Government proposes limits to duration of university studies
Reform to begin from autumn 2005
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Tuula Haatainen
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Tanja Karpela
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The government has put forward a measure to limit the duration of university studies, simplify admission to universities, and make the amortisation of student loans partly tax-deductible.
The proposed changes would affect students who begin their studies in the autumn term of 2005.
The Minister of Education, Tuula Haatainen (SDP) and the Minister of Culture Tanja Karpela (Centre) promised detailed legislative proposals by the early autumn of this year.
The basic idea of the proposal is that students who begin their studies in the 2005 - 2006 academic year and after would be expected to finish their degree no later than two years after what is considered the normal completion time.
For master’s degrees the target time for completion is an average five years, to which an additional two years of "structural flexibility" would be allowed. In addition, a student would be permitted to put his or her studies on hold for up to two years, and the time would not be counted as part of the maximum completion time.
The proposal also provides for further extensions for reasons such as maternity or paternity leave, military service, or participation in civic activities.
The normal study times for the various degrees are to be set later this year.
The package also calls for a new kind of financial support for students: a proposal to allow students who have graduated within the set normal completion time to make 30% of the amortisation of the portion of their student loans that exceeds EUR 2,500 tax-deductible.
The tax deduction would be allowed in the year of graduation and in the the ten years that follow.
The move would reduce state tax revenue by an estimated EUR 15 million as of 2010. The thinking behind the proposal is that the state would recoup the losses in the form of more efficient studies and growth in tax revenue, when the students enter the job market and start paying taxes earlier than they might do without the reform.
The government also wants to work with employers’ groups and trade unions to iron out the terms under which support might be given to those who have suspended their studies to go to work, if and when they wish to resume their studies and complete their degrees.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 6.5.2004 - TODAY |
 Government proposes limits to duration of university studies |
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