Need-based study allowance

The students from less privileged families are supported by the state upon covering the additional costs incurred in acquiring higher education. The aim of need-based study allowance (hereinafter study allowance) is to provide assistance to students, whose households are unable to support them, motivate them to study full time and successfully and complete a curriculum during nominal period of study.
 
Need-based study allowance can be applied for by a student who complies with following conditions:

• the student’s family’s monthly income per family member is below 762,5 euros;
  • The family members of an up to 24-year-old student include the student’s parents, minor siblings and half-siblings even if the student’s residence according to the data in the Estonian population register is different from the one of his or her family members.
  • A household includes also up to 24-year-old siblings and half-siblings who acquire general secondary education in full-time study or vocational education in full-time study or higher education in full-time study and who have not exceeded the nominal period of the curriculum.
  • The family members of a student do not include his/her parents' new spouse and the spouse’s children, even if the residence according to the data in the Estonian population register is the same.
  • An up to 24-year-old student, who is married or a parent or a guardian of a child, forms a separate family.
  • An over 24-year-old student is a separate family and is no longer dependent on his/her parents’ income upon application for a study allowance.
  • If a student has been referred to substitute home service or foster care until he/she attains the age of majority or a guardian has been appointed for the student until attainment of the age of majority and he/she has submitted the documents certifying thereof, the student’s parents, minor siblings and half-siblings and up to 24-year-old siblings and half-siblings who acquire general secondary education in full-time study or vocational education in full-time study or higher education in full-time study and who have not exceeded the nominal period of the curriculum shall not be deemed to be members of his/her household if the student is not married or a parent or guardian of a child.
• the student studies full-time and completes the curriculum’s requirements in full (75%), whereas the study load is calculated cumulatively by semesters. In the first semester study allowance can be applied for by students who have selected full-time studies in their entrance application.

Students who are on academic leave cannot apply for study allowance!

Note for students who are residing with temporary residence permit for studying: When you applied for TRP for study, you confirmed that you have adequate legal income to support yourself financially during your stay. Due to that, the Police and Borded Guard Board has the right to cancel your residence permit, when you present an application, that you are no longer able to support your stay.

From 1st of August 2022, need-based study allowance and need-based special allowance will no longer extend to students (who are coming to study from outside the European Union) with a temporary residence permit for studies.

Student’s average income per family member	up to 190,63 EUR	190,34–381,25 EUR	381,26–762,5 EUR
Amount of study allowance	440 EUR	270 EUR	150 EUR

You can apply for study allowance by sending a digitally signed application to the ministrie's email oppetoetused@rtk.ee or by post to Riigi Tugiteenuste Keskus, Sõbra 56, 51013 Tartu.

Please note that in order to apply for the allowance, student must add information about all family members and upload necessary documents. If this information has not been added, Ministry of Education has the right not to process the application.

Applications can be submitted during the whole semester, not only for a month as so far. The allowance will be paid starting from the month of submission of the application, therefore it is recommended to submit the application in the first month of the semester – in September or in February.

How will a student receive the study allowance?
In the month of submission of the application (in September or February), the allowance will be paid seven days after granting the application.
If a student submits an application for study allowance on the last days of a month, later than 7 working days before the end of a month (7 days are required for making the payment (the allowance of the month, when the application was submitted, will be paid to the student next month together with the allowance of the current month. In other months of the semester the allowance will be paid within the first seven working days of each month.
If a student adds supplementary documents in the application environment, the payment of the allowance will be extended for the maximum of 10 days due to processing of the documents.
The allowance will be transferred to the student’s bank account indicated in the state portal.