If you experience study delays due to special circumstances, you may be eligible for financial compensation from the Student Support Fund (StOF).
FOBOS became StOF
The new StOF regulation will take effect on 1 September 2025 and will replace the previous FOBOS regulation.
Sometimes your studies get delayed because of circumstances beyond your control. For example, illness (including chronic illness), mental health issues, serious family circumstances, or a disability. However, spending a lot of time on board work or participating in top-level sports/cultural activities can also slow down your studies. In some cases, you may be eligible for financial support or compensation.
Whether you qualify for compensation depends on several factors:
The reason (e.g., illness, board work)
How long the situation lasted
When it happened during your studies
Important: not every delay is compensated. The StOF regulation explains exactly when you are eligible and how to apply. Tip: check the regulations on time and pay close attention to the deadlines. If you are too late, you may miss out on compensation.
Transitional arrangement from FOBOS
The new StOF regulation will take effect on 1 September 2025 and will replace the previous FOBOS. A transitional arrangement will apply for parts 1 (force majeure), 2 (educational circumstances) and 3 (topsport/topculture) of the StOF regulation. Students who reported their circumstances to the student counsellor before the StOF regulation came into effect may, if reasonable, still make use of the FOBOS September 2024 regulation for the relevant stage of their studies. This transitional arrangement is valid until 1 September 2026. If you previously reported your circumstances under the FOBOS regulation, contact the student counsellor.
Report your circumstances to your study adviser
One of the most important steps is to report your circumstances to your study adviser on time. Do this as soon as possible and no more than 3 months after the occurrence of the circumstances. Even if you are not yet sure whether it will lead to study delay. A late notification will have consequences for your application.
The study adviser will review your study plan with you and, if possible, apply for special (exam) provisions. The adviser will also advise you on further steps and refer you to the student counsellor.
More information? Make an appointment with the student counsellor
The student counsellors at UT know all the details of the regulation and can help you determine whether you are eligible. They are also familiar with other regulations that may apply to your situation. Always make an appointment to make sure you take the right steps in time.
You can apply for support if you experienced a study delay during the nominal duration of your bachelor’s or master’s due to circumstances listed in the StOF regulation, such as:
Illness or pregnancy/childbirth
A disability or chronic illness
Special family circumstances
Important: you must report these circumstances within 3 months to your study advisor (by email or appointment). Reporting to someone else does not count as an official notification.
You must also:
Be enrolled in a full-time bachelor's or master's at UT
Pay tuition fees to UT
What do I need to do to qualify?
Report your circumstances as soon as possible, no later than 3 months, to your study advisor.
Make an appointment with a student counsellor for more information and advice (not required).
At the end of the nominal study duration, you must make an appointment with the student counsellor. They will assess the amount of study delay and help you to prepare your application.
When do I submit my application?
Applications must be submitted no later than three months after the nominal duration of your bachelor’s or master’s programme has ended:
September intake: before 1 December
February intake: before 1 May
Other intake month: within 3 months after the end of your nominal study duration
Non-EU students (extra provision): before 1 July of the final nominal study year
If you stop your studies: within three months of the deregistration date (by email with cpo)
What does the application consist of?
A completed application form, supported by relevant written documentation, such as:
A statement from a doctor or psychologist registered under BIG
A recognised diagnosis of a disability or chronic illness from a BIG-registered institution
Written documentation showing the exceptional circumstances
Who assesses the application?
Your request will be reviewed by the Committee on Personal Circumstances (CPO), an independent committee. They may request additional information from your study advisor or the student counsellor. The CPO calculates your study delay based on the ECs (credits) you missed during the period your circumstances affected your studies. More details can be found in the full regulation.
Sometimes you will be delayed in your studies due to a situation that has arisen through no fault of your own within the study programme. As a result, education may not become logical or feasible for you. There may then be a so-called 'insufficiently feasible studyprogramme'. This means that you incur a lot of study delay through no fault of your own, because education is not logical or feasible.
What should you do?
Always discuss this first with your study advisor or student counsellor.
They will help determine whether educational circumstances apply.
The application for compensation follows the same procedure as Part 1 of the regulation.
The study programme is always involved in a request for an insufficiently feasible study programme. The CPO will ask the programme to give their view on the situation.
Do you have a Category 1 status through the Top-level Sports/Top-level Culture regulation? Then you may be eligible for compensation via the StOF regulation if you experience a study delay during the nominal duration of your programme due to these activities.
Conditions
You have discussed study-related issues on time with your study advisor.
The delay is a direct and unavoidable result of practicing your sport or cultural activity.
You discuss your study delay each year after the academic year ends with the top-level sports coordinator.
At the end of your nominal study duration, you can submit an official compensation request.
More information
Want to apply for a Top-level Sports or Top-level Culture status? Check the relevant regulation for all requirements and application details.
If you take on a board year or other major board work, this may delay your studies. In some cases, you can receive compensation through the StOF regulation.
What counts as board work?
Board positions in associations (sports, culture, social, student teams, etc.)
Participation in representative bodies, such as the University Council or UC-Ow
Appendix 3 of the StOF regulation lists all boards and organisations that are eligible.
How do the grants work?
Each board receives a maximum number of grants (see Appendix 3).
The board itself decides which board members receive the grants.
The board must submit a request for payment within 3 months after the board year ends.
The Committee on Personal Circumstances (CPO) reviews applications on behalf of the Executive Board. If you have questions, you can contact the CPO secretariat.
A special arrangement applies to non-EU students in specific boards: they can make use of a waiver instead of board grants. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Student Union.
