If students with the nationality of an EU/EEA member state are enrolled at the Royal Conservatoire for a Bachelor's or Master's programme and are either in paid employment in the Netherlands for a minimum of 56 hours a month, or have already been living in the Netherlands for at least five years without long-term interruption, then they may be entitled to Dutch student finance (studiefinanciering) on the same basis as a Dutch national.
Whether students qualify for Dutch student finance depends on their age, study programme and nationality or residency status.
As of 1 September 2015, the student finance system in the Netherlands was changed. The most important change was the abolition of a basic grant. Since then, students can apply for a regular loan (lening). Depending on their parents' income, they might be eligible for a supplementary grant (aanvullende beurs).
Please note that the Dutch government wants to reinstate the basic grant for all higher education students as of the academic year 2023-2024. These plans are not final yet as they still have to be approved by the Dutch parliament. This is scheduled for 2023. More information is published on the DUO website.
For more information on Dutch student finance and to apply:
Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs /DUO
Postbus 50103
9702 GC GRONINGEN
DUO Phone
DUO E-mail
DUO website
If students fail to meet the nationality requirements for regular student finance, they may still qualify for a limited funding towards payment of their study fees: a tuition fee loan (collegegeldkrediet). Students must be under 30 and come from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
For more information and to apply, contact:
Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs /DUO
Postbus 50103
9702 GC GRONINGEN
DUO Phone
DUO E-mail
DUO website
Another alternative option for students who are no longer eligible for regular student finance is lifelong learning credit (levenlanglerenkrediet). Students must be younger than 56 and their tuition fees should not be paid or reimbursed in full by anyone else or by an organisation, such as their employer.
For more information and to apply, contact:
Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs /DUO
Postbus 50103
9702 GC GRONINGEN
DUO Phone
DUO E-mail
DUO website