FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Modern Migration Law (MoMi), study progress and residence permit.

Study progress

  • What does the MoMi standard mean?

    One of the most important requirements of MoMi is that you have sufficient study progress each academic year. That means: at least 50% of the ECTS credits each academic year. You can lose your residence permit if your study progress is insufficient, the IND can withdraw your residence permit. The other rights and obligations are listed below.

    Deviating from the regular MoMi standard (50%), a preparatory year / pre-master / transition year must be completed successfully (100%) within 12 months, in order to be admitted to the main (master) programme.  If you're not enrolled and admitted to the master programme before the ending of the 12 month period, the IND must be notified. The 12 month period is non-negotiable (IND rule).

  • When do I have sufficient study progress concerning MoMi?

    Sufficient study progress is assumed when at least 50% of the proportional nominal study load for (a part of) the academic year has been obtained. You must obtain at least 50% of the ECTS in all academic years. Your study process will be evaluated at the end of the academic year. For the MoMi standard and IND it is not important from which year the credits are obtained. It may be important to continue studying at the UT, for example if it is combined with a binding recommendation for first-year Bachelor's students.

    Specific situations are explained below.

    Specific situations

    •  Another moment of enrollment, for example February:

    If you enroll later on in the academic year, you must achieve 50% of the ECTS that can be obtained in the remaining part of that academic year.
    For example: from February to September, 30 ECTS can be obtained. In that situation you must achieve a minimum of 15 ECTS.

    •  Honors programme:

    All points may be added together. In principle, all credits that contribute to obtaining a diploma count to meet the MoMi standard.

    •  Multiple studies:

    All points may be added together. In principle, all credits that contribute to obtaining a diploma count to meet the MoMi standard.

    •  Internship and graduation:

    Also in academic years with an internship or graduation, you must obtain a sufficient amount of ECTS. If you know that your ECTS will be awarded too late, for example in the next academic year, you can fill in the MoMi Study Progress form which explains that you have sufficient study progress. To get that form, please contact your study advisor or see the website.

    •  Switch to another programme at the UT:

    You can do another programme within the UT, as long as you meet all requirements, including the MoMi standard of study progress. You must inform the UT about your switch as soon as possible.

    •  Studying in Netherlands and abroad:

    If you study in the Netherlands and abroad concerning the same programme, all obtained credits count. The credits do must be traceable to the programme. For advice, contact your study programme.

    •  Studying according to Joint degree:

    The points obtained can be added together to meet the MoMi standard. The credits do must be traceable to the programme.

    •  Pre-master / Preparatory year / transition programme:

    The MoMi standard also applies to student of a pre-master / preparatory year / transition programme, but in addition all ECTS (100%) must be obtained in order to register for the Master course. If you have not completed the preparatory year successfully withing the maximum of 12 month, you can't enroll for the Master course. If you're not enrolled and admitted to a Master programme before the ending of the 12 month period, the IND must be notified. The 12 month period can not be extended (IND rule). You can only use one preparatory period to follow the main course. If you have your Bachelor's degree and want to do a Master's programme, then you may use an extra period of 12 months to prepare for your master's programme.

    •  Exemptions:

    Points obtained by exemptions also count for the MoMi standard. However, rules regarding exemptions must be taken into account. The procedure laid down in the TER (Teaching and examination regulations) apply to the granting of the exemptions. Please contact your programme or examination committee if you have any questions.

  • MoMi and BSA, how do they relate to each other?

    The MoMi standard (50% of the ECTS in full modules) will be used to determine the study progress of MoMi. This is important for your residence permit. An additional standard can be set for studying at the UT, for example the binding recommendation (BSA, 75% of the ECTS) for first-year Bachelor's students. Certain studies, such as ITC and ATLAS, have also additional requirements. ATLAS-students need to obtain 100% of the ECTS yearly.
    These requirements have no direct consequence for your residence permit, but are bound/linked to the programme. You do need to meet both criteria to continue your programme.

    For example: if you have earned 30 ECTS, you may stay at the UT on the basis of MoMi, but it can be possible that you can’t continue your programme. On the other hand it may be possible to achieve the BSA in parts of modules, but not having full modules so you don’t meet the MoMi standard.

    For the additional standards of your programme, contact your programme.

  • Will I be informed about my MoMi study progress?

    Yes. At the start of the academic year you'll receive a letter which states the MoMi requirements. In every academic year there will be several moments when you'll be informed by your program about your study progres, to be able to notice any study delay in time. You are responsible for timely informing your study adviser/Fainco about any circumstances that may cause a study delay. At the end of the academic year, the MoMi Committee will conclude if you have obtained sufficient credits in that academic year. This is the final notification.

    This will be repeated every academic year.

Study delay

  • What do I do after application for assessment of personal circumstances? 

    After you submitted your application and you give permission to share the information (advisable) with your Fainco, the Fainco of your educational programme will receive a copy of your application. After your case has been assessed by the CPO, an advice will be given to the MoMi Committee. The CPO decides whether your circumstances are recognizes and your study delay is justifiable. The MoMi Committee, who will take the advice of the CPO into account, makes the final decision and you will receive a letter. 

    If your study delay is not justifiable, the IND will be informed. They will take the final decision about revoking your residence permit.

  • I disagree with the advice of the CPO, what to do?

    You can submit a complaint to the UT Complaints Desk. Before a complaint is submitted, you are advised to seek informal advice from the student counsellor.

  • MoMi and activism, how does that work?

    (Student activism: membership of University Council, Faculty Council, Programme Committee or board of recognized associations listed in category 3 and 4 FOBOS, Appendix B, Basic list for allocation of activism grants.)

    Students (with board functions as forementioned) who have a study delay, can fill in the MoMi Activism Form: a statement of the association mentioning your position and the period you are/were in the board. This form is a proof of the worked hours and is part of a CPO request.

    Filling in the MoMi Activism Form is required when the student submits an application for assessment by the CPO on the grounds of activism. The student must attach the MoMi Activism Form to the CPO request.

    It’s up to the CPO to assess if the activism was the cause of the study delay regarding MoMi, the form and the programme (study advisor) will be consulted. The form doesn’t give a guarantee for MoMi exemption. In addition, the recognition of the circumstances in the context of MoMi by the CPO gives no guarantee for FOBOS.

Requirements

  • In which cases will the IND be reported?

    UT is obliged to report to the IND, among other things:

    • if you have insufficient study progress (without a justified reason: a personal circumstance recognized by the CPO);
    • when you no longer study full-time;
    • when you no longer appear at UT;
    • when you have stopped before the planned end date / have completed the programme/when you have deregistered;
    • if you don’t have sufficient means of existence at the beginning of a new academic year;
    • when you come to study at UT and already have a residence permit for study;
    • when you no longer come to the Netherlands or have left the Netherlands (except for studying abroad from UT).
    • if you have not completed the preparatory year successfully (100%) withing the maximum of 12 month or you're not enrolled and admitted for a master programme before the ending of this 12 month period. The 12 month period can not be extended (IND rule).

    The visa department will notify the IND. It is up to the IND to determine what to decide in response to the notification of UT, but in most cases the IND will withdraw the residence permit.

  • When can the notification to the IND be omitted?

    The notification to the IND can only be omitted if you have insufficient study progress due to a recognized personal circumstance. The CPO assesses whether the reason can be recognized. In a consecutive period of sponsor, the notification to the IND can only be omitted if you have insufficient study progress due to a recognized personal circumstance that hasn’t been used previously to omit a notification.

  • Can I continue studying at another university if I have insufficient study progress?

    If you have insufficient study progress without a justified reason, you can’t continue your study at the UT. However, you may continue your study at another educational institution as long as the residence permit is still valid and hasn’t been withdrawn.

    When you’re going to study at another educational institution, you must inform the IND that this institution will become your new sponsor. The educational institution must be recognized as a sponsor by the IND. You must also inform the UT about your transfer as soon as reasonably possible. If your residence permit has been withdrawn, you will have to leave the Netherlands. You can then re-enter the process for a new study visa to study at the UT again.

  • How can I continue studying at UT?

    If you have insufficient study progress without a recognized personal circumstance, you can’t continue your study at UT. If you want to restart your programme or start another programme at UT the next acacdemic year, you must first go to your home country. From there you can enroll for the programme next academic year (start in September). Please note that you must apply for a new visa and submit your enrollment before May 1st to be able to (re)start your study in September. Also note that you can not re-enroll for the next three years if you are a first year Bachelor's student with a negative binding recommendation (BSA).

  • What is the procedure after a notification/report of UT?

    After UT has reported your insufficient study progress to the IND, UT and the IND will confront you with the intention to withdraw the residence permit. Usually the IND gives you time to find another sponsor. If you haven’t registered with another educational institution, your residence permit will be withdrawn.

Residence permit & sponsor

  • What can UT do for me as my sponsor?

    •  UT can assess whether the application for a residence permit is complete and
        whether you can meet the conditions for admission, before the application is
        submitted.
    •  UT submits the application for a residence permit to the IND through an
        accelerated procedure, on which the IND will make a decision.
    •  UT reports to the IND, for example about (possible) insufficient study progress,
        on which the IND will make a decision.
    •  On behalf of you, UT can object to a negative decision by the IND, for example
        when rejecting the residence application or withdrawing a residence permit.

    UT is no longer your sponsor when...

    • If you have another sponsor.
    • If you have received a residence permit for another purpose of stay or for an indefinite period of time.
    • If you have become a Dutch national.
    • If your residence permit has been withdrawn.
    • If you have left the Netherlands as a final departure, and UT has reported this to the IND.
    • If UT is no longer recognized as a sponsor.
  •  My residence permit expires, what do I have to do?

    If your residence permit expires, you will be notified two months in advance by UT. You can renew your residence permit. Note that it can only be renewed if you submit the renewal request before the end date expires. In addition, the IND can take up to two months to process your renewal application. If your residence permit is not renewed on time, you will have to leave the Netherlands. If you have any questions about the extension of your residence permit, please contact Student Services.

    After your residence permit is expired

    The residence permit for study is valid for the duration of your study plus three months. This period of three months is given to you to arrange matters, such as receiving your diploma or registering with another educational institution as your sponsor. After that date, you will need to leave the Netherlands.

  • After my Bachelor's I want to do a Master's. Will I get a new permit for the entire duration of my study?

    After your Bachelor's, you get a residence permit for the duration of the Master’s programme plus three months.

  • What are my rights and obligations as a study migrant?
    • You can stay in the Netherlands for the duration of your study plus three months (maximum five years including preparatory year/transition year, excluding extension).
    • You may work a maximum of 16 hours per week next to your study. Instead of these 16 hours you can do seasonal work in June, July and August. Your employer can apply for a TWV (employment permit) for you at UWV (Employee Insurance Agency).
    • You don’t need a TWV for an internship that is relevant to your study program, but you must have signed an internship agreement with the internship company and UT.
    • You must have sufficient study progress. Read more about this below.
    • You have an obligation to provide information: you need to inform UT and the IND about changes in your personal data.
    • You must provide important information about your stay and about your residence permit to the IND and UT.
    • You must provide correct and complete information to the IND and UT.
    • You must be registered with an educational institution that is recognized as a sponsor (if you are no longer enrolled, UT must report this to the IND).
    • You must pay tuition fees in time.
    • You must have sufficient means of existence.
    • You must have a valid passport.
    • You must be insured against medical expenses in the Netherlands.
    • You must be examined by the GGD (Municipal Health Services).
    • In some cases, family or family members can also get a residence permit.
    • If it is part of the study, you can go abroad (out of the Netherlands) for a maximum of 12 months without your main residence being changed. The residence permit won’t be withdrawn when you obtain sufficient credits in that academic year to meet the standard.