Student grants

Are you studying full-time or doing a dual study at a college or university in the Netherlands? In a number of cases foreign students may qualify for a student grant and an OV Student Card.

The Informatie Beheer Groep (IB-Groep) is the organisation that governs student grants. You can receive a supplementary grant if your parents are unable to assist you financially and you can borrow money from the IB-Groep. Please note that interest must be paid on a student loan and the loan must be paid back in monthly instalments after you have finished your study.

You’ll find more information on the conditions for a student grant on the website of the IB-Groep.

Financial support from your own country

If you are a student from a country in Europe, you may be eligible to receive student financial support from your home country while studying in the Netherlands.

Exchange students have already had this option for a long time. But now more and more countries are also allowing students to continue receiving government financial support while enrolled in regular degree programmes outside their home country.

The rules and regulations and forms of support may differ per country. Some provide direct support (e.g. monthly grant or loan), others indirect (tax benefits for parents). Check which options are available in your country, either by contacting the international office of your home university or the relevant national ministry.

Source: Nuffic

OV Student Card

Do you qualify for student grant? Then you are also eligible for an OV Student Card (OV-studentenkaart) for travel on public transportation in the Netherlands. You have the choice of a week or weekend card. You can decide which card you need when you go to the post office to pick up your card. The conditions for the OV Student Card can be found on the website of Studenten Financiering.