Overview

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 can also apply for student finance.

Do you fail to meet the nationality criteria for student finance? Then you may still qualify for a tuition fees loan.

What is student finance?

• Student finance consists of different components, such as the basic grant, the supplementary grant, the student travel product, the interest bearing loan and the tuition fees loan (for HBO and university only).
• You decide which components you apply for.

We recommend that you always apply for the supplementary grant. You only have to do this once. Because every year, we will calculate if you’re entitled to the grant

How much is it?

Go to Amounts to read the maximum amounts. Also check the Tax and Customs Administration website Link opent externe pagina to see if you are eligible for any benefits or a tax refund.

When does student finance start?

• student finance for MBO: from the quarter
  • January - March
  • April - June
  • July - September
  • October - December.
  after your 18th birthday. Do you turn 18 on the first day of a quarter? Then you're entitled to student finance from then on.
  But you can get the student travel product before you turn 18.
• student finance for HBO or university: as soon as you start your programme, even if you are under 18. Usually this is from 1 September.

We pay the amount every month, towards the end of the month. Including the summer holidays.

Gift or repayment

Student finance is not always a gift.