There's good news if you didn't get a university spot this year.The electronic voucher, worth 30 credits, can be used to pay for Finnish- and Swedish-language courses offered through Finland's open universities and universities of applied sciences. Image: Petteri Sopanen / YleYle News16:01From this autumn, young people who missed a place at university will be able to study in the country's open higher education system at the state's expense.While higher education is free in Finland, studying through the open university system is not. Credits achieved through open university courses may, however, count towards degree studies.A new nationwide study voucher comes into force on Wednesday. The electronic voucher, worth 30 credits, can be used to pay for Finnish- and Swedish-language courses offered through Finland's open universities and universities of applied sciences. It is designed to help young people explore subjects and test different study options, including during a gap year.The programme is open to people under 29 who completed upper secondary school or a vocational qualification after 1 December 2025.The first vouchers will be issued to applicants who took part in the spring 2026 national admissions round but neither received nor accepted a place in higher education.The voucher is valid for two years after activation. Students activate it through the national opin.fi portal, which brings together the open-course offerings of Finnish higher education institutions.The study voucher is a three-year pilot programme run by the education ministry. The government has allocated 18.6 million euros for it this year, totalling roughly 56 million over the 2026–28 period.