Unlike a loan, scholarship money does not have to be paid back!
Money: it’s great to have but hard to keep. In all seriousness, though you may not be entirely broke, as a student you may be feeling some financial pressure. It is a known fact that university can be expensive, from the tuition fee to the textbooks. However, that is why the concept of financial aid was created. In the case of financial aid in the Netherlands, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to find the right information. Most of the government websites are in Dutch and the information can seem quite confusing, abstract and incomplete. Not to mention that most study advisors will direct you towards resources that aren’t that helpful. Luckily College Life is here to bring you this ultimate guide to financial aid in the Netherlands! Whether you are looking to apply for student finance, find a scholarship, or learn more about alternatives to finding funding, this is the place to start.
To read your way through the guide, pick the category you are most interested in or simply follow along the whole way through!
When we talk about student finance (also known as student financing) we are talking about funding your studies and (possibly) other costs of living. Most student finance is generally targeted at low-income students. In general, there are three ways in which you can finance your studies: financial aid, scholarships, and self-funding. Financial aid in the Netherlands is known as studiefinanciering or student finance.
Student finance is a scheme set up by the Dutch government to fund tuition fees and other living costs of eligible students. Then, there are scholarships, which function in a similar way, but are based on an awards system. Finally, there are other ways of ensuring you can afford your studies, including applying for a private loan, getting a job or applying for allowances.
Public financial aid
Student finance, or studiefinanciering in Dutch, is a 3-part financial aid package intended to help students with paying their tuition fees and student life. There are requirements you need to meet, with some students being eligible for all 3 components and some maybe one or two. The first is the loan or the tuition fee loan; the second is the supplementary grant, and the third is the student travel product.
Allowances are sums of money gifted to low-income citizens, or students, to aid with some of their living costs. Healthcare allowance is a monthly sum provided by the Dutch government to help cover your monthly health insurance bill. Similarly, the housing allowance is a sum to help with your monthly rent. As with student finance, there are specific requirements you need to meet.
Scholarships
Aside from student finance, there is the option of applying for a scholarship. A scholarship is like financial aid but it comes in the form of an award. Scholarships are usually given out by universities or other donors or institutions. Scholarships are also awarded based on specific criteria, like having certain grades or possessing certain qualities.
How can I get a scholarship?
There are numerous scholarships targeted at students wishing to study in the Netherlands. Some scholarships are for specific nationalities, types of degrees, or areas of study.
It is best https://worldpaydayloans.com/payday-loans-tn/shelbyville/ to start doing your research as early as possible. Check your university website if they offer any scholarships or use Nuffic’s scholarship search tool. The more time you spend on research, the more options you will find. If you wait till the last minute, most scholarships might already be closed. Researching the criteria is important as well. There will be specific scholarships you are eligible for and those for which you are not.