Student finance (DUO)

The tuition fee loan is a loan, specifically meant to pay the tuition fees. The amount of the loan depends on the amount of the tuition fees that a student has to pay. Most students who qualify for the tuition fee loan pay the statutory tuition fees. Therefore, the amount of the tuition fee credit for most students is currently just over 2,000 euros per year. Note that you always need to pay back the loan after your studies.

Non-EU/EER students are generally not eligible for tuition fees loan. In many situations however, EU/EER students are eligible for this type of loan, thus making it a valuable potential source of income for this group of students.

If, as an EU/EEA student, you meet certain conditions, you can make use of DUO's regular study financing options, including the regular loan. This is an amount of money that you can borrow from the Dutch government at a very low interest rate in order to (at least partially) finance your studies. You must repay the loan at the end of your studies, for which you may take a long time. If you can make use of the basic loan, you can borrow a maximum of approximately 500 - 1000 euros per month, depending on whether you are entitled to an additional grant. The exact amount, the conditions that you need to fulfill to become eligible, and the conditions to pay back your debt are published on the DUO website.

EU/EEA students who are eligible for the regular loan, are sometimes also eligible for the Supplementary grant. This concerns a performance-related grant that is initially provided as a loan, but can be converted in a gift after you obtain your diploma within 10 years after the start of using student finance. This grant is meant for students with parents with a relatively low income. Eligibility and amount therefore depend on your parent’s income. The exact amount, the conditions that you need to fulfill to become eligible and other important aspects of this grant are published on the DUO website.

If, as an EU/EEA student, you meet certain conditions, you can make use of DUO's regular study financing options, including the Student travel card. It enables you to travel by Dutch public transport for free or at a reduced rate. You can choose a weekday product or a weekend product. Your student travel product is a loan of approximately €100 per month. It is initially provided as a loan, but can be converted in a gift after you obtain your diploma within 10 years after the start of using student finance.

The Lifelong Learning Credit is a specific loan, closely connected to the amount of your tuition fee. It is usefull for students who do not qualify for regular student finance anymore, but there are several criteria that you need to fulfill in order to be eligible.