Higher education students will pay more for student meals

The meal subsidy for higher education students will be raised at the beginning of next year. As from 1 January 2026, the amount of the meal subsidy will be 2.80 euros. Previously, the amount of the meal subsidy was 2.55 euros. However, at the same time the maximum prices for student meals will also be raised. After the change, students will pay 3.10 euros for a subsidised meal, i.e., 15 cents more than before. The meal subsidy and the maximum prices will be raised due to cost increases.

“Even though students have to pay more, student meals are still affordable,” says Sari Miettunen, Coordinator at Kela’s Student Financial Aid Group.

Henceforth students will pay 4.50–5.90 euros for special lunch options, which is 25–30 cents more than before. The special lunch options are prepared from more expensive ingredients than normal meals.

Currently there are a total of 275 restaurants in Finland that offer subsidised student meals. In 2024, a total of 12.3 million subsidised student meals were sold.

Kela’s website has a complete list of student restaurants

Students can easily check the student restaurants in their locality with the search function for student restaurants on Kela’s website. With the meal subsidy, students can also henceforth eat diverse meals that follow the nutritional guidelines during their time as students.

“The student restaurants offer food that supports wellbeing and gives you energy to study. The shared mealtime provides structure to the day, strengthens the sense of community and provides an opportunity to meet other students in a relaxed environment,” says Miettunen.

Additional information for customers

Meal subsidy