Which diploma counts?

You have to obtain a diploma in one of the following study programmes:

• ‘vakopleiding’ (vocational training) (level 3)
• ‘middenkaderopleiding’ (middle management programme) (level 4)
• designated study programme in another country (level 3 or 4)
• ‘specialistenopleiding’ (specialist programme) (level 4)
• ‘beroepsbegeleide leerweg’ (dual vocational learning pathway) (level 3 or 4)
• HBO (also associate degree)
• university

The study programme must be listed in the Register Instellingen en Opleidingen (RIO).

No diploma

If you do not obtain a diploma for at least level 3, you have to pay back the performance-related grant. There is one exception to this: if you received a supplementary grant during the first 12 months of your student finance, the supplementary grant you received during those months does not come under the performance-related grant. You are allowed to keep those sums, even without a diploma.

How many years of gift?

How many years are allowed as a gift depends on the value of your diploma. You have to obtain a diploma in one of the following study programmes. The study programme must be listed in the Register Instellingen en Opleidingen (RIO).

* This applies only if you obtained an HBO Master’s degree on or after 1 September 2021. If you obtained an HBO Master’s degree before 1 September 2021, we convert 5 years grant + the student travel product in full into a gift.

Which years will become a gift?

The first years during which you received a performance-related grant will becoma a gift. Even if during these years you only had a student travel product, and no basic grant or supplementary grant.

MBO debt

If you also have a debt relating to an MBO programme, your student travel product, basic grant and supplementary grant for the MBO programme are a gift as well. In that case, you have to obtain your degree within 10 years after you first obtained student finance for the MBO programme.

Foreign degree

Did you obtain a degree in another country? Then we cannot say straight off how many years will become a gift. We will have to evaluate it first. For that purpose we look at the value of a comparable Dutch degree.

Part-time programme

If you get a degree for a part-time programme, your travel product and supplementary grant also become a gift. In that case, the degree must be equivalent to the diploma for the full-time programme.

No diploma

If you do not obtain a degree, you have to pay back the performance-related grant. There is one exception to this: if you received a supplementary grant during the first 5 months of your student finance, the supplementary grant you received during those months does not come under the performance-related grant. You are allowed to keep those sums, even without a degree.