Can I still receive CSN even if I don’t pass my exams?

Thank you for reaching out! It really sounds tough to deal with strong anxiety while also worrying about your studies and finances. This is a situation you are not alone in. 

To briefly answer your question: Yes, it is possible to continue receiving student funding even if you do not meet the credit requirements, if there are special reasons. Mental health issues can be such a reason. The important thing is to be able to show a connection between your condition and the missing study results. 

It is important that you seek help for your anxiety, both to improve your well-being in the long run and to get support in your studies. Therefore, it is a good idea to book an appointment with a doctor and/or psychologist at a healthcare center near you. You can also contact Student Health Services, who have good knowledge of students’ situations and can either offer support for your anxiety or provide advice on what you need to do and guide you further. If there are long waiting times for a psychologist at the healthcare center where you are registered, there is also the option to book an appointment with a digital psychology service, which has the same fees as the region and can often offer an appointment quickly. 

This is how CSN describes special reasons for not meeting credit requirements on their website: If you know that you have not achieved sufficient study results and have special reasons that you want us to consider when we assess your application, you should include a personal statement and a certificate when you apply. The earlier we receive information from you, the faster you can get a decision. In your personal statement, you should describe how your reasons have affected your ability to complete your studies. It should also be clear that the reasons you describe correspond in time with the weeks when you did not achieve the study results, for example, that you became ill during an exam period. You must therefore be able to show a clear connection between your situation and the insufficient study results. You must support your reasons with a certificate. If the reasons are personal, the certificate can come from a doctor or equivalent. 

Such a certificate can be obtained from a doctor or psychologist and in many cases from Student Health Services. You can find more information on CSN’s website under the section “If your study results are not sufficient.” 

If your anxiety is so severe that your ability to study is impaired to the extent that you cannot study at all, you may need to report yourself as sick (this is done with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan). A doctor’s certificate is required if you are ill for more than 1–2 weeks (depending on whether you also work alongside your studies). During illness, you retain your student funding for the period you are on sick leave and are not required to repay it for that time. 

It is also valuable to contact a study advisor at your department or program, who can help you plan your studies and explore options such as temporarily adjusting your study pace (in which case you also need to inform CSN). 

Best of luck, and don’t wait to seek help. I hope you will soon get the support you need! 

Licensed psychologist