Need-based Special Allowance

Need-based Special Allowance (135 euros a month)

The need-based special allowance can be applied for by a student of a nominal period of studies who meets the following conditions:

• the student is an Estonian citizen or is staying in Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit, except for a temporary residence permit for study, or a temporary residence permit or temporary right of residence; 
• the student studies full-time and has by the starting semester cumulatively completed at least 75 per cent of the study load subject to completion under the curriculum in the previous semesters or who studies full-time in the first semester;
• the student’s application for need-based study allowance has been declined in the relevant semester due to not complying with the conditions specified in clause 3 of subsection 21 of § 5 of the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act;
• the average monthly income of the three months preceding the submission of an application for need-based study allowance of the student and his or her family members specified in subsection 2 of § 51 of the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act does not exceed the maximum average income calculated for the receipt of need-based study allowance established annually by the state budget, above all, if the given income has decreased in connection with the registration of the student or his or her family member as unemployed or in connection with no workability;
• the average monthly income of the three months preceding the submission of an application for need-based study allowance of the student and his or her family members specified in subsection 2 of § 51 of the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act exceeds the maximum average income calculated for the receipt of need-based study allowance established annually by the state budget, but another problematic economic situation exists that hinders the student from continuing studies;
• the student is not on academic leave;
• the student has not exceeded the nominal period of studies according to the curriculum;
• the student receives a study allowance from the government of a foreign country, an international or inter-governmental organisation or a representation of a cooperation programme.

An application for the need-based special allowance with all required documents is submitted through the study information system Tahvel by 30 September at the latest for the autumn semester and by 28 February at the latest for the spring semester.