News from The Hague: Return of student grant

HBO and University students can apply again for the student grant through DUO. It is expected that more students will begin their studies this year, leading to a further increase in the shortage of student housing.

As of June 19th, students can officially apply again for the Dutch student grant through DUO. Recently, DUO launched a nationwide campaign called 'Your basis, your grant', to announce the availability of the grant for students in higher professional education (HBO) and university education starting from the academic year 2023-2024. It is expected that more students will begin their studies this year, leading to a further increase in the shortage of student housing.

For students living at home, the monthly grant for the upcoming academic year is €110.30. Students living away from home receive €274.90 per month. Additionally, students living away from home will receive a temporary increase of €164.30 per month because of the increased costs of groceries and utilities. As before, the grant is a performance-based grant, which means that if the student finishes their degree within ten years, the loan will be converted into a gift. If this is not achieved, the student must pay back the total amount, including interest. Students are responsible for applying for the grant through DUO.

Reducing student debt

The government hopes that the reintroduction of the grant will help reduce the increasing student debts. Currently, many students struggle with high student debts and concerns about its consequences. This can have an impact on students' mental well-being and influence their choice of further education, even though they aspire to continue their educational development. With the return of the grant, the government aims to decrease students' financial worries and ensure equal opportunities for everyone to pursue further education.

Increasing demand for student housing

What does this mean for the already significant shortage of student housing? It is expected that the reintroduction of the grant will influence the number of student applications for the upcoming semester. Many students took a gap year last year, anticipating the return of the grant. An increase in student applications will further increase the existing shortage of student housing in the Netherlands.

Renting a room to a student

With the growing demand for student housing, renting out rooms, including homestay, becomes even more important. The pressure is increasing, and students are eager to find suitable living spaces. We hope to find more hosts in the coming period, thus creating more living spaces for students. If you or someone in your network has a spare room available, please sign up, and we will assist you through every step of the process.

Curious about the experiences of existing hosts? Read here the story of hosts Wim & Monique and their student from Spain.