Need-based student support recipients rise by nearly quarter

The number of bachelor’s students receiving need-based support in Estonia has risen by nearly a quarter over the past four years, ERR reported, citing the Ministry of Education and Research. The number of students working alongside their studies is also increasing.

A recent study by Praxis found that the average Estonian student has a monthly income of 1,078 euros and average monthly expenses of 1,023 euros. More than 60 percent of students work during their studies to make ends meet.

Expenses have grown nearly twice as fast as income, while students’ income has increased considerably more slowly than the average wage.

Marian Müÿrsepp, a political science student at the University of Tartu, said covering living costs was difficult even with support from her parents.

“Without my parents’ support, I would not be able to study in Tartu at all, because I do not live in Tartu myself. I have had to find a place to live there. I have to live there and that means I have to buy my own food, so the division of costs immediately spreads through the family,” Müÿrsepp said.

She said many people she knows skip meals because of a lack of money, wait for discounts at grocery stores or wait until 8 p.m., when pastries are sold at half price.

Need-based study support ranges from 150 to 440 euros, depending on a student’s household income. It can be applied for when household income is below 756 euros per family member per month.

Students are considered members of their parents’ household until they turn 24, unless they marry or have a child earlier, in which case they are considered to belong to their own household. Students can also apply for a study loan, with a maximum amount of 6,000 euros this academic year.

Ronja Ansmann, vice president of the student unions’ association, said one of the main flaws in the system was how the support amount was calculated.

“The Family Law states that a student or young person in education must be supported until the age of 21. This means that the young person is effectively left completely unprotected for three years, because need-based study support considers them part of their household until the age of 24,” Ansmann said.

“That does not mean you will actually receive the full support amount. This is certainly a very serious problem. We want to emphasise that the system is not working at present and that the amounts have clearly fallen behind the times,” she said.

Margus Haidak, a senior adviser in the Ministry of Education and Research’s higher education department, said raising study support was not considered reasonable under the current circumstances.

“The last time study support was increased, it was not by a small percentage but doubled. Today, when the cost of need-based study support is about 15 million euros a year, our first priority is to ensure free study opportunities. That means providing universities and institutions of professional higher education with sufficient operating support,” Haidak said.