Graduation Support Regulation for International Students (RAVIS)

Article 1. Eligibility

1.	Starting on 1 September 2004, non-Dutch UT students (to whom the 2000 Dutch Student Finance Act (abbreviated to WSF 2000 in Dutch) does not apply) who:

-	are full-time matriculated undergraduate or graduate students - except for lifelong-learning programmes with separate enrolment requirements - and

-	have paid their tuition in full and

-	are not eligible for other financial support (e.g. from an employer or other source of scholarship) to cover the costs of the study delay – for which graduation support is being requested – in connection with the recognised special circumstances,

are eligible for this UT financial aid scheme in accordance with the provisions and conditions of the UT Graduation Support Regulation (or the varying provisions of RAVIS) for the determined nominal educational programme.

2.	Students who have faced one or more recognised circumstances as determined by the Executive Board are eligible to receive graduation support based on this regulation.

Article 2. Recognised circumstances

Only the following circumstances are recognised for RAVIS:

a. board functions listed in Appendix B of the Graduation Support Regulation UT;

b. illness and pregnancy;

c. death of partner, parents, children, brothers or sisters.

Article 3. Scope and conditions of support

Contrary to the provisions of the Graduation Support Regulation, graduation support consists initially of an interest-free loan, which is converted into a gift when the student earns his/her bachelor’s or master’s degree at the UT. An agreement between the student and the UT is signed before the interest-free loan is finalised.
For non-EER students the amount of the support is set on a maximum of € 970.- per month.

2.	If the student fails to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the UT, he/she has to pay back the interest-free loan after terminating UT enrolment. Repayment will take place by lump sum payment (a single instalment) within one month after terminating UT enrolment.

Graduation support is calculated on the basis of the number of months of study delay multiplied by the fixed monthly amount.
For circumstances as mentioned in article 2a the sustained study delay already has been determined by allocations of fixed months for the concerning student associations or students organisations.
For the circumstances mentioned in article 2b and 2c the study delay will be calculated by the causal relationship between the circumstances and the sustained delay.

4.	If the student comes from a non-EEA country, graduation support will total:

-	for the circumstances under Article 2a: 80% of the maximum monthly amount

-	for the circumstances under Articles 2b and 2c: 100% of the maximum monthly amount

If the student comes from an EEA country, graduation support will total:

-	for the circumstances under Article 2a: 100% of the WSF 2000 basic grant (for living away from home)

-	for the circumstances under Articles 2b and 2c: 100% of the WSF 2000 basic grant (for living away from home)

Article 4. Application procedure

The circumstances being reported must justify at least one month of graduation support. Applications must be made using the form available at the Student Counsellors Information Desk. The application form must be submitted together with documents explaining/justifying the circumstance resulting in the study delay in accordance with the requirements of the Graduation Support Committee (CVA).

Students requesting graduation support in connection with the circumstances listed under Articles 2b and 2c or individually allocated graduation support in connection with board functions/student activities must submit an application form no later than three months after the end of the recognised circumstance.
In general, students are obligated to notify the student counsellor or study advisor in special situations (i.g. illness or family circumstances) lasting longer than three months. The notification must be done in the month following the three months during which the circumstance that resulted in the study delay arose. If the student counsellor was not notified, the student needs to consult the student counsellor before the application is submitted.
The CVA may decide against granting months of graduation support if notification comes too late or not at all.

In order to use collectively allocated graduation support in connection with board functions/student activities, students must be included in the collective application. The application for graduation support must also be submitted three month’s after the end of the administrative year. Students who graduate or terminate enrolment while they sit on a board, the board in question must submit an application for individually allocated graduation support within three months of the students’ graduation/termination of enrolment. The graduation support application must be signed for approval by all board members.

Article 5. Hardship clause

If application of this regulation has unfair consequences, the CVA may, on behalf of the Executive Board (CvB), depart from the provisions of this regulation in order to arrive at a more favourable situation for the individual in question.

Article 6. Unforeseen situations

Situations not provided for by this regulation will be decided by the CVA on behalf of the CvB.

Article 7. Objection

Students wishing to lodge an objection to the decision taken by or on behalf of the CvB regarding the application for graduation support must submit a letter of objection within six weeks of the decision at the UT Complaints Desk.

Article 8. Appeal

The decision taken by the CvB in response to the letter of objection may be appealed. The decision will also indicate the competent court and the period for lodging an appeal.

Article 9. Date of taking effect

This regulation takes effect on 1 September 2011.

Article 10. Official title

This regulation may be quoted as the ‘Graduation Support Regulation for International Students (RAVIS), September 2011’.

General explanation

As no experience had been gained with international students and the study delay they may incur, the initial regulation was valid for one year. The 2004-2005 academic year was a trial year, after which it was decided to extend the regulation by one year, i.e. the 2005-2006 academic year. Subsequently this regulation has been declared permanent.

The regulation should be considered a safety net for international students.

The compensation in the cost for sustain study delay is related to the period in which the delaying circumstance took place.

It is emphasized that the compensation has no relation to the forthcoming period in which the study will be completed.

The compensation does not contain any amount for tuition fees.

An English-language version of the RAVIS regulation will be published. Its key provisions will be published in an English language brochure for international students.

Regulation explanation

RAVIS is similar to the existing UT Graduation Support Regulation for Dutch students, included in the UT Student Charter. Starting on 1 September 2004, international students my be eligible for financial aid in connection with recognised special circumstances in accordance with the provisions and conditions of the UT Graduation Support Regulation. This means that the regulation’s principles apply in so far as possible to international students as well. RAVIS specifically addresses conditions applicable to international students which clearly differ from those of the UT Graduation Support Regulation.

Voluntary and involuntary circumstances

- Compensation in the costs of voluntary study delay (i.e. in connection with circumstances brought about by the international student) is limited to student board functions. With a view to the integration and academic development of Dutch and foreign students, it is desirable to offer foreign students the opportunity to hold board functions in associations and committees. To this end, the UT provides financial aid for study delays. After all, international students will have less time to study if they are performing board work as well. This, however, comes paired with financial costs. This regulation provides a way to bridge the financial costs incurred during a study delay.

- Compensation in the costs of involuntary study delay is limited to circumstances beyond one’s control (article 2 b and c).
The UT chooses - for the time being - for a limited amount of circumstances like illness (including pregnancy) and the death of a partner, parents, children and brother or sister.
Other circumstances (e.g. relationship problems, residential problems or parental divorce) currently applicable to Dutch students will not be included for the time being as an assessment of including these circumstances does not seem feasible.

The amount of graduation support

A graduation support regulation for international students is more complicated than that for Dutch students. For Dutch students, the amount of financial aid is linked to the amount of aid received via the Dutch student grant system (studiefinanciering).

International students are almost never eligible for studiefinanciering as laid down in the WSF 2000 (i.e. a number of years of conditional basic grant, followed by a loan scheme for a number of years; year pass for all public transport (OV-jaarkaart); as well as a ten-year term to earn a degree during which the basic grant can be converted into a gift).

This distinction is crucial given the provisions of the Higher Education and Research Act (WHW) which directly link receiving graduation support to having access to studiefinanciering. Many students, however, receive a (partial) grant from authorities other than the Dutch government.

This concerns several organisations which provide grants for international students. The amount of the monthly compensation for the RAVIS regulation is determined to € 970.-.

Compared with the WSF 2000 (basic grant for students living away from home), it is essential to note that non-EEA students are severely limited in the ability to cover study costs resulting from a study delay through gainful employment in the Netherlands.

Providing financial aid to cover the costs of study delays is only reasonable if the student actually earns his/her master’s degree in the Netherlands. While studying, the student may also take out an interest-free loan at the UT. This interest-free loan may only be converted into a gift after the student completes his/her degree course.

Voluntary circumstances for non-EEA students:

The UT earmarks an annual budget for graduation support in connection with board functions. International students may also apply for this form of graduation support. Students from a non-EEA country who are claiming graduation support due to voluntary circumstances will receive 80% of the maximum monthly amount of € 970.-. The student does not receive 100% as the voluntary circumstance is considered an investment in the academic development of the student, who also benefits from this investment. Bear in mind that if Dutch and international students were to receive the same level of graduation support, few international students would take part in board activities given the excessively high costs this would entail.

Involuntary circumstances for non-EEA students:

Students applying for graduation support in connection with involuntary circumstances receive 100% of the maximum monthly amount of € 970.-. After all, these circumstances were not brought about by the student.

Students from EEA countries:

Students from EEA countries receive a basic grant (for living away from home), as they are permitted to work in the Netherlands, do not have to pay the higher tuition fees normally applicable to international students and, in some instances, may be eligible for Information Management Group (Informatie Beheer Groep) student grants or partial financial aid to cover tuition.

The CVA will implement this regulation.