The new minority coalition of D66, CDA, and VVD has earmarked an additional 1.5 billion euros for education. This is slightly more than the previous government cut. If the House of Representatives approves, the funding will be reinstated starting in 2027.

Of this amount, around 110 million euros has been reserved to increase the basic student grant for students living independently, the new minister and state secretary have informed the House of Representatives.

There are approximately 220,000 students receiving a grant for living independently in MBO, HBO, and universities. Spread across this group, the increase amounts to about 500 euros per student annually, or 42 euros per month.

The current basic student grant for students living independently is 325 euros per month. According to information from the National Institute for Family Finance Information (Nibud), students face an average shortfall of around 400 euros per month.

Subject to change

The coalition agreement of D66, CDA, and VVD includes various plans, such as increasing the basic student grant for students living independently, but until now no specific amounts had been attached to them.

The current figure of 110 million euros comes from a provisional breakdown of the 1.5 billion euros allocated to education. GroenLinks-PvdA had requested this overview.

The amounts may still change, write Minister Rianne Letschert and State Secretary Judith Tielen, the new policymakers at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). They are still assessing the efficiency, feasibility, and exact costs of their measures.

For the government, the costs of a higher basic student grant will only materialize later: in higher education, the grant only becomes a gift once students obtain their diploma, which can take several years.

Other allocations

The table provided also shows that 434 million euros has been allocated to research and science. This funding will be distributed through sector plans (in which universities collaborate), practice-oriented research funding, investments in research infrastructure, and European cooperation.

Additional funding will also be made available for international students, now that higher education institutions are allowed to continue offering English-taught programs at their own discretion. In the long term, this will amount to 156 million euros per year.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.