Subsidy for Courses for Pensioners, the Unemployed, and Immigrants

If your association is a member of a Citizens’ Forum, you can apply for an enhanced subsidy for courses aimed at pensioners, the unemployed, and immigrants. Courses must take place between January 1 and May 31, 2026.

Applications for 2026 open in November 2025. The application form must be submitted together with the annual course hours quota application.

Conditions for Organising the Course and Receiving the Subsidy

  • The course must have at least eight participants who are pensioners, unemployed, or immigrants. Other participants may also join.
  • The association is responsible for organising the course.
  • The course is eligible for support if it promotes active citizenship and participation and has a clear and transparent budget.
  • Applicants must be familiar with the course subsidy system and the use of the Skaftuki service. If this is new to you, please take time to familiarise yourself with the process and contact Kansalaisfoorumi’s education planners for assistance if needed.
  • The course must be included in the association’s application for the 2026 annual quota of course hours.
  • The maximum subsidy is €45 per study hour.
  • Kansalaisfoorumi’s support cannot exceed the course’s total costs.
  • Each association can receive support for a maximum of 40 study hours.
  • If an association applies for support for several courses, a separate application form must be submitted for each course.
  • After the course, participant lists and expense receipts must be uploaded to the Skaftuki service as part of the course report.
  • This subsidy cannot be used to cover participants’ meal costs.

Decisions

Decisions on supported courses will be made by December 30, 2025. Priority is given to applicants who did not receive this subsidy in 2025.

The subsidy will be paid to the association as enhanced course support after the course report has been submitted in the Skaftuki service.

Additional information

The purpose of the subsidy is to encourage pensioners, unemployed people, and immigrants to participate in education. The support is based on the Finnish National Agency for Education’s opintoseteli (study voucher) scheme.

For further information, please contact our education planners:
Tuula Hyystinmäki, tuula.hyystinmaki@kansalaisfoorumi.fi
Minna Lepistö, minna.lepisto@kansalaisfoorumi.fi
Annamari Martinviita, annamari.martinviita@kansalaisfoorumi.fi

If you applied for subsidy for the pensioners or the unemployed for 2025, please check the criteria from here.