Government bills20
- HE 18/2026 vpPassed
Opening CSC supercomputer capacity to companies
CSC, owned by the State and higher education institutions, will be able to sell up to one fifth of its supercomputer computing capacity for corporate research and development. At the same time, it will be ensured that higher education institutions can continue to procure IT and research services from the company without competitive tendering.
12 Jun 2026 · passed without a vote - HE 86/2026 vpPassed
Easier open higher education for jobseekers
Jobseekers aged 25 or over will be able to complete open higher education studies without restrictions on the duration or scope of the studies and without losing their unemployment benefit. Studies will no longer need to be reported to employment authorities, but the obligation to apply for and accept full-time work will remain unchanged.
11 Jun 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 59/2023 vpPassed
Reforming student healthcare fees and funding
Higher education students from another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom will be exempt from the student healthcare fee, and the costs of their treatment will be billed to their home country. At the same time, the due dates of the healthcare fee for all higher education students will be postponed so that Kela has time to provide advance information about the fee.
1 Dec 2023 · 1 voteOnly vote · Käsittelyn pohja, valiokunnan ehdotus / Laura Meriluoto
85 jaa68 ei - 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 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 4/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Harmonising VAT on educational services
The exemption of educational services from value added tax (VAT) will be tied clearly to Finnish legislation. As a result, foreign fee-charging degree programmes sold in Finland will become subject to VAT in the same way as equivalent domestic education.
1 Apr 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 36/2017 vpPassed
Transferring student financial aid to Kela
Higher education student financial aid boards will be abolished and the processing of student financial aid will be transferred entirely to Kela. Personal student financial aid counselling for students will simultaneously transfer from higher education institutions to Kela.
28 Jun 2017 · passed without a vote - HE 254/2020 vpPassed
Digitalising Kela decisions and duties
Kela can issue benefit decisions to clients electronically instead of by paper mail if the client has consented to this. At the same time, Kela's new statutory duties and current organisational structure will be updated in the act governing the institution.
6 May 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 188/2020 vpPassed with amendments
Disclosing student data to the FSHS
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) will receive a statutory right to obtain necessary information on higher education students directly from the national database for student data. Thanks to this, students' eligibility for healthcare services can be verified quickly and online services can run smoothly.
9 Dec 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 180/2020 vpPassed
Student healthcare and taxi travel reimbursements
Higher education students will receive health insurance travel reimbursement for medical care trips to student healthcare. At the same time, the maximum price regulation for Kela taxis will be extended and travel reimbursements for care arranged with a service voucher will be limited to the nearest treatment facility.
8 Dec 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 77/2015 vpPassed
Tuition fees for non-EU students
Finnish higher education institutions will start charging tuition fees to students from outside the EU and EEA in foreign-language degree programmes. At the same time, higher education institutions will be required to establish a scholarship system to support fee-paying students.
18 Dec 2015 · 3 votes137 jaa46 ei - HE 33/2019 vpPassed
Student financial aid increases and indexation
The study grant will be linked to the national pension index, which tracks increases in the cost of living, and the provider supplement for students with children will be increased. At the same time, the terms of the student loan compensation for people completing a degree abroad will be made more flexible and the housing supplement abroad will be standardised.
26 Nov 2019 · passed without a vote - 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 41/2018 vpPassed with amendments
Reforming upper secondary studies and matriculation
Upper secondary studies will move from courses to study credits, and students will be guaranteed better support for learning and personal study guidance. At the same time, restrictions on retaking matriculation examination tests will be abolished and upper secondary schools will be required to cooperate with higher education institutions.
26 Jun 2018 · 10 votesClosest vote · Lausumaehdotus, mietintö / Li Andersson 4
95 jaa81 ei - 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 - HE 140/2015 vpPassed
Extending the Nordic higher education agreement
The agreement between the Nordic countries on admission to higher education will be extended until the end of 2018. Nordic citizens can continue to apply to higher education institutions in other Nordic countries on the same terms as local applicants.
4 Mar 2016 · passed without a vote - HE 40/2015 vpPassed with amendments
Ending study grant index adjustments
Annual index adjustments to the study grant will be abolished, meaning the grant amount will no longer increase automatically in line with the cost of living. At the same time, the parental income limits for 18-to-19-year-old upper secondary students living independently will be raised, and the eligibility conditions for student financial aid for studying abroad will be made more flexible.
27 Nov 2015 · 2 votes110 jaa57 ei