Financial regulations

If circumstances beyond your control cause you to fall behind in your studies , affecting your financial situation, the Student Support Fund (StOF) may be able to help you. The fund is specifically designed to provide financial support to students who take longer to complete their studies due to circumstances beyond their control.

In order to meet the conditions of the Student Support Fund (SSF), please be aware of the following criteria:

• You need to report study delay to your study/academic advisor as soon as possible. In practice, this means directly after the delay has occurred, or when the extraordinary circumstances are at play that will ultimately lead to the delay. Do not wait until after the re-sit exams: in case you failed to pass the first moment of examination, please report this immediately.

• In case of 15 ECTS delay or more (or the prospect of this amount), it is mandatory to book an appointment with the student counsellor as soon as possible. The study advisor will generally refer you to a student counsellor in case of a delay of 15 ECTS. But even if the study advisor does not refer you, you are solely responsible to book an appointment with the student counsellor within four weeks.

• Financial renumerations by the SSF only apply to delay that has occurred within the so-called B+1 and M+1 phase. For a three-year Bachelor degree programme, it means that you can be eligible for the fund during the first 3+1 = 4 years (48 months) of enrollment. For delay that has occurred during a Master degree programme, this term is 1+1 = 2 years (24 months). Note: previous enrollments at other higher education institutes in the Netherlands are also taken into account.

• Pre-master students are not eligible for the SSF during the time that they are registered for a pre-master programme.

More information on the Student Support Fund

• Official regulations of the Student Support Fund (SSF) for financial support in case of study delay as a result of/caused by extraordinary circumstances, for executive board members, or in the event of top-class sport.

• In order to be able to make use of the fund, it is wise to inform yourself well about the contents of the regulations. However, some students find the official regulation difficult to understand or read. That is why we have written the document 'Explanation SSF', as a simplified version of the regulations.

• Comprehensive information regarding the SSF, including a more elaborate description of the application procedure in practice, and documents that may be used as supporting evidence.

• Video presentation about the SSF (note: the video mentions the old name 'Graduation Fund').

Extension of the performance grant

If an acute or chronic medical condition causes you to incur a lengthy study delay, you may be eligible for an extension of the performance grant from DUO. Consult the information from DUO for details of this provision and make an appointment with one of the student counsellors to find out about the conditions and application procedure.

Extension of the diploma period

If temporary or structural circumstances prevent you from obtaining a diploma within the standard diploma period of 10 years, you may be eligible for an extension of the diploma period. Consult the information from DUO for details of this provision and make an appointment with one of the student counsellors to find out about the conditions and application procedure.

Conversion of performance grant

If temporary or structural circumstances prevent you from continuing or completing your degree programme, you may be allowed to convert your performance grant. Consult the information from DUO for details of this provision and make an appointment with one of the student counsellors to find out about the conditions and application procedure.

New entitlement to student finance

If it becomes clear during your degree programme that a structural medical condition will prevent you from ever completing your studies or pursuing your intended career, you may be entitled to apply for student finance for a second time. Consult DUO information for details of this provision and make an appointment with one of the student counsellors to find out about the conditions and application procedure.

No parental contribution

In some cases, the financial details of parents are unavailable or the parents are not willing to cooperate. This can affect your entitlement to a supplementary grant. DUO has various options for this situation, some of which require help from a student counsellor, namely:

• If you have had no contact with a parent since your 12th birthday.

• If you have a serious conflict with a parent that goes further than a row about money.

• If you do not know where a parent is living.

Consult DUO information for details of this provision and make an appointment with one of the student counsellors to find out about the conditions and application procedure.

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If you unexpectedly face financial difficulties during your studies, despite having proper insurance and having taken reasonable precautions, you may qualify for support from the University of Groningen Emergency Fund.

In exceptional cases, the Emergency Fund offers a grant, loan or combination of both, up to a maximum of €1,250 per year. If you receive a grant, you will be required to contribute a maximum of €125 per year.

Most important conditions

• You are unable to cover the costs yourself.

• You are (partially) insured with at least basic health insurance, supplementary dental insurance, third-party liability insurance, home contents insurance and travel insurance.

• The costs are unforeseen and not your fault.

• The costs are other than tuition fees.

• They cannot be claimed from other authorities.

Important: Submit your application before you incur any costs. Applications will only be accepted in retrospect in certain cases.

Always consult a student counsellor at the Student Service Centre (SSC) first. The student counsellor can help you consider other forms of assistance or cost savings.

You can submit an application using the application form, which you can send digitally to k.modesti@rug.nl (not by post). The Emergency Fund Committee meets approximately once every two months. You will receive confirmation of receipt within two weeks.

More information can be found in the Emergency Fund Regulations.

Would you like to study or do an internship abroad, but are you unable to balance your budget? Or are you at risk of not being able to complete your studies due to financial problems? In that case, a private fund may be able to help.

For studies or internships abroad, you can usually apply for the Erasmus grant, the Marco Polo Fund or the Groningen University Fund (GUF). If that is not enough, you can apply for support from a private fund. Some funds also offer financial support in particularly difficult cases.

What do you have to take into account?

• Each fund has its own objectives, conditions and deadlines – read these carefully.

• Applications often need to be submitted at least several months before departure.

• Most funds require a minimum stay of 3 to 4 months abroad.

• Sometimes a letter of recommendation from a student counsellor is required; make sure you make an appointment with the Student Service Centre (SSC) in time.

What do you need to do?

• Find suitable funds via Beursopener.nl or Grantfinder.

• Follow the instructions given by the fund.

• If you require a letter of recommendation from a student counsellor, please schedule an appointment in good time. Send the following documents to the student counsellor with whom you have booked an appointment at least a few days in advance:
  • a detailed budget (Use this standard format to draw up your monthly budget.)
  • a description of your study or internship activities
  • your letter of motivation
  • a certified transcript of your grades
  • your CV
  • a letter of recommendation from a lecturer or professor.

Please note that you are expected to use your maximum loan amount from DUO and to temporarily cancel or sublet your room.

More information about studying and internships abroad can be found on the Nuffic website.

The municipal individual study allowance is a financial contribution for students who are unable to work alongside their studies due to a medical disability. One of the conditions is that you also receive student finance (performance-related grant or loan entitlement). The amount depends on your age and may vary from municipality to municipality, but is intended to bridge the gap with fellow students who are able to earn extra income. You can apply for the allowance at the municipality where you are registered, and your entitlement ends when you stop studying.