Student Finance (DUO)
DUO student finance gives you a monthly payment to cover living and study costs. The basic grant (basisbeurs) is for students living away from home. On top of that, the supplementary grant (aanvullende beurs) gives extra money if your parents earn below a certain threshold, and you never have to pay it back.
Calculator
Calculate your aanvullende beurs
Based on your parents' combined annual income
Aanvullende beurs does not need to be repaid if you graduate within 10 years.
How to apply
Check your DigiD
You need a DigiD to log in to DUO. If you don't have one yet, request it at DigiD.nl. It takes about 5 days to arrive by post.
Apply for DigiDRegister at DUO
Log in to MijnDUO with your DigiD and apply for studiefinanciering. You'll need your BSN (citizen service number) and bank account number.
Open MijnDUOChoose uitwonend or thuiswonend
If you live away from your parents' registered address, choose "uitwonend". This gives you the higher basisbeurs rate (€324.52/month vs €130.21/month). DUO may check your address, so make sure you are registered at your own address at your municipality.
Fill in your parents' income (for aanvullende beurs)
If you want to apply for the supplementary grant, your parents need to authorise DUO to check their income via Belastingdienst. They do this in MijnDUO or by signing a form.
Aanvullende beurs infoSubmit and wait
DUO processes applications within 8 weeks. You'll receive a letter confirming your amount. Payments start from the month you applied, not retroactively.
Common mistakes to avoid
Registering as thuiswonend when living away from parents: costs ~€194/month
Not applying in the same month you start studying: payments are not backdated
Forgetting to register at your new address at the municipality before DUO checks
Tips for students
Apply in the same month you start studying: you get nothing for months before you applied
Even if your parents earn too much for the aanvullende beurs, always apply for the basisbeurs itself
If you move out mid-year, update your municipality address and apply immediately. Do not wait.
The 24-hour rule is calculated as a monthly average over 6 months. If you work less one month but more in others, you can still qualify as long as your average stays above 24 hours/month.
DUO's phone support is helpful for complex situations. You can call them, explain your situation, and they will walk you through your eligibility. For situations that require document verification, visiting a DUO service point in person can also help. Find your nearest one at duo.nl/particulier/contact/servicecentra.jsp
Official sources
Information is based on official 2026 eligibility rules and verified government sources. Amounts shown are maximums. This tool provides guidance only and is not legal or financial advice. View sources →