Amounts and payments

The maximum amount you can borrow each year is the amount of the higher education tuition fees or MBO course fees you have to pay. The cost of textbooks, other study materials, or travel and accommodation is not included.

The amount you can borrow for tuition fees

You can borrow the amount you pay in tuition fees, up to a maximum of €2,530 for HBO or university, or €1,419 for MBO, in the 2024-2025 academic year. In the 2025-2026 academic year the maximum amount is €2,601 for HBO or university and €1,458 for MBO. 

The amount you can borrow for institutional tuition fees

You can borrow the amount you pay for institutional tuition fees ("instellingscollegegeld", for HBO or university) or course fees ("cursusgeld", for MBO) up to a maximum of €12.650,04 for HBO or university, or €7.095 for MBO, in the 2024-2025 academic year. In the acadamic year 2025-2026 the amounts are  €13,005 for HBO or university, or €7,290 for MBO.

The amount you can borrow if you are being reimbursed by another party

Is someone else paying your tuition fees? If part of the tuition fees are being paid for you, that amount will be deducted from the maximum amount you can borrow. If the full tuition fees are paid, you are not eligible for a lifelong learning credit.

Payments

The payment of the lifelong learning credit is done at the end of each month. The exact date of payment depends on the date on which you have requested the loan. On the Payment dates page, you can find the date on which it will be credited to your account.

• Regular education: Every month you will receive one-twelfth of the maximum amount you can borrow for a school or academic year.
• Modular education: The number of monthly instalments in which the payment is done is calculated by dividing the number of study credits (ECTS) per course by 5. For example, if you are taking a 15 ECTS course, the lifelong learning credit will be paid in 3 monthly instalments.