Study Grant

We only reimburse the cost of courses that are teacher led. If you take a distance or online course, you need to have an opportunity for interaction/dialogue/personal contact and supervision by a teacher while the course is in progress. This may take place via Skype, e-mail, Facebook, telephone, chat, video conferencing or by submitted assignments on which the course leader provides feedback. The information provided by the course arranger (course description or certificate) must show in what way the course is teacher-led.

• As a working member of Unionen for a minimum of 6 months, you can apply for study grant for course costs dated from your seventh month of membership onwards.
• As a working member of another trade union for a minimum of 6 months, and who transferred directly to Unionen, you can apply for study grant for course costs dated from your first day of membership in Unionen.
• As a working member of Unionen who has been a member of Unionen Student for a minimum of 6 months, and who transferred directly to Unionen, you can apply for study grant for course costs dated from your first month of membership.

Are you a member of Unionen Manager? The same rules apply as to working members of Unionen, see above.

Are you a member of Unionen Self-employed? The same rules apply as to working members of Unionen. However, study grant is offered to you as a private individual rather than as a business contribution. More information under QA 10 below.

Are you solely a member of Unionen’s unemployment insurance fund? You are therefore not covered by the membership benefits extended to members of the Unionen trade union, such as study grant, etc.

You must be registered as a working member at the time we receive your application.

Are you a Guest Member of Unionen? The same rules apply as to working members of Unionen, see above.

Are you a member of Unionen Student?

Learn more about study grant for students. (Litterature grant)

“Working member” is a form of membership. Working members are those who are employed, a member of Unionen Chef or Unionen Egenföretagare, and those whose temporary status on the labour market is unemployed, studying, on sick leave or parental leave.

You can apply for study grant regardless of whether you study full-time or are developing your professional skills while continuing to work. Unionen study grant is available for both longer study programmes and shorter evening or one-day courses. You may be studying a new language, marketing, law or a new software program, or something completely different that will enable you to develop work-related skills and strengthen your position in the labour market.

Reimbursement is available for courses attended at colleges, universities, adult education centres or vocational colleges. The cost of courses offered at community colleges, study associations and private-sector training companies may be reimbursed, depending on the course subject, contents and how it strengthens your position in the labour market .

Because your employability is almost sure to increase if you have a category B driving licence (car licence), you can be reimbursed for your instructor-led lessons.

We will reimburse: driving lessons, instructor-led theory course, Risk 1 and Risk 2 (skid pan), introductory course (for you as the pupil), and the course literature that your driving school certifies you need for the course in question.

You must provide the following documents: a certificate from your driving school with your name, the name of the course (e.g. B licence), the dates and the cost of the instructor-led theory and practical lessons you have done, Risk 1, Risk 2 (skid pan), invoice and receipt or copy of a marked receipt. Write your personal identity number on the original receipt, take a copy of the marked receipt and send it to us. We will not be able to return original receipts.

In order for you to get a better knowledge of your finances, we also reimburse teacher-led courses in personal finance, such as share trading, fund knowledge and pension savings.

Unionen study grant is also available for studies abroad.

Are there any courses for which I CAN’T apply for study grant?

• Leisure and hobby based courses
• Self-studies without teacher supervision
• Distance learning and online study programmes without teacher supervision
• Courses in preventive healthcare and personal development including mindfulness, counselling or inspirational/motivational seminars, yoga or stress management. You can, however, apply for the reimbursement for a course that leads to an instructor qualification in any of the areas mentioned. 

What does “teacher-led online and distance course” mean?

We only reimburse the cost of courses that are teacher led. If you take a distance or online course, you need to have an opportunity for interaction/dialogue/personal contact and supervision by a teacher while the course is in progress. This may take place via Skype, e-mail, Facebook, telephone, chat, video conferencing or by submitted assignments on which the course leader provides feedback. The information provided by the course arranger (course description or certificate) must show in what way the course is teacher-led.

We will reimburse you for costs such as your student union membership fee, course literature and materials (e.g. software, computer, calculator or anything else that you may need for the course as specified by the school). The maximum grant in total is SEK 3,425 per term.

Computer

If you have a certificate from the school stating that you need your own computer for the course, you may receive an amount equivalent to one term’s grant for the term during which the computer was purchased (SEK 3,425 for year 2020-2021). You can not apply for study grant for the same computer purchase for multiple terms. You can be reimbursed for the purchase of one computer over a 3-year period.

With your application, please submit a copy of the receipt or invoice / delivery note. Mark your original receipt with your social security number. Take a copy of the marked receipt and send us to us. We will not be able to return original receipt. If you lease a computer, you can receive a one term amount for your leasing contract over a 3-year period.

Which course costs can I NOT have reimbursed?

• Membership fees of various organisations
• Broadband Internet services
• Travels, accommodation and food
• Certification fees
• Invoices made out to a company, although we do approve invoices toy our own business if you are a self-employed sole trader

Subscription charges for course provision 

If you pay a subscription charge which gives you access to a range of courses, you can apply for study support for this. The courses must meet our criteria – they must be teacher-led, you must be able to benefit from them professionally and they must strengthen your position in the labour market. You can send us your application once you have a certificate for a course you have started in the term in question and that you wish to seek reimbursement for. 

Can I receive reimbursement for course costs paid for by my employer or my own company?

Because we reimburse you as an individual member and not as an employer or company, all invoices issued to you must be in your name and paid by you personally, rather than by your employer or any company.

If you are a member of Unionen Self-employed, you can receive reimbursement both for course costs that you have paid for privately and for those which are paid for by you as a sole trader. However, we cannot reimburse course costs paid by your own company if this is in a form other than a sole trader. 

What do I need to know about invoice and receipt dates?

Receipts and invoices must be dated during the period of your working membership and after you have completed the qualification period of 6 months. 

What is the earliest date I can buy my course literature?

You need to buy your course literature/material close to the date when the course starts. We accept receipts for the purchase of course literature as follows:

• Spring term (weeks 1-24): Purchases made from 1 November
• Summer term (weeks 25-32): Purchases made from 1 April
• Autumn term (weeks 33-52): Purchases made from 1 June

You can receive up to SEK 3,425 per term for courses that take place during 2020-2021. When you have received SEK 13,700 you can't get more.  

How are terms divided for courses arranged by providers other than universities/colleges. 

Our terms follow the Swedish academic terms (spring and autumn) with the addition of an extra summer term – as and when confirmed by the school or academic institution in question. As regards courses/study programmes offered by course providers other than, for example, colleges, universities, community colleges and adult education centres, the following term dates apply:

• Spring term: Weeks 1-24.
• Summer term: Weeks 25-32.
• Autumn term: Weeks 33-52.

It is the course date that determines which term the application refers to. If the duration of a course is more than one term and your costs exceed SEK 3,425 you can apply for study grant for the terms the course is ongoing.

If your course lasts for several terms and your course costs exceeds our term amount, you can apply for study grant for all terms in which the course is in progress.

Example: if the course costs 10,000 SEK and lasts during April-July, you can get 2 terms amount of 3,425 SEK (year 2020-2021).

Example: You pay 10,000 SEK for 20 driving lessons (500 SEK each) at a traffic school and take 15 driving lessons during spring term and 5 lessons during summer term. You will then receive the maximum amount 3,425 SEK for the spring term and 2,500 SEK (5x500 SEK) for the summer term (year 2020-2021).

Once you have paid your course costs, started the course and have all the documentation, you may send us your application by post.

Your application must have arrived Unionen no later than May 31st 2021. You can apply for study grant online. Apply here.

If you prefer to send it by post, the address where you should send your application is shown at the bottom of the application form. If you need to send in any supplementary information, we will e-mail you during the processing of your application. 

We will need to receive your supplementary information no later than August 31st 2021.

In order to keep the processing time to a minimum, we ask you to apply for each term separately. If you are applying for the reimbursement of more than one course run by different schools/course providers, please complete one application for each of the school/course providers. Make sure to include all the documents and certificates required with your application. Receipts and invoices must be dated during the period of your working membership of Unionen and after you have completed the qualification period of 6 months.

You must be registered as a working member at the time we receive your application.

Please note that the Unionen Study Foundation reserves the right to ask for the repayment of any incorrect payments.

Please send your application form and accompanying documents to:

Unionens Studiestöd
FE 10110
838 78 Frösön 

Log in and click on ‘My details’ (Mina uppgifter) and ‘My Study Grant’ (Mitt studiestöd). Here, you can see if your application is registered as received, your current application status, how much study grant you have received so far and how much more you can still apply for. When logging in, use the email address that you have previously submitted to Unionen.

In order to speed up the application process, it is important that you carefully read and follow the instructions above under ‘This is how you apply’. Make sure that you submit all the documents required together with your completed application form so that you do not have to submit any additional information as this would only prolong the process. If, when processing your application we see that any information is missing, we will contact you by e-mail. When your completed application has been approved, you will receive the money in your bank account the following week.

In accordance with GDPR your application will be deleted  2 weeks in case it is denied.

1. Download the application form here
   - Please include the following with your application form: 
2. 2.1 Certificate from the school/course provider specifying your name, personal identity number, what course you have enrolled on and how long the course lasts. This certificate must be dated close to the actual term date or later.
   2.2 If you take a distance or online course, we need a certificate/documentation from the course provider (course description or course certificate) stating your opportunities for interaction/dialogue/personal contact and supervision by a teacher while the course is in progress. This may for example take place via Skype, e-mail, Facebook, telephone, chat, video conferencing or by submitted assignments on which the course leader provides feedback.
   2.3 If you attend a driving course, we require a certificate from your driving school with your name, the name of the course (e.g. B License), the period of the course and the dates of completed instructor-led theory and driving lessons, Risk 1, Risk 2 (skid pan), as well as original receipts or invoices and payment receipts.
3. Material list – if you are studying a practical subject. The material list must be issued by the course provider. The course provider must verify any additions or amendments that you make to the literature list. 
4. Literature list – if you are studying a theoretical subject. The literature list must be issued by the course provider. The course provider must verify any additions or amendments that you make to the literature list. If you are writing a thesis and have chosen the literature yourself, the literature list must be verified by your academic supervisor.
5. With your application, you submit a copy of the receipt or invoice / delivery note. Mark your original receipt with your social security number. Take a copy of the marked receipt and send us to us. We will not be able to return original receipt. Receipts must be dated within the timeframe specified for the respective term / course period. The receipt must be dated when you were a member of the Union and meets the qualification requirement.
   Have you paid with a credit card on the web? Send the delivery slip / order confirmation with the price indication and payment receipt from your bank.
   Have you paid via invoice - send a copy of the invoice or mail invoice and something that confirms that you have paid the invoice, such as extracts from your internet bank or copy of payment orders that show account owners (your name), recipient name, amount and payment date.
6. Second-hand books.  Option 1. When buying second-hand books, please include a handwritten receipt  with the following information:
   - Purchase date and the buyer’s name
   - Seller’s signature, printed name and telephone number
   - Book title, price and method of payment
   Option 2. When buying second-hand books on Blocket, please include the following: A handwritten receipt (as above) or e-mail correspondence with the seller in which the book title and price are stated, together with an internet bank statement showing that you have paid for the books.
7. Proof of membership of another trade union that you would like or should be taken into account together with your application.

​We recommend that you make copies of all relevant documentation before submitting your application to us.

You can either apply for study grant for the current term or up to 1 year retroactively. Receipts and invoices for course costs must be dated during the period of your working membership and after you have completed the qualification period of 6 months, see the example below. You must have a continuous membership in Unionen from the term for which you a seeking study grant up until the date your application is received.

Example:

As a working member of Unionen for a minimum of 6 months, you can apply for study grant for course costs dated from your seventh month of membership onwards.
As a working member of Unionen who has been a member of another trade union for a minimum of 6 months, and who transferred directly to Unionen, you can apply for study grant for course costs dated from your first month of membership.
As a working member of Unionen who has been a member of Unionen Student for a minimum of 6 months, and who transferred directly to Unionen, you can apply for study grant for course costs dated from your first month of membership.

Your application must have arrived Unionen no later than May 31st 2021. After that date the study grant is terminated. You can apply for study grant online. Apply here.
Bare in mind that if you submit your application through regular post it could take up to a week before we've registered your application.

You must be registered as a working member at the time we receive and process your application. 

Learn more about study grant for your course costs from your period as a member of Unionen Student here. (Information in Swedish only)

Are you a member of Unionen Self-employed? The same rules apply as to working members of Unionen. However, study grant is offered to you as a private individual rather than as a business contribution.

Because we reimburse you as an individual member and not as an employer or company, the invoice must be issued to you and paid by you as a private individual.
If you are a member of Unionen Self-employed, you can receive reimbursement both for course costs that you have paid for privately and for those which are paid for by you as a sole trader. However, we cannot reimburse course costs paid by your own company if this is in a form other than a sole trader.

No, you should keep your working membership as this entitles you to apply for study grant of up to SEK 3,425 per term provided that you meet the membership conditions. Learn more here about how you can lower your membership fee while you are studying. (Information in Swedish only)

One of the criteria for receiving study grant is that you are a working member. It is therefore more beneficial for you to remain in this membership category. Unionen Student is mainly intended for completely new Unionen members.

If you would like to study part-time and still receive unemployment benefit, you must apply to Unionen’s Unemployment Insurance Fund. In order to avoid the risk of losing your unemployment benefit, you must not begin your studies until you receive a decision from your Unemployment Insurance Fund. For more information, visit Unionen’s Unemployment Insurance Fund