Erasmus University Rotterdam - Bestuursbeurs studentenorganisatie

What you get

You get a monthly grant for the time you spend on the board of a recognised student organisation at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). The university does not pay you directly. It gives each organisation a set number of scholarship months (bestuursbeursmaanden), pays the total to the organisation, and the organisation splits it among its board members. The number of months depends on how many EUR members the organisation has or how much impact it has. So what you actually receive depends on how your board divides the money.

If you run the board full time (at least 1,680 hours, or 9 scholarship months), you can also apply to have your tuition fee (collegegeld) waived for that year. If you qualify for a supplementary grant from the Dutch student finance body DUO, you can claim an extra board scholarship on top, paid to you individually.

Who can apply

• University: You study at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
• Your role: You are a board member of a recognised EUR student organisation, for example a general association, a study association, a sports club or an arts and culture group.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Nationality: Any nationality, as long as you study at EUR.
• Tuition waiver (optional): For the waiver, you must be a full-time board member: at least 1,680 hours, or 9 scholarship months in the board year.

How to apply

You do not apply yourself. Your organisation handles it. EUR writes to eligible organisations in mid-August, and the board must submit the application by 1 December of the board year. For the tuition-fee waiver, a separate form goes to the Education & Student Affairs office by 15 August. If you qualify for the DUO supplementary grant, you flag this in the organisation's application and are then contacted individually.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competitive award you win against other applicants. If you sit on the board of a recognised EUR organisation, your organisation receives the grant and you share in it. The real questions are whether your organisation is recognised and how it divides the months among board members, so your personal amount varies. Sort out the tuition-waiver form early, as its August deadline comes well before the organisation's December one.