Netherlands

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Inclusive Mobility

As mentioned before, Dutch higher education institutions are obliged to offer students with special needs arrangements and facilities, as long as they are reasonable. According to the Dutch Equal Treatment Act, the adjustments must comply with two conditions:

  1. The modification/provision must be suitable
  2. The modification/provision must be necessary

More information can be found on http://www.hogeronderwijstoegankelijk.nl/en/this-is-what-I-need.

Each higher education institution, by signing the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, commits to ensuring equal access and opportunities to participants from all backgrounds. Therefore, students and staff with physical, mental or health related conditions can benefit from the support services that the receiving institution offers to its local students and staff.

More information can be found on http://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/individuals/students/students-and-staff-with-physical-mental-or-health-related-conditions

There is a variety of financial schemes that you could be eligible for. Examples of these include a performance grant and an individual student allowance from your municipality. Learn more about these schemes and the criteria for eligibility on http://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/individuals/students/students-and-staff-with-physical-mental-or-health-related-conditions. In some cases, your educational institution will offer financial schemes as well. Every institution of higher education is required by law to allocate funds for the financial support of students (who can apply for this support). This facility is known as the profiling fund.

 

For more information:

  1. Nationwide schemes

 

  1. Schemes provided by educational institutions

Possible reimbursement from the educational institution: http://www.hogeronderwijstoegankelijk.nl/en/this-is-what-I-need/possible-reimbursement-educational-institution

 

  1. Schemes for all (local) students

Besides the list of all financial schemes for students with special needs, which we have provided above, we also have an overview of financial tips that all students can benefit from, which is included below. This has nothing to do with whether you have a special need. Any student can, under certain circumstances, be eligible for these schemes. It is possible that, in addition to the tips above, you can obtain extra benefit from these schemes.

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If you don’t have the Dutch nationality (or similar rights), you are not eligible to receive funding under the Dutch welfare system or the regular Dutch scholarship programme. Only the Equal Treatment Act applies to you. There are, however, certain grants that you may be entitled to.

 

The ‘Profileringsfonds’

If you are not entitled to Dutch student finance from DUO, and a study delay incurs, you might be entitled to a grant that is called ‘Profileringsfonds’ in Dutch. Every higher education institution in the Netherlands has the obligation to have this fund in place for students. This fund provides financial compensation for study delay due to personal circumstances. To be entitled to this grant, you are required to tell the student counsellor as soon as possible about your circumstances (such as disability, pregnancy or being a caregiver) that lead to study delay.  

 

Erasmus+ grant for special needs

If you are an Erasmus+ student with a disability, you can apply for an extra grant to pay for special needs.

 

Applying for an extra Erasmus+ grant:

  • Ask the Erasmus coordinator at your university about the application procedure in your home country (application deadline, where to obtain and submit your application form, etc.)
  • Fill in the form describing your disability/special need(s) and additional requirements. Make a detailed cost estimate of the extra financial support you will need for these requirements.
  • Include a statement from an official authority/institution attesting your disability and its degree of severity, its impact on your mobility and an estimate of the additional costs for your participation in the Erasmus programme.
  • Hand in your application at your home university or to the National Agency for the Lifelong Learning Programme in your country (this depends on the country-specific procedure).
  • Your university or National Agency will assess your application and decide whether you should receive extra funding.
  • If you are entitled to an additional grant, you must sign a grant agreement that clarifies your rights and obligations.
  • Once you have completed your course or placement period, you must report the exact amount of additional expenses, along with evidence (invoices). Your grant agreement will contain specific rules concerning this report.

 

There are no structural Dutch or European funds to support non-Erasmus students. Nevertheless, to find out about the options, you could:

  • contact your university’s international office, the Dutch embassy or the local authority in your county, province, or country to see whether they have grants to support you or information on organisations that may do.

 

For more information

Visit http://www.studyinholland.nl/finances to learn more about available grants.

 

The following websites provide you with more information about Dutch health insurance and healthcare in general:

http://www.zorgwijzer.nl/faq/students

http://www.studyinholland.nl/plan-your-stay/insurance

http://english.zorginstituutnederland.nl/about-us/healthcare-in-the-netherlands

http://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-healthcare-system

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Students with fewer opportunities

The Equal Treatment Act (Wet Gelijke Behandeling | WGB) obliges Dutch universities to help disabled students with provisions needed to successfully complete their studies. Dutch higher education institutions are obliged to offer students with disabilities arrangements and facilities, as long as they are reasonable. However, the educational institutions are not obliged to have all the facilities in place until a student asks for them. Therefore, most universities argue that it is the students’ responsibility to arrange the facilities they need.

Included in the Dutch definition of a disability are psychical, sensory, cognitive and psychological disabilities (e.g. depression, dyslexia, autism, ADD and ADHD) and chronic illnesses.

Apart from students with a disability, there are students in special circumstances. Think for example of pregnant students of students in a gender transition process. They could also need special adjustments or accommodations.

The law does not provide a list of possible adjustments, but indicates that a student is entitled to facilities that help them to successfully complete their studies. These facilities may not place a disproportionate burden on the educational institution. Examples of appropriate adjustments are:

  • extra time for tests/assessments or an adapted test,
  • more guidance,
  • a flexible schedule
  • or the use of aids.

These are just a few examples. Together with the student, schools can judge which adjustments are effective. Whether adjustments are effective is determined per individual at your educational institution. Usually, this is done by the examination board, but this is not always necessary. For example, if you have already been granted certain adjustments or if these adjustments have been standardised. You can inform how this is organised at your educational institution. Many institutions have a contact person for students with additional support needs, who can also be contacted.

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The types of arrangements and facilities can differ, depending on where you study.

Counsellors at your university

These are the Dutch professionals who can support you at the university.

Disability officer (studentendecaan) 

The disability officers are part of the university’s central staff. They carry out intakes with disabled students, submit applications for special facilities or arrangements and provide general guidance. They, or their colleagues, also know about the regulations that apply to exchange students. 

Academic advisor/Guidance counsellor (studieloopbaanbegeleider/studieadviseur) 

These advisors are a member of your department. They will know little about disabilities, but a lot about your curriculum, study planning, courses, etc. They can support you by providing academic counselling and advice on planning. Universities of applied sciences often provide a mentor during the first year. This mentor will be one of your teachers who has been given an extra task. If you have any question concerning the above named you can go to your mentor first. If you have a more complex question, the mentor will refer you to the academic advisor or guidance counsellor. Research universities sometimes also work with mentors who are often senior students.

Examination board (examencommissie) 

Some study modifications will have a direct effect on exams and the way you get your marks.for instance:

  • you might be able to use your laptop during exams,
  • do alternative assignments
  • or be exempt from work placements).

These modifications need the approval of your department’s examination board. The disability officer will help you submit applications to the examination board.

Student counsellor (studentenpsycholoog) 

Most large universities have a student counsellor. The student counsellor helps students with psychological problems related to their study. Aside from individual appointments, they provide study matching tests and training (for instance, on how to cope with performance anxiety, motivational issues or addiction). 

 

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