Fundatie van de Vrijvrouwe van Renswoude te 's-Gravenhage - Fundatie van de Vrijvrouwe van Renswoude scholarship

Fundatie van de Vrijvrouwe van Renswoude scholarship

You get 500 to 8,500 EUR per study year to close a gap in your study budget. The money comes in one of three forms: a gift you keep, an interest-free loan you repay within 2 years of finishing your studies or PhD, or a mix of both. The board decides which form fits your case. The award covers one study year or part of one. If your results are good, you can apply again for the next year. This foundation in The Hague, set up in 1754, helps young people who cannot fully fund their own education.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You have Dutch or Surinamese nationality.
• Age: You are between 15 and 29 years old.
• Type of study: This is your first degree. A follow-up study at a higher level in the same field still counts as a first degree. A second degree only qualifies if it is an art programme.
• Where you study: You study at a university, a hogeschool (university of applied sciences), an MBO (vocational college), a secondary school, or a private education provider.
• Financial need: You cannot fund your studies yourself or with help from your parents. Their income is taken into account.
• Budget gap: You can prove a shortfall even after using every option, including the maximum DUO loan, tuition-fee credit and lifelong-learning credit (the standard Dutch student-finance products).
• Motivation and results: Your motivation and your results from previous years count too. Good references from teachers can stand in for results.

The foundation does not fund short courses, summer courses, masterclasses, competitions, debt relief, printing costs for research or theses, costs you claim after the fact, or costs for auditions, seminars and conferences.

How to apply

You apply through the foundation's online form. There is no fixed deadline, so you can apply any time of year. Gather all your documents first, because the form link works only for a limited time. Depending on the amount you request, you may be invited to a talk with the grant advisor before the board decides. Processing a complete application takes 1 to 3 months. The foundation cannot fund costs that are already past, so apply in good time.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is aimed at a narrow group: you must have Dutch or Surinamese nationality, be under 30, study your first degree, and show a real budget gap after using all state student finance. That keeps the eligible group small. If you clearly meet those conditions and can document the shortfall, your prospects are solid. Good results also let you renew the support year after year.