Study finance and public transport card mbo students.

As a student in mbo your child may have the right to student finance and a public transport student card. What are the conditions? What does your child have the right to? How do you apply? And how does repayment work? In this article we explain it to you.

What do you have the right to?

A student has the right to student finance for a maximum of four years. Student finance consists of a basic grant and an additional grant.

• Basic grant: The basic grant is for all students who meet the above conditions. The amount depends on your child’s living situation. Your child gets more money if they do not live at home anymore.

• Additional grant: Whether your child has the right to an additional grant depends on your income and that of your partner. The number of children both parents care for and any study debt also affect this.

Public transport student card for mbo students

Not all mbo students can apply for a public transport student card. Only students from 16 years old who follow a full-time BOL course have the right to this card. They can travel free or with a discount on public transport. Your child has the right to it from the start of the course. The public transport student card is formally called the student travel product.

Gift or loan?

Whether the received student finance and public transport student card are a gift or loan depends on the course your child follows:

• Entry course and mbo 2: the student finance and public transport student card are always a gift. Your child does not have to pay anything back if the course is not completed.
• Mbo 3 and 4: the student finance and public transport student card are initially a loan. If your child finishes the study with a diploma within 10 years this loan changes into a gift. Then your child does not have to pay back anything. If your child does not finish the course they must repay the costs of student finance and the public transport student card to DUO.

More information, applying and amount of student finance

The amount your child receives for student finance differs per year and situation. Information about the amount of student finance can be found on the website of the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO). There you also find payment dates, further information and application forms.

Also, take a look at Digidingen-desk. Here you find clear explanations, step-by-step plans, instructional videos, and tips about student finance, the student travel product and the ov-chipkaart.

Younger than 18 years

Is your child younger than 18? Then your child has no right to student finance. Your child does not pay tuition or course fees either. The government expects you to use child benefit for the costs you make for your child. In addition, some parents can get extra financial support. For example, through the child-related budget or the mbo student fund. Mbo schools must also buy back unused books.