Quick answer
DUO is the Dutch government organisation that manages student finance, the student travel product and loan repayment. For students in higher education, DUO can combine several parts: a basic grant, a supplementary grant, the student travel product, an interest-bearing loan and a tuition fees loan.
If you are an international student in the Netherlands, DUO can be worth arranging because the travel product alone can remove a major monthly cost, and the supplementary grant can reduce how much you need to borrow. The catch is timing: apply early, prepare your BSN, bank account, work proof and parent-income documents, and do not wait until semester starts.
Start now: DUO tells students to apply in time and preferably 8 weeks before student finance should start. If DUO needs foreign parent-income documents for the supplementary grant, processing can take longer than 8 weeks. If your eligibility depends on working, you may also need a payroll month first so you have a contract, payslip and matching bank statement.
Before you start this application, keep our practical setup guides open: BSN registration for student jobs, Dutch bank account for salary payments and Dutch health insurance when you start paid work.
Who can get DUO as an international student?
Dutch students follow the standard student finance route. For non-Dutch students, the common EU/EEA, Swiss or UK route is different: DUO usually checks whether you qualify because you work in the Netherlands, have already lived in the Netherlands for 5 consecutive years, have a Dutch parent or partner, or meet another residence-based condition.
The work route is the one many international students ask about. DUO says you qualify automatically as a migrant worker if you work at least 32 hours per month in the Netherlands. If you work fewer than 32 hours, DUO can look at income or whether you worked at least 24 hours per month for 6 consecutive months.
For non-EU students, the work-permit and residence route can be different. Always check the official DUO and IND rules before assuming you can work the hours needed for student finance.
What can DUO student finance include?
| Part | What it does | Practical student note |
|---|---|---|
| Basic grant | Monthly student finance support. | For higher education this is a performance grant: it becomes a gift if you obtain a diploma in time. |
| Supplementary grant | Extra support based on your parents' income. | Always check it. DUO can calculate it using parent-income information, and it can reduce borrowing. |
| Student travel product | Free public transport on weekdays or weekends, with discount at other times. | Choose weekday or weekend travel based on classes, work shifts and city commute. |
| Interest-bearing loan | Optional monthly loan for living costs. | You decide how much to borrow within DUO limits; this must be repaid with interest. |
| Tuition fees loan | Optional loan to help pay statutory tuition fees. | This must be repaid with interest, even if your grant parts become a gift. |
For 2026, DUO lists higher-education amounts such as a maximum regular loan of €315.17 per month and a statutory tuition fees loan of €216.75 per month from January through August, rising to €224.50 from September through December. Check the current DUO amounts page before budgeting, because amounts can change by year and situation.
Which parts are free and which parts do you repay?
The safest way to understand DUO is this: some parts are not automatically free on day one. They become a gift if you meet the diploma rules. DUO calls the basic grant, supplementary grant and student travel product a performance grant for higher education. If you get your diploma within 10 years, those parts can become a gift.
| DUO part | Do you repay it? |
|---|---|
| Basic grant | Becomes a gift if you obtain your higher-education diploma within the DUO diploma period; otherwise you may have to repay it. |
| Supplementary grant | Usually follows the performance-grant rule, but DUO says the supplementary grant for the first 5 months is a gift even if you do not graduate. |
| Student travel product | Becomes a gift if you obtain your diploma within the DUO diploma period; otherwise the used value can become a debt. |
| Interest-bearing loan | Always a loan. You repay it with interest. |
| Tuition fees loan | Always a loan. You repay it with interest. |
This is why we recommend borrowing only what you need. The basic and supplementary grants can be powerful, the travel product can save real money, but the regular loan and tuition fees loan are still debt.
Documents you should prepare
For the standard online application, prepare your BSN, DigiD or eIDAS access where available, study details, start month and the bank account you want DUO to use. If you still need a Dutch salary account, start with our bank account guide.
For EU/EEA, Swiss or UK students using the work route, DUO commonly asks for supporting documents such as your employment contract, latest payslip, bank statement showing the salary payment and sometimes extra proof if you work through an agency, are self-employed or want student finance for earlier months.
For the supplementary grant, start collecting parent-income documents now. DUO usually looks at your parents' income from 2 years before the study year. For student finance in 2026, that means income from 2024. If your parents live abroad, ask them early for official income statements, tax assessments or other proof DUO accepts. If the documents are not in Dutch or English, you may need a translation.
Cash-flow warning: parent-income approval can take longer than 8 weeks, and work-route proof often depends on a completed payroll month. If you only start collecting documents after arrival, you can easily lose one month building work proof and then wait through DUO processing. Apply as soon as your evidence is strong enough.
A realistic DUO timing plan
- Before arrival: book your BSN appointment, open or prepare a Dutch/EU bank account, collect parent-income documents and choose your DUO start month.
- Arrival week: complete municipal registration for your BSN and keep your appointment proof safe.
- First work month: work enough reliable hours, keep the signed contract, and wait for your first payslip and salary payment.
- After first salary: upload work-route evidence to DUO, including your payslip and matching bank statement.
- After DUO approval: check each month that your work hours, study enrolment, travel product and bank details still match your situation.
If your contract starts after the first day of the month, DUO says student finance generally starts from the next month. That is another reason to line up the job, BSN and bank account before your study year begins.
How the student travel product works
The student travel product is one of the strongest reasons to apply for DUO. You choose weekday travel or weekend travel. With the chosen option, you travel free at those times and receive a discount outside those free periods. For students who commute between housing, university and work, this can change the whole monthly budget.
Plan the option around your real week. If you have classes Monday to Friday and work one evening near campus, weekday travel often fits. If you mostly bike to class but travel to another city on weekends, weekend travel may be better. Do not activate it if you are not eligible, because misuse can create debt or penalties.
DUO phone number and city desks
DUO's general phone number is 050 599 77 55 from the Netherlands, or +31 50 599 77 55 from abroad. If you are not sure whether you meet the non-Dutch student finance rules, DUO also lists a student-finance eligibility number: +31 (0)50 599 77 11.
Most DUO questions can be handled through Mijn DUO, but a desk visit can help if you need identity checks or want to ask about documents. Use the official DUO page for your city or nearest city and book as early as possible.
| Student Jobs city | DUO location or nearest desk | Appointment link | Timing note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Rijkskantoor Sloterdijk, Kingsfordweg 1, 1043 GN Amsterdam | Amsterdam DUO visit and appointment page | Thursday walk-in hours are listed by DUO; use the page to book another day or time. |
| Rotterdam | Laan op Zuid 45, 3072 DB Rotterdam | Rotterdam DUO visit and appointment page | Monday walk-in hours are listed by DUO; use the page to book another day or time. |
| Groningen | Kempkensberg 12, 9722 TB Groningen | Groningen DUO visit and appointment page | Book online through the Groningen DUO service office page. |
| Utrecht | Stadskantoor Utrecht, Stadsplateau 1, 3521 AZ Utrecht | Utrecht DUO visit and appointment page | Book online through the Utrecht DUO service desk page. |
| Leeuwarden | dbieb Leeuwarden, Blokhuisplein 40, 8911 LJ Leeuwarden | Leeuwarden DUO visit and appointment page | DUO lists Wednesday walk-in hours; bring valid ID. |
| Maastricht | Bibliotheek Maastricht, Avenue Ceramique 50, 6221 KV Maastricht | Maastricht DUO visit and appointment page | DUO lists Wednesday morning by appointment and afternoon walk-in hours. |
| Delft | Closest DUO office: Rotterdam, Laan op Zuid 45, 3072 DB Rotterdam | Delft DUO visit and appointment page | DUO does not list a Delft desk; use Rotterdam or handle the application online. |
| Eindhoven | Kantoorgebouw Hooghuis, Keizersgracht 5, 5611 GB Eindhoven | Eindhoven DUO visit and appointment page | DUO lists walk-in hours on Monday and Thursday; use the page to book another day or time. |
| Enschede | Stadskantoor Enschede, Hengelosestraat 51, 7514 AD Enschede | Enschede DUO visit and appointment page | Book online through the Enschede DUO service desk page. |
Find DUO-friendly student jobs by city
For DUO eligibility, the best student job is not only the highest hourly wage. You need predictable hours, a real employment contract, payslips and salary payments that clearly match your bank statement. Delivery, hospitality, sales, tutoring, retail and campus jobs can work if the monthly proof is clean.
| City | Job link | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Amsterdam | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Rotterdam | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Rotterdam | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Groningen | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Groningen | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Utrecht | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Utrecht | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Leeuwarden | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Leeuwarden | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Maastricht | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Maastricht | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Delft | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Delft | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Eindhoven | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Eindhoven | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
| Enschede | English-speaking DUO-friendly student jobs in Enschede | Look for reliable monthly hours, clear contracts and payslips you can upload to DUO. |
Official sources and previous Student Jobs guides
- DUO student finance overview
- DUO application timing
- DUO eligibility for EU/EEA, Swiss and UK students
- DUO application route for EU/EEA, Swiss and UK students
- DUO supporting documents
- DUO 2026 amounts
- DUO gift or repayment explanation
- DUO student travel product
- DUO parent-income documents for supplementary grant
- DUO telephone contact
- Student Jobs Netherlands BSN guide
- Student Jobs Netherlands bank account guide
- Student Jobs Netherlands health insurance guide
FAQ
What is DUO in the Netherlands?
DUO is the Dutch government organisation that manages student finance, the student travel product and student loan repayment. Student Jobs Netherlands keeps this guide focused on practical student work, active vacancies and local application steps.
Can international students get DUO student finance?
Some international students can. EU/EEA, Swiss and UK students often qualify through work in the Netherlands, such as working at least 32 hours per month, or through other residence-based conditions. Student Jobs Netherlands keeps this guide focused on practical student work, active vacancies and local application steps.
What documents do I need for DUO as an EU student?
Prepare your BSN, bank account, study details and, for the work route, an employment contract, payslip and bank statement showing salary payment. For the supplementary grant, prepare parent-income documents early. Student Jobs Netherlands keeps this guide focused on practical student work, active vacancies and local application steps.
Do I have to repay DUO grants?
For higher education, the basic grant, supplementary grant and student travel product are usually performance grants. They become a gift if you obtain your diploma in time. Loans and tuition fees loans must be repaid with interest. Student Jobs Netherlands keeps this guide focused on practical student work, active vacancies and local application steps.
Why should I apply for the supplementary grant?
It can reduce how much you need to borrow. DUO checks parent income, and the first 5 months of supplementary grant are a gift even if you do not graduate. Student Jobs Netherlands keeps this guide focused on practical student work, active vacancies and local application steps.
When should I start my DUO application?
Start before arrival if possible. DUO recommends applying preferably 8 weeks before student finance should start, and parent-income documents can take longer than 8 weeks. Student Jobs Netherlands keeps this guide focused on practical student work, active vacancies and local application steps.
Important note: This guide is informational, not legal, tax or financial advice. DUO rules, amounts, processing times, student travel rules and desk opening hours can change, so always follow the latest official DUO instructions before applying, borrowing or activating the travel product.