New entitlement to student finance

What if it becomes clear during your studies that you will never be able to complete the programme due to a disability or chronic disease? Or that you will never be able to work in the profession for which you are studying? If you meet the conditions, you may get a renewed entitlement to student finance. Your previous study history will be ‘wiped out’ and you will again have all the entitlements you had when you began studying. This way you can make a fresh start with a different study programme.

Conditions

You can apply for a new entitlement to student finance if:

• you have to withdraw from your study programme, and
• this is a direct result of a disability or chronic illness, and
• the disability or chronic illness arose, worsened, or manifested itself while you were enrolled in your old study programme, and
• you want to continue studying in a new programme that carries an entitlement to student finance and that can be completed despite your illness or disability.

No possibility of new entitlement

You cannot apply for a new entitlement to student finance if:

• you switch from a HBO Bachelor’s degree programme to the Associate degree of the same programme, or
• you want to start again on the same study programme, or
• you have an illness or disability which, according to the educational institution, does not prevent you from obtaining a diploma for the programme, or
• you want to continue in the same study programme but at a lower level (e.g. if you switch from level 3 to level 2 within the same MBO programme), or
• the disability was known before you started studying and has not worsened during your studies.

Apply through student counsellor or study advisor

Notify your study programme as soon as possible if there is a risk that you will drop out. Only in exceptional situations can your student counsellor or study advisor apply for a new entitlement to student finance on your behalf. A medical certificate is always required. The student counsellor or study advisor and DUO will assess whether you meet the conditions.

Disenrolled 5 years ago

Were you disenrolled from your programme more than 5 years ago? Then the educational institution may not be able to support your application, because your study data are no longer available.

Consequences for your student finance

You are following an MBO programme

If your application is approved, you will once again be entitled to student finance for 4 years, followed by a student loan for a maximum of 3 years. You are also again entitled to a student travel product for 7 years. Your diploma period starts again and is once again 10 years.

You are studying at university or HBO

If your application is approved, you will once again be eligible for a performance grant and a travel product for the official duration of your study programme. In addition, you can take out a student loan for a total of 7 years (longer for programmes lasting more than 4 years). Your diploma period starts again and is once again 10 years.