Study grants for higher education

In order to obtain a study grant, certain conditions must be met regarding your nationality, your income, the educational institution and the study programme.

• Nationality.
  You must be a Belgian national on 31 December of the school year for which you apply for the grant. If you are not a Belgian national, you or your parents must have lived in Belgium for some time and must be working, or have already worked in Belgium.

• Income.
  The decision to award you a study grant depends on, amongst other things, your family situation and your income. This includes your salary as well as, for example, any benefits and alimony payments you may be receiving.

• Educational institution and study programme.

  • ​​​​​​You must follow a recognised study programme at an institution that is recognised, financed or funded by the Flemish Community. You can check this in the Higher Education Register (Hogeronderwijsregister) (in Dutch)(opens in new window). Some study programmes are not eligible for a study grant. Specific conditions apply to studying outside of Flanders.
  • Your study programme must lead to a diploma/degree.
  • You must still have sufficient study grant credit.

If you want Study Grants to start a file for you and investigate whether you are eligible for a study grant, you can set up your profile in the e-portal for study grants from 2 June prior to the academic year for which you want a grant:

• On the e-portal you enter your contact details and bank account number.
• You indicate that you would like a file (either just the current academic year, or every year for as long as you study).
• You can grant a parent living at the same address access to follow up the file.

Please note: in higher education, the student is the person entitled to a possible study grant and is also responsible for arranging the file. Only the student can set up his profile.

As soon as the file has been started, you will receive an e-mail with the request to check and confirm your data and send additional information if necessary. You’ll be informed as soon as the file is being processed.

Do you need help setting up your profile or completing your data? Then you can contact the Study Grants Division(opens in new window).

Processing order

The processing order of files is based on family income. The lower that income, the faster your file will be processed.

Payment

The study grant will be paid to the account number you register in your student profile via the Study Grants e-portal itself. Do you have an approved file for academic year 2024-2025? Then you will receive your study grant within a few weeks. Do you have an approved file from an older academic year? Then you will receive your study grant within the month. More information: payment of your study grant

Adding forms to your file

Usually, you don’t need to upload any more forms in the e-portal. In some cases you do, everything depends on your specific situation. You will always be notified by e-mail and in the e-portal when what information is needed. All forms must be drawn up in Dutch, French, German or English. If the document is not drawn up in one of these languages, it must be translated by a sworn translator.

Each year there are different amounts for study grants. These are adjusted annually according to the index.

The amount of the study grant (in Dutch) depends on different factors. These factors include, amongst others, your family situation, your study programme and whether you will stay in a dormitory or not.

If you qualify for a study grant, you automatically pay at the lowest enrollment rate at your college or university. Even if you do not meet the requirements to receive a study grant, your educational institution may decide to adjust the enrollment rate. You will then have to pay reduced tuition. More information: verminderd inschrijvingsgeld

If you are struggling financially, you can request an advance payment of your study grant from your educational institution’s student services (in Dutch).