Financial support

Are you going to finance your studies yourself? Then there are several schemes you may be able to take advantage of.

FORWARD-LOOKING TRAINING SCHEME FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

If you have been working continuously for three years in the same position with the State*, you are eligible for a subsidy of up to €1,000 under the 'Blik vooruit' training scheme. A condition is that you have not previously made use of this scheme and that your employer does not fully reimburse the training.

For more information see the A+O fund Rijk website.

* Employees of Defence/Police/Justice/Departmental Authorities/Educational sectors do not fall under the central government sector. Also employees of independent administrative bodies (with the exception of the Personal Data Authority) cannot make use of the scheme.

Teacher grant

Are you a qualified teacher and do you want to study (further) at college or university? Then you can apply for a teacher grant for a post-initial master program, among other things. With the teacher scholarship you can get reimbursed up to €7.000 per year for tuition fees and up to €700 per year for study and travel costs. In addition, there is an allowance for the employer to give study leave and appoint a substitute.

For more information about the teacher scholarship, visit the DUO website.

Lifelong Learning Credit (LLLK)

If you are under 56 years of age* and no longer entitled to regular study financing, you may be eligible for the Lifelong Learning Credit. You can then borrow an amount equivalent to your tuition or fees. The condition for this is that you are following a recognized full-time, part-time or dual program at college or university (including modular education), which is not fully reimbursed by another person or institution, for example your employer. In the calendar year after the Lifelong Learning Credit stops, you start repaying.

The Lifelong Learning Credit can only be used for NVAO-accredited programs.

Wondering if you are eligible and how much you can borrow with the LLLK? Check the DUO website.

*As of academic year 2024-2025 the age limit will be raised to 57 years because of the increase of the AOW-age.

As an individual, study costs and other educational expenses are no longer deductible as of January 1, 2022. But if you are an entrepreneur or have income from other work, nothing will change. If study expenses are business expenses, they can still be deducted from profits.

For more information, we advise you to contact the Tax Office, your tax advisor or accountant.

TEACHER GRANT: STUDY LEAVE EMPLOYEE

If an employee is going to study again with a teacher's scholarship, then as an employer you can receive compensation for giving study leave and for possibly appointing a substitute. For more information, visit the DUO website.