Student finance for mbo students changes in 2025: what should parents know?.

Student finance for mbo students changes in 2025: what should parents know?.

Is your child soon going to the mbo or already at the mbo? Then it is good to know that from the school year 2025-2026 a few things change in student finance. What changes then? And what stays the same?

Basic grant remains

For mbo students, the basic grant remains. The amounts change little: for students living at home it is about €135 per month, for students living away €319 per month.

Important to know:

• For mbo level 1 and 2, the basic grant, supplementary grant, and the student travel product are always gifts. So also if your child does not finish the course.
• For mbo level 3 and 4, this does not apply automatically. These students get a performance grant. That means: only if your child gets the diploma within 10 years, the basic grant, supplementary grant, and travel product become a gift. Otherwise, the amount must be repaid.

Supplementary grant: income limit rises slightly

The supplementary grant is for mbo students whose parents earn less. To determine the supplementary grant in 2025, DUO looks at the parents’ income in 2023. If it is under €43,548.76 per year, your child gets the maximum supplementary grant. If you earn more per year, your child may sometimes still have (partial) right to a grant. The number of siblings studying also counts: the more siblings, the higher the grant.

When applying for student finance, the supplementary grant is checked by default. DUO requests the parents’ income from the Tax Office and calculates how much supplementary grant is possible. You will receive an overview of this calculation. Your child gets a separate message about the final amount.

And just like the basic grant: if your child gets the diploma within 10 years, the amount does not have to be repaid.

Study delay? Look at options on time

If your child has study delay, there are sometimes rules that make the performance grant a gift after all. Think of chronic illness or a disability. The study counselor or dean at school can help and in some cases apply at DUO.

What can you do as a parent?

It is smart to look together with your child in time what the financial options are. Applying for student finance, checking if there is right to a supplementary grant, and thinking about living on your own: these are choices where good information really makes a difference.