Studiefinanciering – DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs)

What you get

You get a monthly student finance package from DUO, the Dutch government's education agency, while you study in the Netherlands. It is not one payment but a mix you put together yourself. The parts are a basic grant, an income-based supplementary grant, a discounted public-transport pass, and, if you need it, a student loan plus a tuition-fees loan. In secondary vocational education (MBO) the total can reach about 1,050 EUR per month. At a university of applied sciences (HBO) or university you can get up to about 1,355 EUR per month (2026 rates). The exact amount depends on whether you live at home or on your own, and on how much your parents earn.

The basic grant, supplementary grant and travel pass can turn into a gift you never repay. If you get your diploma within 10 years, you keep this money for free. If you do not, you repay it with interest. The loan parts always have to be repaid with interest. For MBO levels 1 and 2, the grants are always a gift. Your own earnings from a side job do not reduce your student finance.

Who can apply

• Level: You are enrolled in MBO (secondary vocational education, school-based BOL pathway), or a bachelor, master or associate degree at an HBO or university.
• Study mode: You study full time or in a dual programme. Part-time, work-based (BBL), distance and home study do not qualify.
• Programme: Your course is officially recognised in the Netherlands and lasts at least one year.
• Age: You are under 30 on the day your funding starts. For MBO you must be at least 18; for HBO and university there is no minimum age.
• Nationality: You are Dutch, or hold a residence permit of type II to V (type I after an individual check). Citizens of the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the UK, and their partners or parents, may also qualify. People under the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukraine do not qualify.
• Parents' income (supplementary grant only): The extra grant depends on how much your parents earn. The basic grant and loans do not.

How to apply

You apply online through your personal 'Mijn DUO' account. There is no selection round or interview. DUO simply checks your age, nationality and programme against the rules. You choose which parts you want, and you can change the amount later, back-dated to the start of the semester.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competitive scholarship but a legal entitlement. If you meet the age, nationality and programme rules, you get it, no matter how many others also apply. The main thing to check is whether your nationality or residence status qualifies you. If it does, apply as soon as you start studying, and always request the supplementary grant. DUO recalculates your entitlement every year automatically.