Radboud University emergency fund (Noodfonds)

Radboud University emergency fund (Noodfonds)

You get one-off financial help if you hit a sudden money emergency during your studies at Radboud University in Nijmegen. There is no fixed amount. It is worked out for your situation and paid straight to you. The support comes in two forms. Usually it is an interest-free loan that you repay in one go or in up to 12 monthly instalments within one year. If you cannot afford to repay, part or all of the loan can be waived. If your problem is linked to a study-related disability (for example the cost of a required dyslexia assessment), you can instead get a gift that you never repay. The fund is run by the university itself for students in acute hardship.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled in an accredited degree programme at Radboud University in Nijmegen.
• Type of problem: Your money trouble is acute (no other help arrives in time), one-off (not ongoing or recurring), unforeseen (you could not have seen it coming) and solvable (the fund would actually fix it). A common example is a sudden high dental bill.
• Field of study: All subjects can apply.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply, as long as you are enrolled at Radboud University.
• No open debt: You do not still owe money from an earlier Noodfonds loan.

How to apply

Start by contacting a student dean (studentendecaan), online or by phone through the central student desk. The dean talks with you at least once and writes an advice with a proposed amount. You submit this advice with your written application and proof of your financial situation. The university decides within four weeks of receiving the advice. There is no deadline, so you can apply whenever the emergency arises.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a safety net, not a competitive scholarship, so there is no fixed number of places and no ranking against other students. What matters is whether your case genuinely fits the four conditions (acute, one-off, unforeseen, solvable) and whether you can document the hardship. If it does and you can, your prospects are good. If the problem is ongoing or predictable, it will not qualify.