Photo Unsplash/Andy Beales Thus reports the Education Executive Agency (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs DUO). The application was opened yesterday.
Students may apply for the grant at DUO as of this week. The grant will not be automatically distributed, but students who are eligible must apply for it.
Students who apply before 1 September will receive their first payment that same month, DUO states. Many students have rushed their applications. No less than 33,500 students had already applied on Monday afternoon, a number that had increased to 61 thousand by Tuesday morning, according to DUO.
Campaign
The agency launched a campaign with the slogan ‘Your basis, your grant’ to inform students about the change. Those who have already applied for student funding, such as a loan or a student travel card, will receive ‘a personal message about applying for the basic grant’.
As of September, students are eligible for a basic grant of 110 euros per month if they are living with their parents and 275 euros if they live separately. The latter group will receive an additional 164 euros this coming year to compensate for inflation.
The basic grant starts as a loan, which is forgiven if the recipient graduates within ten years. If not, the full sum must be repaid.
Part
New students are entitled to the grant for the standard duration of their tract. Current students are entitled to a part if they have not studied for too long already. Students who were unable or partially unable to benefit from the grant will receive a compensation of 359 euros per year during which they would otherwise have received a grant.
HOP, Bas Belleman
