Student finance by the Dutch government (EU students)

You may be eligible for student finance (provided by the Dutch government to students in higher education) if you fulfill the following requirements:

• You must be under the age of 30.
• You must be registered as a full-time or dual student in the Netherlands.
• You must hold a Dutch passport or have similar rights depending on nationality or residence permit.
• You must have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years or be employed for at least 56 hours a month.
   

How does it work?

There are three types of student finance in the Netherlands:

Regular loan (Studiefinancering):

As a non-Dutch citizen you are eligible if you meet either of the following conditions:

• Work 56 hours a month.
• Hold a Dutch passport or have similar rights depending on nationality or residence permit.
• Lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years.

You can decide how much you want to receive each month (of the maximum possible amount).
How much you receive each month is dependent on parents income.

Tuition fee loan (Collegegekrediet)

You are eligible if you meet the following conditions:

• You must be under the age of 30.
• You must be registered as a full-time or dual student in the Netherlands.
• Nationality of EEA country or Switzerland

You always have to pay back the tuition fee loan.   

If you are eligible for the tuition fee loan (Collegegekrediet) and the regular loan (Studiefinancering) please be aware that it will be paid as an overall package.

Supplementary grant

You are eligible if you are entitled to the regular loan (studiefinancering) and meet the requirements stated above. 

DUO calculator

To check the loan amount you would be eligible to receive, we recommend that you use the DUO calculator.

Travel product (OV chipkaart)

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. You are allowed to switch the subscription for free up to twice a year. Please be aware that there are certain periods where you cannot switch. Up to three people can travel with you on the train at a discount. 

How to apply

Be sure to 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.

Apply now

Working in the Netherlands

You may well decide you would like to take a part-time job during your time at NHL Stenden. While there are certainly opportunities available for students to work part-time, you may have some difficulty finding a job right away, and many jobs (in retail, food service, sales and other areas) do require at least basic Dutch-language skills. While we recommend that you attempt to find a part-time job if you intend to work here, you should not rely on this additional income as it is not guaranteed. Additionally, please bear in mind that, if you start a part-time job, you will immediately have to take out Dutch public healthcare insurance, since now you are no longer just a student, but also an employee.

Some general rule you should be aware of:

• Foreign students are allowed to work part-time in the Netherlands during their studies.  
• EU students (excluding Croatia) and students from Japan and Switzerland do not require a work permit (depending on the number of hours you work, you may be required to purchase Dutch health insurance). 
• If you are a non-EU student, you DO require a work permit, which you must obtain through your employer (this can take up to 6 weeks). 
• Non-EU students can choose to either:

1.  work part-time for a maximum of 16 hours a week throughout the year;
2.  work full-time for three months during the summer (June, July and August).

For more information, please download the factsheet.

Randstad Employment Agency

The largest temporary staffing services provider in the Netherlands, Randstad, maintains a branch on the NHL Stenden campus. They post available student jobs, and you can schedule an appointment or drop in to find out about opportunities for international students and possible job openings.