THE HAGUE - On Tuesday, the Dutch Senate approved the bill for the reintroduction of the basic grant in higher education with broad support. Students who are eligible can apply for the basic grant starting from Monday, June 19, through DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs).
The Dutch Minister of Education Robbert Dijkgraaf stated, "The return of the basic grant in higher vocational education and university education is a significant improvement in the financial position of students. It offers perspective and a solid foundation. Alongside expanding the supplementary grant, a fixed monthly amount provides more financial stability for students."
The minister also considers it important that this bill aligns the repayment scheme for vocational education students with that of students at universities and colleges.
"This also applies to the earnings limit. This way, we achieve a more equitable position for vocational education students," said Dijkgraaf.
Applying for the basic grant
To receive the basic grant, students must submit an application to DUO, which has been working hard to facilitate its reintroduction.
All (prospective) students who are eligible for the basic grant will receive a personal message from DUO. Additional rules apply to Caribbean students.
Students who are already in the Netherlands and have a citizen service number (BSN) and a DigiD can apply for the basic grant starting from June 19 through Mijn DUO (My DUO).
Prospective students who are still in the Caribbean region and have already applied for student finance can apply for the basic grant using the "Application for Basic Grant for Higher Education Students from the Caribbean Region" form. They will receive this form via email this week.
Prospective students who are still in the Caribbean region and have not yet applied for student finance can apply for the basic grant and other components of student finance using the "Application for Student Finance for Higher Education Students from the Caribbean Region" form.
Amounts
Students in higher education (hbo) and university (wo) are entitled to the basic grant if they start their studies for the first time in the academic year 2023-2024 or if they are still eligible for student finance in the form of a performance-based grant. Out-of-home students receive €274.90 per month, while students living at home receive €110.30.
In the academic year 2023-2024, all out-of-home students (including those in vocational education) will receive an additional €164.30 per month for one year due to the significantly increased costs of groceries and energy, among other things. As a result, an out-of-home student will receive a total of almost €440 in basic grant in September, and for the entire academic year 2023-2024, the total amount will be over €5,200.
Expanding the supplementary grant
The basic grant is not the only source of income for students. They may also have part-time jobs, healthcare and housing allowances, parental contributions, and may choose to borrow from DUO. For additional financial support, students from low and middle-income families can also apply for the supplementary grant.
The income threshold for parents is expanded to at least €70,000, allowing more students to qualify for the supplementary grant. This enhances equal opportunities in education. Starting from September, the maximum supplementary grant will be €416 per month.
Repaying Student Loans
Alongside the reintroduction of the basic grant, Minister Dijkgraaf is aligning the repayment schemes for student loans for students in vocational education (mbo), higher professional education (hbo), and university (wo). This will create more equality between these educational pathways. Currently, the repayment schemes differ for mbo students (and ho students under the old basic grant system) and hbo/wo students, with different repayment periods (15 and 35 years, respectively) and interest rate calculations.
The alignment applies to new mbo students regardless. Current mbo students who are already studying (and will continue to receive student finance after August 1) can choose between the old and new systems. Those who do not make a choice will automatically transition to the 35-year repayment regime as mbo students. The repayment regime for hbo/wo students remains unchanged.
Compensation
The reintroduction of the basic grant marks the end of the social loan system. As a gesture towards students who studied under the loan system for one or more years, a compensation will be provided. For a nominal study period of 4 years, the compensation amounts to €1,436 per student. This compensation also applies to students who did not receive student finance.
Additionally, approximately 375,000 students who studied between 2015/16 and 2018/19 will receive an additional compensation in place of the study advance voucher, amounting to around €1,835. This compensation will be paid out or deducted from their student debt.