You must be enrolled as a full-time or dual student at a college or university (bachelor, master or associate degree). You must also be younger than 30 when you apply for a student grant. And you must meet the nationality requirement. See the DUO website for all conditions and how to apply.

Student finance consists of several components:

• Basic grant: for all students. The amount of the basic grant differs between those living away from home and those living at home.
• Supplementary grant: for when your parents have a lower income. Don't miss out on money and always apply for the supplementary grant when you apply for a student grant. DUO will check whether you are entitled.
• Student travel product: so you can travel for free or at a discount during the week or at the weekend.

The basic grant, supplementary grant and student travel product are a performance-related grant. That means you have to graduate within ten years for them to be converted into a gift. Otherwise, the performance grant remains a loan. On the DUO website, you can read how much student finance is converted into a gift.

• Loan and tuition fee credit. In addition to your study funding, you can borrow extra money from DUO. Interest is charged on this loan. And you must repay this loan after your studies. This is also called an interest-bearing loan.

Extension of performance grant: if your study is delayed or you have to stop your studies because of a disability, you can apply for the Performance Grant Provision from DUO. This allows you to get an extra year of performance grant, for example.

Questions about study delay and student finance?

This flowchart helps HBO and university students gain a general overview of possible arrangements in case of study delay, such as an additional year of student finance, an extension of the diploma deadline, or specific rules related to the performance-based grant.

The flowchart is a guidance tool only. No rights can be derived from it, and it does not cover all situations. Only your student advisor (student counsellor) can assess which arrangements apply to your situation and whether an application with DUO is likely to be successful.

If in doubt, always contact the student advisory office at your university or university of applied sciences.
 

How much basic grant you get depends on whether you live away from home or at home. The supplementary grant depends on how much your parents earn. Check the DUO website for the amounts.

Contribution for missed basic grant

Thegemoetkoming gemiste basisbeurs is for hbo and wo-students for whom no basic grant was available under the loan system. It does not matter whether they applied for a student grant or not.

You:

• were entitled to student finance for at least 12 months under the loan system (2015-2023);
• earned or obtained your degree within the 10-year diploma period;
• will receive €34.17 per month.

Are you entitled to the missed basic grant?

Start the tool and enter your situation. You will immediately see whether you are entitled and whether you need to apply for it yourself.

Read more about the bursary allowance here.

Study voucher allowance

The first students under the loan scheme did not get the full benefit of the investments in higher education. They can get the study voucher allowance as well as the missed basic grant.

You:

• had student finance for the first time between September 2015 and August 2019;
• earned or obtained your final degree within the 10-year diploma period;
• will receive a one-off €2,097.08.

If you meet the conditions now, you will be personally notified in January 2025. If you get your diploma later, you will be notified after the educational institution delivers your diploma.

Read more about the study voucher concession here.