Press release:
The Swedish National Union of Students today presents a new report showing that half of all students experience increased costs during their work-based education (VFU). One in ten has additional costs of over SEK 4,000. VFU is an internship in a company and is a mandatory part of many education programs, including for nurses, teachers, social workers and speech therapists.
Despite the fact that internships are mandatory for graduation, few students receive any financial support for expenses such as travel, accommodation and food. The report is based on a survey conducted by Novus and interviews with students.
– It is unreasonable that students are forced to pay out of their own pockets to be able to complete their education. The system currently provides neither sufficient support through the study grant nor through compensation from the universities, says Elsa Berlin, vice president of SFS.
In the report, students testify about financial sacrifices to be able to complete VFU.
A speech therapy student says:
“The train tickets cost 4,000 kronor. I could only work for 1,5 months instead of the whole summer. I had saved some money anyway so it didn't affect me that much. But you don't expect to spend such a large sum on doing VFU.”
A nursing student describes:
“I had to think more about what I bought for food. I couldn’t do what I usually do during the day – for 1,000 kronor that I usually wouldn’t spend on public transport became a big expense. The university shouldn’t assume that you have money left over. This is something you have to do – the internship is not a choice.”
At the same time, labor market forecasts show that the shortage of trained personnel is expected to increase in welfare professions. SFS warns that today's unequal system for additional costs in VFU risks exacerbating the problems with the supply of skills.
SFS proposes three concrete measures:
- Convert the additional cost loan into a grant – so that students are not forced to go into debt to complete their VFU.
- Introducing financial support for dual accommodation during VFU – especially when placement takes place in another location.
- Give universities a clear responsibility to compensate students for additional costs – to ensure fair conditions regardless of where you study.
– Training for welfare professions should not require a savings account. When your wallet determines whether you can become a nurse or a teacher, then it is the system that is at fault, not the student. This is about having actual opportunities to complete your education, concludes Rasmus Lindstedt, chairman of SFS.