Study Voucher – free open higher education studies for young people without a study place

The study voucher is a payment method that can be used to cover the cost of for open higher education studies at Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences. With the voucher, it is possible to complete up to 30 ECTS free of charge.

The study voucher is part of a three-year pilot project of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Who can receive a study voucher?

You can receive a study voucher in August 2026 if you:

• completed your first upper secondary qualification (matriculation examination, vocational upper secondary qualification or further vocational qualification) after 1 December 2025
• are under 29 years old on the day you graduate from upper secondary education
• applied in the joint application in spring 2026, but did not receive a study place or did not accept the study place offered to you

 In August, you can check whether you are eligible for the study voucher and activate it in the Opin.fi service.

What can the study voucher be used for?

The study voucher can be used as a payment method for open higher education studies available in the Opin.fi service. A total of 30 ECTS can be completed over a period of two years. You can choose which studies to register for and use it at your own pace – you do not need to use the entire study voucher at once. The study voucher is valid for two years from the date on which all the results of the joint application are confirmed in August. You can always check the validity and remaining balance of your study voucher in the Opin.fi service.

The study voucher provides an opportunity to explore different higher education institutions and fields of study, try out higher education, or begin studies that can lead towards a desired degree.

Further information and contact details

More information about the Study Voucher is available on Opin.fi.

For questions regarding open UAS studies at Novia, please contact openuas@novia.fi or continuingeducation@novia.fi. Support for study planning or choosing courses is also available, and appointments can be booked via our booking system.