DutchNews.nl - Government scraps grants for masters degree students

Government scraps grants for masters degree students

Thursday 19 January 2012

As expected, the government is pressing ahead with plans to scrap grants for students starting a masters' degree from the next academic year.

The decision means students living away from home will no longer get a grant of some €260 a month towards the cost of their degree. Instead, they will be able to borrow the same amount of money from the student loan service, according to the draft legislation sent to parliament on Thursday.

'They will soon benefit from their studies, which will still be largely paid for by the government, or taxpayer, when the loans are introduced,' junior education minister Halbe Zijlstra said.

In addition, students will make better choices and complete their degrees faster if they have to pay for it themselves, he said.

The government has already limited the grant for basic degrees to four years in most cases.

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Readers' comments

Does this decision affect students who are already doing a master course and receiving the grant?

By liu | January 19, 2012 5:12 PM

I don't disagree with this cut. A graduate with a Masters should be able to repay this amount within a year or two of getting a job. Not everything needs to be subsidised.

By Willie | January 20, 2012 6:21 AM

Good work! Make the grant a scholarship. Give it only to a selected few who shine in academics. Better still, make it a non-cash incentive, like giving out books to those students who study well.

By GGG | January 20, 2012 8:18 AM

I agree with Willie; having a low-interest loan equal to one or two months salary when you graduate is just a good incentive to study hard and graduate within two years. Not even everyone will need the loan anyways, and the education is already highly subsidized.

By Devin | January 20, 2012 8:19 AM

When you go for a Masters degree, you already start earning money 2 years later then your peers who don't. Moreover when you start a job, you do not necessarily earn more than a person who spent no time on education at all. If they make you pay for your education, on top of these, the universities will loose even more of their Dutch students. Yey! More high skilled jobs for foreigners like me!!!

By puskul | January 20, 2012 9:25 AM

Does that also affect international students who work min. 8h/ week? In this way they are normally they are entitled to the grant

By Sonia | January 20, 2012 1:33 PM

@Willie: Hahahaha... I have *TWO* Master's (physics and atmospheric science) and I still have a lovely $75,000 USD student debt and can't find a job here. That's no fault of NL though - thanks America! USA!USA!USA!

By Stupid | January 20, 2012 5:07 PM

After having lived in Nederland for 36+ years, I moved to Sweden, where I am associated with academics. In this country all public education is free. Just thought I'd let you know that "het kan beter."

By Husserl | January 21, 2012 9:24 AM

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