{"id":197612,"date":"2026-05-04T15:37:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T13:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=197612"},"modified":"2026-05-04T15:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T13:38:00","slug":"hboer-verliest-rechtszaak-om-basisbeurs-voor-wo-master","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/05\/04\/hboer-verliest-rechtszaak-om-basisbeurs-voor-wo-master\/","title":{"rendered":"HBO graduate loses court case over basic grant for research university master\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Students from universities of applied sciences (HBO) still have no right to a basic grant if they progress to a research university master\u2019s programme. Once again, a university of applied sciences graduate has lost a court case on this issue. Politicians haven’t changed the rules yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHoney Simatupang<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It remains odd: after a bachelor\u2019s at a university of applied sciences, you do <\/em>receive a basic grant for a master\u2019s at a university of applied sciences, but not<\/em> for a master\u2019s at a research university. Students consider that unfair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, research university bachelor\u2019s students receive an extra year of basic grant if they choose a master\u2019s at a university of applied sciences. It is a consequence of how the student finance rules are structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost three years ago, the consumer programme Radar highlighted the issue. Then minister Robbert Dijkgraaf couldn’t explain<\/a> why the system worked this way, but did nothing about it: the cabinet had already fallen at the time. His successor, Eppo Bruins, made significant cuts and had no funds for a change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prohibited distinction?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Could this be a case of prohibited distinction between university of applied sciences bachelor\u2019s and research university bachelor\u2019s graduates? For a moment, the court seemed to agree, but on appeal a student still lost<\/a> her case. These are simply the rules, the Central Appeals Tribunal ruled, and it is up to politicians to change them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new court ruling<\/a> confirms this line. Once again, a graduate of a university of applied sciences has lost a case about the basic grant (and supplementary grant) for a research university master\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, a large majority in the House of Representatives indicated it wants to change <\/a>the system. The new minister of Education, Rianne Letschert, will discuss the matter with the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Een lijst met artikelen<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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