Kela OT 2e (06.25) — Application for Financial Aid for Students at Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences

What is Kela OT 2e - student financial aid (higher education)?

Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, pays financial aid for students (opintotuki). In higher education it is made up of the study grant (opintoraha), the housing supplement for students and the government guarantee for a student loan. Form OT 2e is the English paper application for students at universities and universities of applied sciences. Most students apply in the OmaKela e-service. Kela's guidance is that the paper form is for those who can't use OmaKela, including EU citizens without Finnish online banking codes.

The form asks about your studies and your right to study, earlier higher education and degrees, and your parents' income if you live with them. It then covers your housing, the housing supplement, studying abroad, your own income and other benefits, and any military or non-military service. You don't choose the type of aid: Kela checks automatically which aid you can get and for how long, including the provider supplement and the loan guarantee.

FileIt walks you through the six pages a section at a time and prints your answers into Kela's own PDF. It fills in your name and e-mail from your People records and checks your personal identity code and IBAN. It makes sure your date ranges run forwards and that longer answers fit their boxes. The finished PDF is saved in your vault. You deliver it to Kela yourself. FileIt never submits anything.

Who needs to fill out Kela OT 2e - student financial aid (higher education)?

• Bachelor's and Master's students at a Finnish university of applied sciences (ammattikorkeakoulu).
• Students at a Finnish university working towards a Bachelor's or Master's degree, or both.
• Licentiate and doctoral students in scientific postgraduate studies.
• Students in other higher education studies, such as specialisation studies, who give their study periods for each academic year.
• Students who rent their home and want the student housing supplement.
• Students going abroad for on-the-job training or an exchange as part of their Finnish degree.
• International students living in Finland. Foreigners who have not had financial aid for students before also send form OT 10e.

When to use Kela OT 2e - student financial aid (higher education)

• When you start studying at a university or university of applied sciences and want financial aid.
• Early enough for the month you need. The form says aid can be granted no earlier than the beginning of the month in which Kela receives the application, so allow a few days for post.
• When you want to apply for the housing supplement after moving into a rented or right-of-occupancy home.
• Before a study exchange or traineeship abroad, so Kela knows where you study, where you live and whether you return to the same home.
• Only if you can't or don't want to use OmaKela, which is the usual way to apply.

What you need before you start

• Your Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus) and your bank account number (IBAN). An account outside Finland also needs form Y 121e.
• The name of your educational institution and campus, the degree you pursue and its extent in credits, and your first day of active study.
• The date you first registered as an attending student in higher education, in Finland or abroad, and details of any earlier degree.
• If you live with a parent: whether your parents are separated, and whether their combined income has fallen by at least 20% since the last completed tax year, with the reason.
• For the housing supplement: the monthly rent or maintenance charge, the number of people in the home, the landlord and the address. A rental or right-of-occupancy agreement too, unless Kela already has it.
• For studies abroad: the country, the dates, the kind of studies or training, any wage, and your rent there.
• Details of any income from outside Finland, other benefits, and grants or scholarships from abroad.
• Form OT 10e if you are not a Finnish citizen and have not had financial aid for students before.

What’s on Kela OT 2e - student financial aid (higher education)

The 2025 edition has 6 pages. FileIt asks for it in 13 parts, and it is signed by Applicant:

1. 1 ApplicantApplicant
2. 2 Bank account numberApplicant
3. 3 ApplicationApplicant
4. 4 StudiesApplicant
5. 5 Parents and parental incomeApplicant
6. 6 Type of housingApplicant
7. 7 Applying for the housing supplementApplicant
8. 8 Studying abroadApplicant
9. 9 Own income and other benefitsApplicant
10. 10 Military/non-military service or voluntary armed serviceApplicant
11. 11 EnclosuresApplicant
12. 12 Additional informationApplicant
13. 13 SignatureApplicant

How to fill out Kela OT 2e - student financial aid (higher education), step by step

1 1–2. Applicant and bank account

Your personal identity code, name, phone number and e-mail, then the IBAN the aid is paid into. There is no address box, because Kela gets your address from the population data system. If you are not a Finnish citizen, the form asks you to also complete OT 10e.

2 3. Application

Apply either for your entire period of study, starting at the earliest from the beginning of the month Kela receives the application, or for a period with a start date. The end date is optional. Kela checks which aid you can get, including the provider supplement to the study grant and the government guarantee for a student loan.

3 4. Studies

Your institution and campus, the degree and its extent in credits, your first day of active study, and your right to pursue studies. The options are a UAS Bachelor's or Master's, a university Bachelor's, Master's or both, postgraduate studies, or other higher education. For other studies, give the type and each academic year's study periods. Under 'Previous studies' give the date you first registered as an attending student in higher education, whether you already have a degree, and any earlier studies, finished or not.

4 5. Parents and parental income

Only if you live with your parent(s). Say whether they are separated and which parent you live with. Kela uses your parents' taxable income from the latest completed tax year. If their combined income has since fallen by 20% or more, tick Yes and give the reason for each parent. Also say whether either parent has income from abroad.

5 6. Type of housing

Give the date you live there from, or a period. Then say how you live: rented, right-of-occupancy, with a parent, in a home owned by you or your spouse, in a school dormitory without a rental agreement, or elsewhere. Also say whether the home is owned by or rented from a parent, and whether it is part of the same property as your parents' home.

6 7. Housing supplement

Only if you apply for it. Give the monthly rent or maintenance charge, which may include fixed water, electricity and furniture charges. Then give the number of residents, the landlord, the address, and whether you file a notification of move. Also answer whether you live with a spouse, from when and who, and whether children live with you. The form says housing supplement is not available for owner-occupied homes.

7 8. Studying abroad

If you study abroad, say how it relates to your Finnish studies: on-the-job training (salaried or not), a study exchange, or something else. Then give the country and period, where you will live and the rent, and whether you will return to the same home in Finland afterwards.

8 9–10. Income, benefits and service

Income from outside Finland, other benefits during your studies, and grants or scholarships from abroad. For each, give the amount, date, payer and whether it is taxable. Answer No to other benefits if you only get general housing allowance and/or child benefit. Then say whether you will do military, non-military or voluntary armed service, and from when.

9 11–13. Enclosures, additional information and signature

Tick what you enclose: OT 10e, a study certificate for non-degree studies, a foreign diploma, the rental agreement, and details of income from abroad. Write any additional information with the number of the section it refers to. Then sign with the place and date.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending the form late in the month. Aid starts at the earliest from the beginning of the month in which Kela receives the application.
• Filling in section 5 when you don't live with a parent. The form says to complete it only if you do.
• Applying for the housing supplement for a home you or your spouse own, which the form says is not available.
• Forgetting the rental agreement when Kela doesn't already have it or receive it electronically from your landlord.
• Leaving out foreign income, grants or scholarships. Kela only gets Finnish wage and benefit income from the incomes register.
• Ticking 'Yes' for parents' income from abroad without giving details. The form has no box for them, so use section 12.
• Forgetting form OT 10e if you are not a Finnish citizen and have not had financial aid for students before.

After you fill it out

Sign and date page 6 and add the enclosures you ticked in section 11.

The form gives three ways to deliver it: post it to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA; send it to your educational institution; or file it online at www.kela.fi/english. FileIt does not send it for you.

Keep your filled PDF in your FileIt vault. The declaration commits you to tell Kela about changes, such as moving, a new rent, a stay abroad or new income.

Kela OT 2e - student financial aid (higher education): frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela): https://www.kela.fi/benefit-forms/OT2e.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.kela.fi/financial-aid-for-students
• Edition shown on this page: OT 2e 06.25 (checked 2026-09-28).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.

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