Study Grants and Study Loan Assistance Dutch/EU/EEA

Amounts per month

These are the maximum amounts per month (current up to August 2026) https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/amounts.jsp 

• Students who do not qualify for the (full) supplementary grant can borrow the shortfall as an extra interest bearing loan, on top of the 'regular' interest bearing loan.
• For students who are paying institutional tuition fees, the tuition fees loan can amount to up to €1.083,75.
• The amount of the tuition fees loan can never exceed the amount of the tuition fees a student is due.
• Students taking a programme that lasts 4 years or less are eligible for 7 years of student finance. For the last 3 years students can only borrow, without a supplementary grant. This is called the ‘loan phase’. The maximum for the ‘regular’ interest bearing loan is then € 1.213,95 per month. The amount of the tuition fees loan is added to this.

A Possible Loan

Students who fail to meet the nationality criteria for student finance may still qualify for another DUO scheme. Detailed information can be found on the DUO website.

(Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) or in English – Education Implementation Services.)

How does student finance work?

Dutch citizens and qualifying non-Dutch (EU) students have the opportunity to apply for student finance. This includes a range of components such as the basic grant, supplementary grant, student travel pass, the interest bearing loan and the educational fees loan. The student themselves can decide which components to apply for.

It's recommended by DUO to apply for the supplementary grant, with eligibility reviewed yearly. Students residing separately from their parents are eligible for extra financial assistance. To be considered an independent student, one must be registered at a distinct address and genuinely live there.

Exceptions are in place for specific scenarios, like internships or for those taking refuge in a domestic abuse shelter. While the student finance amounts can differ, the maximum obtainable through DUO stands at €2.020,21 monthly or €24.242,52 annually.

Financing for HBO or university generally commences at the start of the academic programme, typically on 1 September. Disbursements occur monthly, even during summer breaks. Remember, some components of student finance might need to be repaid. For further details, kindly refer to this link: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/ 

Application & Requirements

To secure student finance, it's advisable to apply at least 8 weeks before the financing commencement date. The procedure entails procuring a DigiD for digital services and submitting the application via Mijn DUO (My DUO), the designated online portal. 

DigiD serves as a digital identification mechanism in the Netherlands, facilitating access to multiple government platforms and sites. For insights on DigiD and its acquisition process, find more information here: Apply for a DigiD | DigiD .

In instances where digital login poses challenges, there's the alternative of a paper form (Student finance: Apply - DUO ⇒ "No Access to Mijn DUO"). However, this method extends the processing duration. Notably, applications can be backdated up until the onset of the present academic cycle.

For students hailing from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, or the Dutch Caribbean, distinct protocols are in place: Apply for student finance for Caribbean region - DUO. It should be ensured that all pertinent documents accompany the application. Typically, the review period spans around 6 weeks. Upon validation, the student will obtain a letter and a request form for a BSN number – an individual's public service identifier.

Before venturing into DUO financing applications, it's imperative to register with the local municipality and supply the Dutch bank account particulars.

Application: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/apply.jsp