers of higher education institutions without causing substantial additional costs for the institutions.
19 May 2017 · passed without a vote - HE 264/2016 vpPassed
Expanding higher education fundraising rights
Universities of applied sciences will receive the right to organise money collections to support their operations and capitalisation. At the same time, the right of universities and the Finnish National Gallery to collect funds for capitalisation will be extended until the end of 2019.
10 Mar 2017 · passed without a vote - HE 66/2016 vpPassed with amendments
Procuring language teaching between higher education institutions
Universities and universities of applied sciences will be able to provide language and communication training included in degrees jointly or purchase it from another higher education institution. Higher education institutions will thus no longer need to organise all such teaching entirely themselves.
23 Jun 2016 · passed without a vote