Het Charlotte Jacobs Studiefonds - Charlotte Jacobs Studiefonds

Charlotte Jacobs Studiefonds

You receive a grant of around 1,250 EUR per year that you never have to pay back. Each year the fund supports 20 to 30 women studying at a Dutch university, and the exact amount is set to fit your situation. It mainly helps students who have fallen behind because of illness or family problems, or who started studying later in life and no longer qualify for the Dutch state student finance (DUO). The fund is a charitable foundation based in Utrecht, running since 1916.

Who can apply

• Gender: You are a woman.
• University: You study at a Dutch university (universiteit). A university of applied sciences (hogeschool), art academy or conservatory does not qualify.
• Study progress: You have passed your first year of studies.
• First degree: This is your first degree, not a second one.
• No state finance: You are not entitled to DUO, the Dutch state student finance. You can still apply if you took out the DUO lifelong-learning loan (levenlanglerenkrediet).
• Studying in the Netherlands: The support is for studying in the Netherlands. Studies or internships abroad do not count, even if they earn you Dutch credits (ECTS). Trips, conferences and PhD research are also excluded.

How to apply

You apply by email to the fund. You send a motivation letter, your CV, a transcript of your results, a supporting letter from your faculty's student dean (no older than 3 months), an income-and-expenses form, and proof that DUO is no longer an option. The board meets twice a year. Apply before 1 May for the June meeting, or before 1 October for the November meeting.

How realistic are your chances?

This fund is narrowly targeted: you must be a woman at a Dutch university, past your first year, with no access to state student finance and a genuine need. That keeps the applicant pool small, so a well-matched applicant with a clear, documented case has good prospects. The dean's letter and honest income figures matter more than a polished pitch.