CSN 2027 increase in Sweden: higher student aid and income limit

Students receiving study finance from CSN will get slightly higher payments from the start of 2027. The increase applies to full-time studiemedel, while the income limit for students will also rise. The changes follow the higher price base amount set for the year.

For a student receiving the full amount, CSN will pay SEK 13,684 for four weeks of study, an increase of SEK 92 compared with the current level. The grant rises by SEK 28 and the loan by SEK 64.

The changes matter not only for students who rely on CSN for their monthly budget, but also for those who combine studies with part-time work.

How much will CSN increase?

From 1 January 2027, a student receiving full study finance for four weeks will receive:

The figures apply to full study finance for four weeks. Students studying at a different pace or receiving only part of the available loan or grant may receive different amounts.

CSN says the increase is linked to the price base amount, which is used when the level of study finance is calculated.

Why is CSN increasing in 2027?

The main reason is the new price base amount (prisbasbelopp).

The Swedish Government has set the price base amount at SEK 59,600, compared with SEK 59,200 for the previous year. That is an increase of SEK 400, or around 0.7 percent.

The price base amount is calculated by Statistics Sweden, SCB, based on changes in the general price level. CSN uses it as the basis for calculating several forms of student support.

This means the CSN increase is not a separate political decision to give students a large additional payment. Instead, the ordinary adjustment mechanism results in higher study finance when the price base amount rises.

The income limit is also higher

One of the more practical changes for students concerns the fribelopp, the amount a student can earn before income begins to affect their study finance.

For someone receiving full study finance for 20 weeks, the income limit will be SEK 115,451 per calendar half-year from 2027.

CSN estimates that this corresponds to roughly SEK 19,200 per month for a student with full study finance, although the actual calculation depends on the student’s circumstances and the number of weeks of study finance.

The higher threshold gives students somewhat more room to work alongside their studies without their CSN being reduced.

What does the fribelopp mean?

The fribelopp is not a general limit on how much a student is allowed to earn.

Instead, it is the income threshold used when CSN determines whether study finance needs to be reduced. A student can therefore work and earn money above the threshold, but higher income can affect the amount of CSN they are entitled to receive.

The exact threshold depends on factors including how many weeks of study finance the student receives and the study rate.

Higher additional loan and child allowance

The increase is not limited to the ordinary grant and loan.

The additional loan (tilläggslån), available to certain students who have previously had a sufficient level of income, will rise to SEK 4,720 for four weeks.

The additional grant for students with children (tilläggsbidrag) will also increase. For four weeks of study, the amounts will be:

• SEK 784 for one child
• SEK 1,284 for two children
• SEK 260 more for each additional child

Eligibility rules still apply. Receiving the higher amount does not mean that every student automatically qualifies for an additional loan or child-related grant.

The change does not apply to every form of student support

It is useful to distinguish between CSN’s different forms of support.

The ordinary study finance described above is adjusted using the price base amount. However, the upper-secondary study grant (studiebidrag) is different.

The study grant for students in upper-secondary school remains SEK 1,250 per month. CSN states that this payment is decided by the Swedish Parliament and is not linked to the price base amount in the same way as ordinary studiemedel.

This distinction is important because a headline about a “CSN increase” does not mean that every student receiving money through CSN will automatically receive more.

When will students receive the new amounts?

The new levels apply from 1 January 2027.

CSN says that students who already have a decision concerning study finance will receive the new amounts automatically. Students do not need to submit a new application simply because the payment level has changed.

However, students should still check their CSN decision and study information, particularly if their study pace, income or eligibility has changed.

What does the increase mean for students?

The increase is relatively small in relation to everyday living costs. A student receiving the full amount gets SEK 92 more for every four weeks compared with the previous level.

Over a typical period of 20 weeks, that corresponds to SEK 460 more in total, assuming the student receives the full amount throughout the period.

The higher income limit may be more significant for students who work alongside their studies. It gives them a little more room to earn income before their CSN is affected.

At the same time, students should not interpret the higher fribelopp as a recommendation to increase their working hours. Working more can affect study time, and the financial effect depends on each student’s income and study situation.

What students should check before 2027

Students planning their finances can focus on three figures:

1. The new CSN amount – full study finance rises to SEK 13,684 for four weeks.
2. The new income limit – the fribelopp becomes SEK 115,451 per half-year for 20 weeks of full study finance.
3. Any additional support – additional loans and the child-related grant also receive higher amounts.

Students who already have CSN do not need to apply again solely because of the annual adjustment.

Our assessment

The increase is modest, but it is relevant for students because it affects both sides of the CSN calculation: the amount available through study finance and the amount a student can earn before their support is affected.

From our perspective, the higher income threshold may be particularly useful for students who depend on part-time work. The increase in the grant and loan itself is much smaller and is best understood as an annual adjustment linked to the price base amount rather than a major expansion of student support.

The distinction between ordinary study finance and the upper-secondary study grant is also important. Students should check which form of support they receive rather than assuming that every CSN payment will increase.

Frequently asked questions

How much will full CSN be in 2027?

Full study finance will be SEK 13,684 for four weeks from 1 January 2027. This consists of a SEK 4,148 grant and a SEK 9,536 loan.

How much does the CSN grant increase?

The grant increases by SEK 28 for four weeks compared with the previous level.

How much does the CSN loan increase?

The ordinary loan increases by SEK 64 for four weeks, from SEK 9,472 to SEK 9,536.

What is the CSN income limit in 2027?

For 20 weeks of full study finance, the fribelopp is SEK 115,451 per half-year.

Will the upper-secondary study grant increase too?

No. The upper-secondary study grant remains SEK 1,250 per month. It is not adjusted through the price base amount in the same way as ordinary studiemedel.