National Coalition Party MP Sari Sarkomaa has submitted a parliamentary initiative to prevent military or civilian service from costing students their eligibility for Finland’s student-loan compensation. Although service itself is accepted as a reason for extending the completion deadline, a six- or nine-month service period may end midway through the academic year, leaving students unable to begin or resume their studies for several months while the eligibility clock continues running.

The problem particularly affects universities of applied sciences, where courses often follow fixed annual sequences and cannot easily be joined midway through the year. Endorsing a proposal from Kela, Sarkomaa wants the calculation period to begin with the student’s first semester of actual attendance rather than when the study place is accepted.

Read more in Uusi Suomi Puheenvuoro