Possibilities in connection with the binding study advice
At the end of the first year of your multi-year higher education study programme, you will receive a study advice from your educational institution. You will then receive the advice to continue (positive) or discontinue (negative) your studies. The educational institution can decide for itself whether this advice is binding. The vast majority of educational institutions now use binding study advice (BSA), but there are also institutions that do not use it. Binding study advice means that it is not without obligation: that the student must leave the programme if the advice is negative.
When issuing a BSA, the educational institution must take into account the student's personal circumstances (including any functional impairment). In order to receive an exception to the BSA, it is important to report your support needs to your study supervisor as soon as you experience any obstacles. Afterwards, for example when it has become clear that you have not passed your BSA, it is more difficult to make exceptions.
The Binding Study Advice (BSA) only applies to funded universities and universities of applied sciences. This obligation does not apply to non-funded institutions of higher education
Accommodation schemes
Nationwide schemes
The Binding Study Advice (BSA) has been firmly established within the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act (WHW). Every student who follows a programme at an institution of higher education will receive a study advice at the end of the first year of study. The educational institution may determine whether this advice is binding. More information on the binding study advice can be found on the Dutch government's website.
Also check the website of the Universities of the Netherlands for up-to-date information on the binding study advice.
Schemes provided by educational institutions
A degree programme can only issue you a negative binding study advice (BSA) if you have made insufficient study progress. Your educational institution must also take your personal circumstances (such as a disability or special need) into account when making its decision. They must also have offered you extra accommodations. Before a BSA can be given, the research university or university of applied sciences must consider a number of things. First of all, you must have received enough guidance and support from your student counsellor. If your studies are not going well, you must have been given a warning after the first semester. An educational institution is also required to consider your personal circumstances, such as your disability, in its decision. If you are not satisfied with the support provided by your degree programme, or with the study advice, you can submit a complaint to your educational institution. To find out how, consult the students’ charter. The charter sets out what you should do if you want to lodge an appeal against the binding study advice. Other rules that apply to a BSA can be found in the Teaching and Examination Regulations for your degree programme.
The degree programme will issue you a negative study advice if they think you are unlikely to graduate based on your study results so far and the competencies students are expected to have at the end of the degree programme. The fact that you need more time to complete a degree programme, or require extra support, is not a reason to issue a negative study advice. In other words, your disability or special need is not grounds for receiving a negative binding study advice. if you have any further questions about this, ask your degree programme.
Have a look at the other facilities, accommodations or schemes that might be helpful for you, too.
Tips for the binding study advice
Where to look for more information on the binding study advice
Research universities and universities of applied sciences often have a separate page on their website with information about the binding study advice (BSA). Check your educational institution's website to see if you can find this.
Provide information about your special need before you begin your degree programme
That way, you and the degree programme staff can come up with agreements to help you be as successful as possible in your studies.
If you encounter obstacles in your education, tell your educational institution
- If you run into obstacles as a result of your special needs, you can look at how this will affect rules such as the BSA or the attendance requirement together.
- It is important that you share information, including when something about your situation changes. That way, you can stay in touch and keep discussing how to help you study as effectively as possible. It will also give your degree programme the chance to offer – or keep offering – the help you need.