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Student Finance & Loans (DUO)
Who can apply for DUO student finance, and what to do if you can't.
In short
DUO is the Dutch government body that administers student finance, most non-EU students aren't eligible for it, and even eligible EU/EEA students need to meet specific work and residency conditions, so check eligibility before assuming it applies to you.
Who can generally apply
- Dutch nationals, in most cases.
- EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who meet specific conditions, commonly a minimum number of working hours alongside study and holding a BSN, but exact thresholds are set by DUO and can change, so confirm directly rather than relying on a fixed number you've read elsewhere.
What it can include
- A basic grant or loan toward tuition and living costs.
- A public transport product for eligible students.
- A supplementary grant for some eligible groups, depending on parental income.
If you're not DUO-eligible
Most non-EU students fund their studies through personal savings, home-country loans or grants, scholarships (see our Scholarships & Funding guide) or part-time work where their permit allows it. DUO simply isn't designed as a funding route for most international students, so don't build a budget around it without confirming eligibility first.
Official sources
- Student finance eligibility· DUO
- Tuition fees· DUO