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. Factors like age, nationality, or residency can determine qualification for student finance. Suitability for DUO student finance can be varified below.
Students who are enrolled in university, higher vocational education or secondary vocational education can apply for student finance. They 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 |
- Students who do not qualify for the (full) supplementary grant can borrow the shortfall as an extra interest bearing loan, on top of the 'regular' interest bearing loan.
- For students who 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 the tuition fees loan can never exceed the amount of the tuition fees a student is due.
- Students taking a programme that lasts 4 years or less are eligible for 7 years of student finance. For the last 3 years students 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
Students who fail to meet the nationality criteria for student finance may still qualify for a tuition fees loan - up to €1.878,29 monthly, amounting to €22.539,48 annually through DUO. Detailed information can be found on the DUO website.
(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 programme, typically on 1 September. 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 the financing commencement date. The procedure entails procuring a DigiD for digital services and submitting the application via Mijn DUO (My DUO), the designated online portal.
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.
It should be ensured that all pertinent documents accompany the application. Typically, the review period spans around 6 weeks. Upon validation, the student will 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 the Dutch bank account particulars.
Application: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/apply.jsp