Applying for student finance
You are eligible for studiefinanciering (student finance) if you are enrolled in a programme at a recognised secondary vocational education (MBO) school, higher vocational education (HBO), or university. You must be a Dutch national or have the same rights as a Dutch national. In that case you can also apply for student finance.
Last updated on 18 August 2025
Choosing your own student finance components
Student finance consists of the following components:
- basic grant;
- supplementary grant;
- interest bearing loan;
- student travel product;
- tuition fees loan.
You decide which student finance components you want to apply for. The tuition fee credit is only available for HBO and university.
Conditions for student finance
To receive student finance, you must meet certain conditions.
- You must be younger than 30 when you apply for student finance.
- For MBO, you must be at least 18 years old. You can apply for a student travel product before that. If you are studying at a university or HBO, there is no minimum age limit.
- For MBO, you must be enrolled in a beroepsopleidende leerweg, BOL (school-based learning pathway). At a university or HBO, you must be enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s or associate degree programme.
Read on the DUO website all conditions for a student finance that apply according based on your:
- age;
- course;
- nationality;
- possibility of eligibility for another scheme if you do not qualify for student finance.
How to apply for student finance
You apply for student finance from DUO (Education Implementation Service).
Laws and regulations (in Dutch)
Regeling studiefinanciering 2000