Definition of the target group(s)

No specific groups or categories are defined by law as support is offered according to individual needs. The support measures available for young people studying at different education levels are also available for adults. For information on these measures, please see other subchapters in chapter 11. 

In addition, there are some special measures targeted at adults students with a migrant background, as well as financial support aimed especially at adult learners. 

Specific support measures

Integration training  

Integration training is primarily intended for immigrants who have completed their compulsory education. Its purpose is to develop the individual's Finnish or Swedish language skills and other integration-promoting competencies that support access to education and employment, and participation in the Finnish society. 

Training providers draw up their own curricula in compliance with the National Core Curriculum Curriculum for Integration Training 2022 (Kotoutumiskoulutuksen opetussuunnitelman perusteet 2022) (last accessed 15/1/2026) drawn up by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI).

A final examination of language proficiency is conducted in Finnish or Swedish at the end of the integration training language studies.

Literacy training 

Literacy training is provided during the literacy training phase of preparatory instruction and lower secondary education for adults (see chapter 11.3), as well as in liberal adult education institutions (see chapter 7.3). It is intended to support integration by enabling individuals to cope with the challenges posed by the Finnish society in terms of studying, working and everyday life. The goal is to establish a foundation in reading and writing skills, and to develop learning-to-learn and interaction skills.

Specific tasks and objectives for the literacy training phase have been defined in the National Core Curriculum for Preparatory Instruction and Lower Secondary Education for Adults 2017 (Aikuisten perusopetuksen opetussuunnitelman perusteet 2017) (last accessed 15/1/2026). 

For liberal adult education, EDUFI has published Curriculum guidelines for literacy training in liberal adult education 2017 (Vapaan sivistystyön lukutaitokoulutuksen opetussuunnitelmasuositus 2017) (last accessed 15/1/2026). Education providers can develop their own local curricula based on the guidelines.

Financial support

Education leading to a degree is free of charge in Finland from comprehensive school education all the way to higher education, with the exception of tuition fees being charged for higher education leading to a degree for those who are not citizens of a European Union member state or belonging to the European Econonomic Area (EEA). 

Education is strongly publicly funded. Besides education providers, funds are directed to employers via different channels, such as the Erasmus+ Programme. However, there are also some forms of financial support to individuals, directed at both young and adult students. Examples of these are given below.

Students can apply for student financial aid (last accessed 15/1/2026) from Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Under certain conditions, it may also be possible to receive an unemployment benefit during studies (last accessed 15/1/2026). 

The voucher subsidy for liberal adult education is a discretionary government grant that enables educational institutions to reduce or fully replace the fees charged from students in non-degree adult learning in liberal adult education. The grant is particularly aimed at unemployed people, persons with no upper secondary level education, immigrants, pensioners and persons with learning difficulties. The voucher subsidies are managed and distributed by EDUFI. 

Tax incentives are not a significant means of funding learning in Finland, but when the education or training is directly related to the person’s current work and is necessary for maintaining or developing professional competence, its costs can be deducted in taxation as expenses for the production of income (last accessed 15/1/2026). 

Payback clauses may apply to adult learners in certain situations. For example, if the employer funds the employee’s training and the parties agree that the employee must commit themselves to working in the company for a certain period of time after having completed the training, the payback clause may take effect if the employee resigns before the agreed time period has passed. Such conditions are based on agreements between the employer and the employee and there are no general provisions on them in the legislation.

The traditional adult education subsidy was abolished for new studies in August 2024.