DUO, the Education Executive Agency (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs), is the executive body that implements various education laws and education schemes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. DUO is therefore responsible for:
- Providing student finance and allowances for school costs
- Collecting student debts and tuition fees
- Organising various exams
- And so on
This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
The different types of funding
There are various types of funding available from DUO. Each also has its own problems, which we will discuss for you in this article.
Supplementary grant
If the parents of a student in higher professional education (hbo) or at university can contribute little or nothing to the course, the student may be entitled to a supplementary grant (aanvullende beurs) from DUO. How high this supplementary grant is depends on, among other things, the parents' income, whether the parents themselves still have to repay a student debt, whether there are brothers or sisters who receive a supplementary grant and whether the parents look after other children who are still at school.
For hbo and university students, the supplementary grant only becomes a gift once they obtain their diploma within the diploma period of 10 years. Which part becomes a gift depends on the diploma obtained. If the diploma is not obtained, it must be repaid (including interest) over the following years.
Supplementary grant and problems with the parents
If there are problems with the parents, it is not desirable to take the parents' income into account. The student can then submit a request to leave the parents out of consideration. Supporting evidence must be added to this request. This procedure is only possible in the cases below.
| Reason for leaving the parent(s) out of consideration | Required supporting evidence |
|---|---|
| The whereabouts of the parent(s) are unknown Please note: DUO has 3 (within the Netherlands) or 6 (abroad) months to trace the parents' address after all | Detailed statement from the student Detailed statement from an expert (e.g. a study counsellor or youth care) |
| The agreed maintenance has been uncollectable for at least one uninterrupted year | National Agency for the Collection of Maintenance Payments (LBIO) involved = LBIO case number Another agency involved (e.g. a debt collection agency) = statement from that agency |
| The student came to the Netherlands as a refugee without their parent(s) | Recently signed statement from an agency or an expert (e.g. the Nidos Foundation (Stichting Nidos) or a student counsellor) |
| Parental authority has ended | Copy of the court's decision |
| Contact with the parent was broken off before the student's 12th birthday | Detailed personal statement<br><br>If possible: a detailed statement from the other parent with whom there is still contact<br><br>A recent detailed expert statement (e.g. from a study counsellor or psychologist)<br>A copy of the most recent maintenance order<br><br>If applicable, a copy of the divorce decree |
| The student is not recognised by the legal parent | A recent and original copy of the birth certificate |
| The student has a serious conflict with the parent(s). However, this conflict must not be only about money matters | Detailed personal statement<br><br>If possible: a detailed statement from the other parent<br><br>A recent detailed expert statement (e.g. study counsellor or psychologist)<br><br>A statement from the parent with whom the student has a conflict<br><br>A copy of the most recent maintenance order |
The cooperation of the parents is always required. If the parents do not want to cooperate and do not want to share any information, the supplementary grant can only be granted as a loan. An additional condition then applies: the student must live away from home. The student must fill in a statement for this. This statement must also be signed by the student counsellor.
Lifelong learning credit
The government encourages lifelong personal development. That is why it is still possible for people who are no longer entitled to regular student finance to borrow money, through the lifelong learning credit (levenlanglerenkrediet). The following conditions apply:
- It must concern a full-time vocational training pathway (bol) in secondary vocational education (mbo), or a dual, part-time or full-time course at a university or hbo institution (including modular education)
- The course must be recognised and registered in BRON (the Dutch education register) and must be followed in the Netherlands (except for the Caribbean Netherlands)
- The student must be Dutch, Swiss or an EU/EEA citizen, or hold a residence permit (note: a type I residence permit is not automatically sufficient)
- The student must not be entitled to regular student finance, and the tuition fees must not be paid by someone else (e.g. an employer or the friendly neighbour)
- The student must be 30 or older and younger than 57; under 30 is only possible for a second hbo or university programme after a bachelor's or master's degree, or for a part-time programme at an hbo institution or university (source: DUO, checked on 9 November 2026)
The entitlement is then granted for a complete course. Moreover, no more can be borrowed than the tuition fees owed. That also means that living costs, travel costs, study materials, textbooks and so on are not covered. Once the course ends, the lifelong learning credit must be repaid over a period of up to 15 years.
Student debts
DUO is not only responsible for granting student finance, but also for collecting repayments. Such student debts must be repaid over a period of 15 to 35 years. In case of financial problems, it is possible to apply for a temporary reduction or suspension of the repayments.
| Arrangement | Details |
|---|---|
| Having the monthly amount reduced based on income | In principle, DUO's reference year is your income of 2 years ago. This can be deviated from (e.g. when the relationship with the partner ends). There must, however, be a (joint) drop in income of at least 15%. |
| Using a repayment-free period | No supporting evidence needed, but a maximum of 60 repayment-free months can be used. Please note: interest continues to accrue and the maximum repayment period is extended. |
| Temporarily suspending repayment | Only when the recipient starts studying again. |
Cancellation of student debts
In addition to a reduction or suspension, a cancellation of the debt can always be granted. In some cases this happens automatically. That is the case on death, for example (the student debt does not pass to the heirs). In addition, student debts are cancelled once the repayment phase has ended (15 or 35 years, depending on the applicable scheme). The student then had too little income to repay all student debts in time. In exceptional situations, the student debt can also be cancelled on medical grounds. Finally, the supplementary grant can be cancelled for students who did not obtain their diploma within 10 years, but who do have a low income and applied for their cancellation in time (a deadline of 4 years after receiving the student finance).
Unexpected letter
It happens quite often that an unexpected, expensive bill from DUO lands on the doormat. This can have various reasons. For example, the student may have received too much student finance at the time, or the student may have stopped their studies too early. Where possible, DUO will always offset the debt. If that is not possible, a payment request is sent. It can then be paid immediately in one go, without interest. If it is not paid in time, the debt is automatically converted into a loan (or added to the existing debt). Interest then applies.
Does the person concerned believe that the student debt was calculated incorrectly? Then they must lodge an objection against the assessment decision within six weeks. It is advisable to get help from an expert when drawing up the notice of objection. A good legal expenses insurance is therefore important.
Public transport fines
Students following a full-time course at a university, hbo or mbo institution can get a student travel product (studentenreisproduct). Here too, the student travel product is first and foremost a loan that must be repaid if the student does not obtain their diploma within 10 years. Otherwise, the student travel product becomes a gift.
If there is no longer any entitlement to the student travel product, for example because the student has stopped studying, the student travel product may no longer be used. If the traveller does so anyway, a public transport debt (ov-schuld, formerly called an ov-boete or public transport fine) arises. In 2026, in the first month after the entitlement has ended, it amounts to €96.09 per half month; if the student continues to travel after that, the debt increases by €192.21 per half month (source: DUO, checked on 9 November 2026). DUO carries out regular checks.
Public transport fines are not added to the student debt. This means that in principle they must be paid in one go and are not automatically converted into a loan. The traveller can, however, apply for a payment arrangement, or the public transport fine can be offset against the ongoing student finance.
Disagreeing with DUO
DUO's decisions for (former) students are certainly not always positive. Either way, the person concerned certainly does not have to be left with an uneasy feeling: in most cases it is simply possible to lodge an objection. An objection is only not possible when it concerns a decision against which a notice of objection was already submitted earlier, and likewise when it only concerns payment requests, enforcement orders and reminders. A notice of objection can be submitted if:
- According to DUO, the student earned too much on the side
- An application to DUO was rejected
- According to DUO, the student wrongly received a grant for students living away from home
- A (public transport) fine from DUO lands on the doormat
- The person concerned disagrees with another decision by DUO
Follow the step-by-step plan below to take further action.
- Write a notice of objection
Write a letter that clearly states why DUO's decision is not correct. There are no formal requirements for such a notice of objection, but it must contain at least the name of the (former) student, the date, the address, the citizen service number (BSN), the reason for the objection, the decision being objected to and the signature. It is also advisable to include all supporting evidence and a copy of the decision straight away.
- State the reason for any delay
In principle, a notice of objection must be submitted within six weeks of DUO's decision. After this period, the case handler must assess whether or not to deal with the notice of objection. The case handler will always take any explanation into account. If the delay is the result of a situation beyond the student's control, for example a stay in hospital after an accident, it is important to say so and to add supporting evidence. In principle, the case handler will then still deal with the notice of objection as normal.
- Authorise another person
If it is not possible to draw up the notice of objection yourself, another person can be authorised to do so. A letter of authorisation must then be added to the notice of objection.
- Send the notice of objection
The notice of objection is sent to DUO by post; it cannot be submitted online or by email (source: DUO). Always clearly write “BEZWAARSCHRIFT” (notice of objection) on the letter and the envelope and preferably send it by registered post to: Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs Afdeling Bezwaar en Beroep Postbus 50081 9702 EA Groningen
- Wait for the decision
After receiving the notice of objection, DUO will send an acknowledgement of receipt. The case handler may also contact the person concerned, or a hearing may even be organised. A decision follows after six weeks (which can exceptionally be extended to twelve weeks). If DUO has to wait for an explanation from the person concerned, this period of course does not yet apply. If DUO does not respond in time, DUO can be given formal notice of default. DUO then has another two weeks to come to a decision. If no decision is made, a penalty payment starts to accrue and an appeal can immediately be lodged with the court.
- Lodge an appeal
If the person concerned disagrees with DUO's decision, it is possible to appeal to the district court of their place of residence. Costs apply. This must again be done within six weeks of the date on which the decision on the objection was sent. It is advisable to get help from an expert.
Read also: Legal problems as a student and Secondary vocational education.
Frequently asked questions
Does my student debt affect my mortgage?
Yes. Banks determine how much you can borrow based on income and expenditure. On the expenditure side, student debts are taken into account. The mortgage lender usually looks at the amount you actually pay DUO each month. In some cases, for example during the start-up phase, with a lower monthly amount based on ability to pay or during a repayment-free period, the lender uses the amount you would have to pay (source: Rijksoverheid).
Do I have to report my student debt to lenders?
Yes. The student debt is not registered with the BKR (Credit Registration Office, Bureau Krediet Registratie), but you are required to disclose it to lenders. Not reporting the student debt can have far-reaching consequences. You may even lose the NHG (National Mortgage Guarantee, Nationale Hypotheek Garantie).
Does my student debt have tax consequences?
Yes. The student debt may be deducted from your assets. As a result, your assets for tax purposes decrease and less tax is due in box 3.
Can I repay my student debt early?
Yes. It is always possible to make an extra payment via the online tool “Mijn DUO”. In the same environment you can also find your current debt. Repaying early does not give you a discount, but of course you pay less interest in total.
Can I also get student finance for courses abroad?
Yes. For temporary periods abroad, for example for an internship, the ongoing student finance can simply continue. In that case, the student also simply remains enrolled at the Dutch educational institution. If a complete course is followed abroad and the student is enrolled at a foreign educational institution, additional conditions apply. Student finance is possible for, among others, courses in Flanders, Dutch-language courses in Brussels and courses in Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.