If you are a full-time WO-, HBO-, or MBO-student, you are entitled to study-financing from the Dutch Government through DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs).

As a Dutch national between 18-30 years of age, you are entitled to;

• A monthly allowance of € 738.54,- for MBO-study as of the end of Decemer 2011
• A monthly allowance of € 937,44 - for HBO & WO study as of the end of December 2011
• An OV-card which allows you to travel free of charge or with a discount by public transportation

What exactly is study-financing?

• A basic grant (basisbeurs – BB);
• An additional grant (aanvullende beurs – AB);
• An interest-bearing loan (rentedragende lening – RL).

Study-financing for higher education (HBO/WO) is provided as a performance grant (prestatiebeurs).That means that the funds are initially paid out to you as a loan. If you perform sufficiently, this loan will be converted into a grant that you do not have to repay. As of August 1st 2005 MBO students in level 3 & 4 are also part of the performance grant system. Requirements to obtain the performance grant may differ for every study and for every study-year. Ultimately, you must obtain a diploma within 10 years in order to transform ‘the provisional loan’ portion into a grant. The ‘interest-bearing loan’ portion remains a loan that must be paid back with interest.

Basic grant - Basisbeurs

The basic grant is independent of your parents’ income. The quantity of the basic grant depends, however, on your living situation. If you are not living at home with your parents (uitwonend), your basic grant is higher than when you are living at home with your parents (thuiswonend).

Additional grant - Aanvullende beurs

The additional grant depends on your parents’ income. Your additional grant becomes lower, as your parents’ income increases. It is important to submit your parents’ tax return forms to DUO on a yearly basis! The amount of this grant also depends on whether you have brothers or sisters who are in special education or have an additional performance-grant.

Interest-bearing Loan – Rentedragende lening

In addition to the basic - and additional grant you can also get a loan. Interest is added to the loan. The interest percentage for 2011 is 1,5 % on yearly basis. Remember, by lending money you are creating debt that you must pay back later with interest. Below is an outline of the maximum funds you are entitled to and how they are structured. (source: www.ib-groep.nl)

* Figures valid up until December 2011

Hardship clause- Hardheidsclausule

The additional grant (aanvullende beurs) is dependent on your parents’ income. If you have a parent that does not want to or cannot cooperate by giving you their tax papers, then you can appeal to the ‘regulation unwilling parents’.

This entails that DUO can get involved by requesting your parents’ tax papers directly from the Tax office. Under certain circumstances you can request that your parent’ income be entirely left out of the calculation of the additional grant. You can appeal to the ‘regulation unwilling parents’ by filling in the form ‘Request to ask parents for parents income/ disregard parents’ income’ (Verzoek inkomen ouders opvragen/ inkomen ouders buiten beschouwing laten) and submitting it to DUO.

Controls

DUO conducts a number of controls through-out your study period to ensure that the information you submitted to them is accurate.

You may receive forms at home pertaining to the following controls:

• Uitwonend Control
• Ziektekostenverzekering Control
• School Control
• Income Control

It is very important to hand in the necessary documents stated in the letter on time. If they are not handed in on time, your study-financing from DUO may be reduced or even stopped completely.

DUO Reports (Berichten)

Twice a year you will receive a report from DUO outlining your details, the amount of your grant and debt built up. It is important to check the report for accuracy. In the event you do not receive the full amount of your study-financing from DUO, or, if there is anything you do not understand, please get in contact with your mentor or S4 office or with DUO immediately to get the necessary information.

The DUO website (www.ibgroep.nl) has a lot of useful information. It is very important to take some time to review the details of your study-financing. You can also go to the helpdesk of DUO in your own city.