All Dutch students qualify for the Student Grant. / EU / EEA / UK students qualify if they have 8 hours of part-time work a week.
Students from the Netherlands and across Europe may be eligible for financial assistance from the Dutch government. Are you aware that factors like your age, nationality, or residency can determine your qualification for student finance? Verify your suitability for DUO student finance below.
If you are enrolled as a student in university, higher vocational education, or secondary vocational education, you can apply for student finance. You must be a Dutch national or have the same rights - this means non-Dutch EU / EEA / UK citizens can also apply for student finance if they meet the requirements.
Amounts per month
These are the maximum amounts per month (current up to December 2023) https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/amounts.jsp
| Living with parents | Living away from home | |
|---|---|---|
| * The basic grant for students living away from home has temporarily been increased by €164.30 a month. | ||
| Basic grant | €110.30 | €439.20 * |
| Supplementary grant maximum | €416 | €416 |
| Loan | €266.97 | €266.97 |
| Tuition fees loan | €192.83 | €192.83 |
| Total student finance | €986.10 | €1,315 |
- If you do not qualify for the (full) supplementary grant, you can borrow the shortfall as an extra interest bearing loan, on top of the 'regular' interest bearing loan.
- If you are paying institutional tuition fees, the tuition fees loan can amount to up to € 964.17.
- Students starting their first bachelor or associate degree have half their tuition fees waived. For students in a teacher training programme, this waiver applies for the first 2 years.
- The amount of your tuition fees loan can never exceed the amount of the tuition fees you are due.
- If you are taking a programme that lasts 4 years or less, you are eligible for 7 years of student finance. For the last 3 years you can only borrow, without a supplementary grant. This is called the ‘loan phase’. The maximum for the ‘regular’ interest bearing loan is then € 1028.33 per month. The amount of the tuition fees loan is added to this.
A Possible Loan
Do you fail to meet the nationality criteria for student finance? Then you may still qualify for a tuition fees loan.
You can borrow up to €1,878.29 monthly, amounting to €22,539.48 annually through DUO.
Information on the DUO Site: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/eligibility.jsp
(Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) or in English – Education Implementation Services.)
How does student finance work?
Dutch citizens and qualifying non-Dutch (EU) students have the opportunity to apply for student finance. This includes a range of components such as the primary grant, additional grant, interest-accruing loan, student commute pass, and educational fees loan.
It's essential to apply for the additional grant, with eligibility reviewed yearly. Students residing separately from their parents are eligible for extra financial assistance. To be considered an independent student, one must be registered at a distinct address and genuinely live there.
Exceptions are in place for specific scenarios, like internships or for those taking refuge in a domestic abuse shelter. While the student finance amounts can differ, the maximum obtainable through DUO stands at €1,878.29 monthly or €22,539.48 annually.
Financing for HBO or university generally commences at the start of the academic program, typically on September 1st. Disbursements occur monthly, even during summer breaks. Remember, some components of student finance might need to be repaid. For further details, kindly refer to this link: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/
Application & Requirements
To secure student finance, it's advisable to apply at least 8 weeks before your financing commencement date. The procedure entails procuring a DigiD for digital services and submitting your application via Mijn DUO (My DUO), the designated online portal. https://duo.nl/particulier/inloggen-op-mijn-duo.jsp
DigiD serves as a digital identification mechanism in the Netherlands, facilitating access to multiple government platforms and sites. For insights on DigiD and its acquisition process, peruse our comprehensive guide.
In instances where digital login poses challenges, there's the alternative of a paper form. However, this method extends the processing duration. Notably, applications can be backdated up until the onset of the present academic cycle.
For students hailing from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, or the Dutch Caribbean, distinct protocols are in place.
Ensure all pertinent documents accompany your application. Typically, the review period spans around 6 weeks. Upon validation, you'll obtain a letter and a request form for a BSN number – an individual's public service identifier.
Before venturing into DUO financing applications, it's imperative to register with the local municipality and supply your Dutch bank account particulars.
Application: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/apply.jsp