Yesterday, October 26, 2026, the Ministry of Finance published a review of public expenditure and structural measures, which includes a long list of potential fiscal adjustment measures across various sectors of the public finances. The review presents numerous options for fiscal consolidation that target education and negatively impact students’ livelihoods, ranging from the introduction of tuition fees in higher education and the abolition of meal subsidies to cuts in student healthcare.
One of the proposed measures is a reduction, or even the complete elimination, of the study grant. It is incomprehensible that, at a time when Finland aims to raise the higher education attainment rate among young adults to 60 percent, proposals are being made to cut the very support that makes pursuing an education possible. It is not enough for society to merely encourage young people to seek an education — we need concrete action. Studying must not become a privilege reserved for the well-off; instead, everyone must be guaranteed the financial support necessary to pursue their studies. Students’ financial standing has already deteriorated to a concerning degree due to cuts made in recent years, and now there is a push to make the situation even worse. This is unacceptable!
According to the Ministry of Finance’s estimates, abolishing the study grant would result in annual savings of 537 million euros for the public economy, based on 2031 price and cost levels. While this cut might seem like an attractive quick win, it is precisely this expenditure that enables high-level expertise in Finland. Higher education is not a burden; it is a valuable investment in the future of our entire society. It must not be subjected to any further cuts.
Cuts to education and student financial aid must be removed from the list of potential austerity measures. If these cuts are implemented, we will pay a heavy price for them in the future.
