House of Representatives wants basic grant for university master after HBO

The House of Representatives considers it unfair that University of Applied Sciences (HBO) students do not receive a basic grant if they pursue a university (WO) master’s. Almost all parties support the CDA’s motion to change this.

HBO students only receive a basic grant if they choose a master’s at a university of applied sciences. Wo students, by contrast, always receive a basic grant for their master’s, regardless of whether they take it in HBO or WO.

Earlier, the appeals court already called the rules ‘not entirely consistent’, but left it to politicians to change them. Former education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf also could not explain the policy, but he was already in a caretaker role at the time. His successor Eppo Bruins did not have the money for it.

Now that a new cabinet has taken office, the CDA is making another attempt. MP Jeltje Straatman considers the rules unjust and calls on the government to ‘explore a legislative amendment that removes this inequality’. Her motion received an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Only the SGP and Mona Keijzer voted against it.

Last year, about 5,700 HBO students started a university master’s. If they all become entitled to a non-resident grant of 3,894 euros per year, this could cost the government around 22 million euros extra annually. That amount could rise further if the basic grant increases, as the cabinet has promised.