What is student finance?
DUO (the Education Executive Agency) pays student finance to eligible students in secondary vocational education (MBO), higher professional education (HBO) and at university (WO). Student finance is funded by the government. Some components of student finance take the form of a loan, which you have to repay.
Student finance components
Student finance comprises various grants and loans. You can decide for yourself what components you want to apply for. You have to repay the loans.
You can apply for a basic grant if you are 18 or older and doing a school-based vocational course (BOL) at an MBO institution. Or if you are doing a higher education (HBO or university) course. The size of your basic grant depends on where you’re living: at home (with your parents/carers) or away from home. Students living away from home get a higher grant than students living at home.
How long am I entitled to a basic grant?
- MBO levels 1 and 2: you are entitled to a basic grant for as long as you are doing training at MBO level 1 or 2.
- MBO levels 3 and 4: you are entitled to a basic grant for 4 years.
- HBO and university: you are entitled to a basic grant for the official length of your course. This is usually 4 years.
Do I have to repay the basic grant?
The basic grant may be performance-related. This depends on the course you are doing:
- MBO levels1 and 2: the basic grant is not performance-related. You do not have to repay it.
- MBO levels 3 and 4, HBO and university: the basic grant is performance-related. You do not have to repay it if you get your qualification within 10 years.
Your entitlement to a supplementary grant and the size of the grant depend on:
- your parents’ income
- whether your parents are repaying a student loan of their own
- whether you have siblings who are getting a supplementary grant
- whether your parents are caring for other school-going children.
For how long can I get a supplementary grant?
- MBO: if you are entitled to a supplementary grant, you can get it for as long as you receive a basic grant.
- HBO and university: if you are entitled to a supplementary grant, you can get it for the official length of your course. This is usually 4 years.
Do I have to repay the supplementary grant?
The supplementary grant may be performance-related. This depends on the course you are doing:
- MBO levels 1 and 2: the supplementary grant is not performance-related. You do not have to repay it.
- MBO levels 3 and 4: the supplementary grant is performance-related. You do not have to repay it if you get your qualification within 10 years.
- HBO and university: the supplementary grant is performance-related. You do not have to repay it if you graduate within 10 years.
If you need extra money to do your course, you can apply for a student loan. You do not have to borrow the maximum amount, you can also borrow less. You can adapt or stop the loan on a monthly basis.
How long am I entitled to a student loan?
- MBO levels 1 and 2: you are entitled to a loan for as long as you are doing training at MBO level 1 or 2.
- MBO levels 3 and 4, HBO and university: you are entitled to a loan for 7 years.
Do I have to repay the loan?
When you are no longer in education you will have to repay the loan, with interest.
With a student travel product you can travel free or with a discount on public transport in the Netherlands. You cannot use a student travel product outside the Netherlands. If you are studying abroad, you can get a public transport allowance instead.
How long am I entitled to a student travel product or public transport allowance?
- MBO levels 1 and 2: you are entitled to a student travel product or public transport allowance for as long as you are doing training.
- MBO levels 3 and 4: you are entitled to a student travel product or public transport allowance for a maximum of 7 years.
- HBO and university: you are usually entitled to a student travel product or public transport allowance for 5 years. If your course is longer than 4 years you may be entitled to a student travel product or public transport allowance for more than 5 years.
Do I need to repay the student travel product or public transport allowance?
The student travel product or public transport allowance is either a grant or a performance-related grant. That depends on the course you are doing:
- MBO levels 1 and 2: the student travel product and public transport allowance are grants. You do not have to repay them.
- MBO levels 3 and 4, HBO and university: the student travel product and public transport allowance are performance-related grants. You do not need to repay them if you get your qualification or degree within 10 years.
Find out more about the student travel product (DUO)
Find out more about the public transport allowance for study abroad (DUO) (information in Dutch)
If you are doing a course in higher education (HBO or university), you may be eligible for a tuition fee loan. The size of the loan depends on the type of tuition fees you have to pay.
How long am I entitled to a tuition fee loan?
If your course lasts 4 years, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan for 7 years.
Do I need to repay my tuition fee loan?
When you are no longer in education you will have to repay the loan, with interest.
Can I get student finance?
See whether you are eligible for student finance:
- Student finance if you are going to study or do an internship outside the Netherlands
- Student finance if you are going to study or do an internship in the Netherlands
If you are going to study or do an internship abroad
Check what else you need to arrange if you are going to:
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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.