The Finnish Olympic Committee has issued its statement on the government’s proposal for student financial aid reform. The Olympic Committee considers it significant and extremely positive for Finnish high-performance sports that the proposal takes better account of the situation of student-athletes than before. The student financial aid reform will be debated in Parliament this fall and is scheduled to take effect in the fall of 2027.

Under the proposal, competitive sports would henceforth be recognized as grounds for a discretionary extension of the period of eligibility for student financial aid in both higher education and other studies.

– This is an important step toward a more flexible student financial aid system that supports the combination of sports and studies. Goal-oriented training and competition often extend the duration of studies and pose a financial challenge for studying athletes, which is why flexibility is essential, says Riku Tapio, CEO of the Olympic Committee, adding:

– The opportunity to combine competitive sports with studies supports athletes’ well-being and future, both during and after their athletic careers. That is why promoting dual careers is essential for athletes.

It is important that the reform as a whole recognize the unique circumstances of athletes. At the same time, it must be recognized that if student financial aid becomes more loan-based, as proposed, it could make it harder for athletes to make ends meet. Athletes’ incomes are often uncertain and vary significantly between seasons and sports, and for many, sports generate little or no income. Furthermore, training and competition limit their opportunities to hold paid jobs alongside their studies. Consequently, the structure of student financial aid — and student loan credits in particular — plays a major role in the daily lives and career paths of athletes.

– In addition to flexibility in student financial aid, further development measures are also needed. At the upper secondary and higher education levels, flexible study arrangements and individualized study pathways should be promoted for athletes. This work has been advanced in recent years through the “athlete-friendly higher education institution” (HUMKK) model. In addition, athletes need targeted guidance and support services, which should be developed in close collaboration with the sports community. It is also important to explore opportunities in the future to develop student financial aid so that student-athletes can, early in their studies, have certainty about their right to flexible study arrangements during their sporting careers, Tapio concludes.