Introduction
The following is a summary of information on the forms for Swedish financial aid available to students. The most common terms and concepts used in regards to the granting are explained. More detailed definitions and explanations can be found in other sources, including Regler och praxis - "Regulation and Prece-dent" - a series of documents published annually by the CSN. Regler och praxis documents are published on the following topics: upper secondary student aid;
study assistance; special adult student aid; special educational grant; and re-payment of student loan.
Upper secondary student aid
Upper secondary student aidis available to students between the ages of 16 and 20 who are enrolled in upper secondary schools or participating in other educational programmes at the upper secondary level.
Upper secondary student aid consists of various types of grants.
Student grants are generally granted to all students in upper-secondary schools. The grant is equally to the current family allowance from the state.
A boarding supplement is a grant available to students who must board in the school area. The grant includes reimbursements for costs of travel to and from the parental home. The amount of boarding supplements thus varies, depending on the distance between the school and home. They are not based on financial need. Starting on 1 July, 1992, the municipality in which the student lives is responsible for providing financial support to students in the public school sys-tem who must board in the school area. The state boarding supplement may be granted to students outside the public school system (i. e. students at folk high schools, independent schools, national boarding schools etc.)
An extra supplement is a grant based on financial need and thus may be granted to students whose parents have limited financial resources.
Study assistance
A new financial student aid system was introduced on 1 July, 2001 replacing the previous student aid system, special adult student aid and special student aid for the unemployed. There was a rise in the student grant amount and an in-creased franchise. A special grant and a supplementary loan can be approved to some students.
At the same time, the new rules were introduced for the repayment of student loans. The previous system was replaced by a modified annuity loan, where the annual amount depends on the total amount that has been borrowed and the length of the repayment period. Entitlement to being granted a student loan is reduced as of the year of the students 41st birthday.
Study assistance is granted for higher education and certain other post-secondary programmes of study. Students enrolled in upper post-secondary educa-tional programmes can also be granted study assistance starting during the autumn term in which they reach their twentieth birthday. Upper secondary education (and for some students also compulsory school level) also includes studies at folk high schools, municipally-run courses for adult education
(Kom-vux), state-run courses for adult education (CFL) and some other schools and education.
Study assistance consists of a student grant and a student loan. Students may apply for a student grant only. There are two levels of the grant (34.5 and 82 per cent of the total amount) but the total amount of grant and loan is equal. The higher grants are awarded to students with short previous education as long as the government allocated funds last. The amount of post-secondary student aid is based on a number of factors, including the length of the term and the stu-dent's financial situation. If the stustu-dent's income during a given calendar half year exceeds a certain level, the amount of student aid is then reduced accord-ingly.
Additional loan can be granted in special circumstances - for example, if the student has high travel expenses.
Supplementary student loan can be granted as of the year of the student’s 25th birthday. Another condition to qualify for this loan is a certain level of income during the twelve months preceding studies.
Adult student aid
o special adult student aid (SVUX)
o special adult student aid for the unemployed (SVUXA) o special educational grant (UBS)
o special adult student aid for remedial education programmes (Lärar-SVUX) o special adult student aid for some of the technology and
natural science education programmes (NT-SVUX)
The Swedish financial aid system was reformed in 2001. SVUX, SVUXA and Lärar-SVUX were then replaced by a study assistance with a higher grant, called special grant. Since 1 July, 2001 SVUX, SVUXA and Lärar-SVUX are available only for students who began their studies with these forms of financial aid previous that date.
Special adult student aid
Participants in educational programmes lasting at least 15 days at an upper sec-ondary school or folk high school or in a municipal adult education programme may be eligible for special adult student aid (SVUX). Students admitted to post-secondary vocational education programmes are, as a rule, also granted special adult student aid. A general requirement for granting of such aid is that the stu-dent must have been gainfully employed for a period of four years prior to the commencement of studies. Special adult student aid consists of partly an adult student grant and partly a student loan. The total amount of the aid is based on income prior to commencement of studies. Special adult student aid is taxable.
Since 1 July, 2001 only students who started their studies with SVUX or SVUXA before that date may be entitled to SVUX. On 1 July, 2003, SVUX will be completely replaced by study assistance with special grant.
Special adult student aid for the unemployed
Special adult student aid for the unemployed (SVUXA) is governed by many of the same regulations as "ordinary" special adult student aid. To be entitled to SVUXA, a student must be unemployed, be registered for work at an unem-ployment fund, be at least 21 years of age and been gainfully employed for a period of at least three years. The amount of the aid is based on the compensa-tion a student has the right to from an unemployment benefit fund. Applicants
entitled to SVUXA are granted aid in the order in which applications are re-ceived until all allocated funds have been used.
SVUXA is granted for studies at the compulsory-school level and upper secon-dary level. Since 1 January, 1999, the financial aid is granted for studies ex-pected to last for a maximum of four terms at the upper secondary level. Before 1999, SVUXA could only be granted for studies expected to last for a maximum of two terms at upper secondary level. Since 1 July, 2001, only students who started their studies with SVUX or SVUXA before that date may be entitled to SVUXA. On 1 July, 2003, SVUXA will be completely replaced by study assis-tance with a special grant.
Special educational grant
Special educational grant (UBS) was introduced on 1 July, 1997, as a temporary study support linked to the Adult Educational Initiative (Kunskapslyftet). The special educational grant is primarily intended for unemployed persons who lack full three-year upper secondary qualifications. About 15 per cent of allo-cated funds may be granted to persons with a permanent job, if the employer hires an unemployed person as replacement while the student is at school. The special educational grant can be obtained for studies on compulsory school level or upper secondary level and is entirely a grant. The amount of the assistance is based on the compensation a student has the right to from an unemployment fund. If allocated funds for special educational grants appear to be insufficient for granting all qualified applicants, only selected applicants will receive a grant. In this process, consideration is taken primarily to prior education and orientation of the applicants previous studies. Since 1 January, 2003, UBS is no longer available.
Special adult student aid for remedial education programmes
Special adult student aid is granted to participants in remedial education pro-grammes (Lärar-SVUX). The amounts are the same as for SVUX. Since 1 July, 2001, may only students who started their studies with Lärar-SVUX before that date be entitled to this form of student aid. On 1 July, 2003, Lärar-SVUX will be completely replaced by study assistance with the special grant.
Special adult student aid for some of the education programmes for technology and natural science
Special adult student aid for some of the education programmes for technology and natural science, NT-SVUX, were introduced in July, 1995, in order to re-cruit students to technological and natural science programmes of education.
NT-SVUX can be granted for students aiming at a university diploma in engi-neering (lower level), engiengi-neering degree (Master of Science), teacher of com-pulsory school level (year 4-9) focused on mathematical and science and finally, Bachelors degree and Masters degree focused on science and technology. Stu-dents were admitted to NT-SVUX educational programmes in the autumn term 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 and also in the spring term 1998. Since 1 January, 2003, NT-SVUX is no longer available.
Foreign nationals
When a foreign student applies for Swedish study assistance for the first time, a special assessment is carried out. The applicant's "basic entitlement" to Swedish student aid is evaluated. If it is determined that the student has a basic entitle-ment to Swedish student aid, the application is evaluated in the usual manner.
Under certain circumstances, a person who is employed in Sweden and also a
citizen in one of the EU/EES countries can be granted Swedish student aid on the same conditions as a Swedish citizen.
Studies abroad
Swedish study assistance can be granted for studies undertaken abroad, if the educational programme is assessed to uphold an acceptable standard of quality.
The studies in question must be of a certain scope, too. The student grant is equal the amount as for studies in Sweden with the general grant. The student loan granted for studies abroad, varies depending on the cost of living in the particular country in question. The student can also borrow additional funds to cover special costs, such as travel to and from the country in which he/she is studying and tuition fees.
Health insurance
Students pursuing their studies with financial aid from CSN are not entitled to sickness benefit. However, since 1975, they are covered by a special health insurance which means they can keep their financial aid during the period of illness. Under certain circumstances, their loan can be reduced after assessment in each individual case. These rules apply only if the student has reported the period of illness to the social insurance office (försäkringskassan) and the social insurance office has then assessed that the student was completely unable to study during the period of illness. The loan can be written off for the part of the period of illness which exceeds 30 days.