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As an EU student, you may be eligible for student finance from the Dutch government. There are of course various conditions to meet, so read on to find out more.
Basic grant reinstated in higher education
The basic grant has been reinstated in higher education (HBO and university) from 1 September 2023. The basic grant is a performance-related grant and will remain a grant if you obtain your degree within 10 years.
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Student finance by the Dutch government
You may be eligible for student finance (provided by the Dutch government to students in higher education) if you meet the following requirements:
- You are under the age of 30
- You are registered as a full-time or dual student in the Netherlands
- You hold a Dutch passport or have similar rights depending on nationality or residence permit
- You have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years or are employed for at least 32 hours a month
How does it work?
Student finance consists of different components, such as the basic grant, the supplementary grant, the interest bearing loan, the student travel product and the tuition fees loan (for HBO and university only). The basic grant, supplementary grant and student travel product do not have to be repaid if you obtain your degree within 10 years. The supplementary grant depends on your parents' income.
The basic grant depends on your living situation. If you are living on your own, the grant is higher than if you live at home. The basic grant does not have to be paid back if you obtain your diploma within 10 years. As a non-Dutch citizen, you are eligible if you meet one of the following conditions:
You may be eligible for student finance (provided by the Dutch government to students in higher education) if you meet the following requirements:
- You are under the age of 30
- You are registered as a full-time or dual student in the Netherlands
- You hold a Dutch passport or have similar rights depending on nationality or residence permit
- You have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years or be employed for at least 32 hours a month
You can decide how much you want to receive each month (up to the maximum possible amount). How much you receive each month depends on your parents' income.
You are eligible for a student travel product if you are entitled to the regular loan (Studiefinancering: please see above for the conditions). This travel product allows you to travel by public transport for free or at a reduced rate. You can choose either a weekday or a weekend travel card and can switch the subscription for free up to twice a year. Please note that there are certain periods where you cannot switch. An added advantage of the student financing-your-studies travel product is that it offers 40% discount for up to three people travelling together by train in off-peak hours.
You are eligible if you are entitled to the basic grant (studiefinancering) and meet the requirements stated above.
You are eligible for a tuition fee loan if you meet the following conditions:
- You are under the age of 30
- You are registered as a full-time or dual student in the Netherlands
- You are an EEA country or Swiss national
You always have to pay back the tuition fee loan.
If you are eligible for the tuition fee loan (Collegegekrediet) and the basic grant (Studiefinancering), please note that it is paid out as a single package.
DUO calculator
To check how much student finance you could be eligible to receive, we recommend using the DUO calculator. It will give you an indication of what your study budget is, how much your grant could be and how much you could possibly borrow in the form of a loan.
How to apply
Make sure you apply in time as it may take several months for your application to be processed. You will need a Dutch BSN number (Citizen Service Number) and a DigiD account, which provides access to online services provided by Dutch government agencies. Once you've applied, DUO will send you an email with instructions on how to complete your application, upload the necessary documents, and how to update your details if you situation changes or when you finish your studies
You have to be pro-active in providing information and letting DUO know if your situation changes. If you don't keep your information up to date, you could miss out on finance or have to pay back what you've received.
Good to know: even though it can take up to 8 weeks to process your application, if you do get the grant, it is calculated retroactively from the first of the month in which you are eligible. For instance, if you apply for student finance in December but your employment contract started on 1 October, the amount of student finance you get will be calculated as starting from 1 October.
There’s more to explore
Get more practical information about finances. Simply click on one of the tiles below.
