Allowances and study loan
Students attending vocational education institutions on the basis of basic education receive school lunch allowance. As of 1 January 2012, the amount of support per student is 0.78 euro.
The payment of study allowances to vocational students is regulated with the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act.
A study allowance consists of a basic allowance and a supplementary allowance. People studying according to full-time curricula for which the state has commissioned student places can apply for the basic allowance. The student may not have exceeded the standard period of study for the curriculum. Students on academic leave are not eligible for study allowances.
Supplementary allowances are meant for students acquiring vocational education based on secondary education whose place of residence is not in the same local government area as the school or in a neighbouring local government area. An additional transport allowance is provided for students acquiring vocational education on the basis of basic education in order to compensate them for the transportation expenses involved in travelling between the school and their home.
In the 2012/2013 academic year, the sizes of the monthly basic allowances were as follows:
- 38.35 euro for students acquiring secondary vocational education or vocational education based on basic education;
- 38.35 euro plus a supplementary allowance of 19.18 euro per month for vocational education students that are studying based on a secondary education.
An Estonian citizen or a person staying in the Republic of Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit or right of residence permit for specified term, the duration of whose studies according to the study programme is nine calendar months or more, has the right to obtain a study loan if he or she:
- studying in a state, municipal or private institution of vocational education after having acquired a secondary education;
- studying in a school and form of study similar to those described above in a foreign country.
The maximum study loan in the 2012/2013 academic year is 1,920 euro. Students are eligible for study loans at all educational levels within the extent of one standard period of study.
