Degree study allowance

You are eligible for the degree study allowance if you are unemployed or employed and meet at least one of the following requirements:

• you do not have professional or vocational education and you obtained basic or general secondary (upper secondary) education or dropped out of school at least five years ago;
• you have professional or vocational education (including higher education) but you obtained it at least 15 years ago;
• you cannot continue in your current position due to your health status (which must be proved).

If you cannot continue in your current position due to your health status, you can choose a study programme that helps you to remain employed.

In other cases, the Unemployment Insurance Fund supports study programmes that prepare you for the professions in which there is a growing need for workers and the demand for workforce exceeds supply according to the OSKA applied research surveys on sectoral needs for labour and skills conducted by the Estonian Qualifications Authority.

In order to obtain the allowance you must take the following steps:

The amount of the degree study allowance depends on whether you are working and have other sources of income. The unemployment allowance, unemployment insurance benefit, parental benefit, state pension and work ability allowance are all regarded as income. If you are working and/or have other sources of income, the amount of the allowance is 130 euros per month. If you are not working and do not have any other sources of income, the amount of the allowance is 260 euros per month. The allowance is subject to income tax.