Additional study costs for enrolled students
Since 1 September 2021, institutions have been allowed to charge (prospective) students for contributions other than examination fees, statutory tuition fees, institutional tuition fees and pre-master’s fees. Examples include the costs of registering for an examination after the regular registration period and the costs of issuing a replacement certificate or statement.
In addition, institutions may charge a personal contribution for certain educational facilities. A few conditions apply to this. These must be contributions that a) cannot reasonably be requested from the institution’s board itself, b) are related to enrolment, and c) arise from the special nature of the programme.
However, personal contributions may not be charged without good reason. This is only permitted if the institution’s board has laid down further rules on this matter, together with the representative body, in a Personal Contributions Regulation. It is therefore a legal requirement that a board’s policy on personal contributions be laid down in a regulation!
The following preconditions have been set for the personal contribution:
- The personal contribution relates to costs for a practical (e.g. fieldwork), educational excursion or workshop;
- These costs must arise from the special nature of the programme (e.g. travel and accommodation costs for an educational excursion to Egypt for the Egyptology programme, or food for nutrition practicals);
- The amount of the personal contribution may not exceed the actual costs incurred;
- In principle, the faculty must offer a free alternative to students who do not wish to pay the personal contribution, unless the Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER) stipulate that there is truly no free alternative and the provision is demonstrably essential for achieving the programme objectives;
- The institution’s board must provide financial support to students who are unable to pay the personal contribution.
Free alternative to additional study costs
It is unclear what requirements the free alternative must meet when students are unable or unwilling to pay for a priced educational facility. If your programme does not offer a free alternative, the additional costs charged are, in principle, unlawful. This category of additional costs is very broad. Examples include: excursion fees for compulsory excursions, costs for viewing an examination, costs for registering for an examination, guest lectures, additional costs related to internships, etc.
Educational institutions may require students to purchase certain study materials, such as books and syllabi. However, they may not oblige students to purchase these from the educational institution itself. This means that you may also buy them second-hand, if possible.
In the case of excursions, a replacement (paper) assignment or an internship must be offered as a free alternative. If the excursion cannot be replaced, only a contribution towards the student’s travel and accommodation costs may be requested.
PLEASE NOTE: This is only permitted in exceptional cases where it is absolutely necessary for the student to attend the excursion. This could be the case, for example, for an excursion to Egypt as part of a study programme in Egyptology.
Below, we have compiled a list of items for which an additional contribution may or may not be requested. This is derived from a letter from the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).
When may no additional contribution be requested for study costs?
- For being allowed to attend classes;
- Access to and use of buildings and collections;
- Use of student facilities (such as student psychologists and computer facilities);
- Thesis and study supervision;
- Administrative costs;
- Issuing student cards;
- Certificates and door passes;
- Matching and information;
- Study guides (unless this information is also available free of charge);
- Mentor afternoons;
- Providing (interactive) forms that students can use to work on the study material (unless this is not part of the programme);
- Participation in the student council;
- Recruitment of internships;
- Participation in examinations (unless the officially prescribed registration procedure has not been followed);
- Examination aids.
When can an additional contribution towards study costs be requested?
- Late registration for examinations (maximum £20);
- The costs of books, syllabi and (digital) learning resources, materials and certain costs associated with practicals (e.g. safety goggles and a lab coat);
- Festivities;
- The student interests fund;
- The facilities fund;
- Guest speakers;
- Sports days;
- Coffee, tea and other canteen products;
- Copying and printing costs;
- Insurance;
- Deposits;
- The student pastoral care service;
- Participation in a summer school;
- Introduction days;
- Sports facilities (except for sports programmes);
- Sports activities;
- Boating licences (in the case of maritime programmes);
- Vaccinations for internships.
Selection costs for prospective students
When enrolling in a programme, the basic principle is that enrolment may not be made dependent on any financial contribution other than the tuition fees. Selection costs, i.e. costs incurred for the selection process for a programme, may therefore not be passed on to the student. A ministerial regulation (2021) stipulates that the following costs may be charged: a) the administrative costs for assessing a prospective student’s foreign diploma (maximum €100), b) the costs of testing the language level of the prospective to assess whether they (with a foreign diploma) meet the minimum required level, and c) the costs of administering a colloquium doctum and other sufficiency and deficiency costs (these are tests that prospective students can take if they do not meet the prior education requirements or do not hold a diploma that entitles them to admission).
The costs of a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) or a medical examination are also paid by the student.
The personal contribution under a), b) and c), as well as its remission if prospective students are unable to pay the personal contribution, is regulated in the educational institution’s Personal Contribution Regulations.
What does the LSVb do?
We are in constant consultation with colleges and universities and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Do you think your institution is also charging you unlawful additional costs? Please contact us via our Student Line.
Would you like to challenge the costs you have to pay for taking standardised tests as an admission requirement? Below you will find a document that you can send to your institution.
Accompanying letter to institutions
Accompanying letter to institutions pdf
Questions?
Would you like to know what the national government says about additional costs on top of tuition fees? Then visit the website of the Education Inspectorate. On this website, you will also find more information about Article 7.50 of the Higher Education Act, the regulations concerning other contributions and the explanatory notes to these regulations from the Minister of Education.
Do you have questions about additional study or selection costs or any other questions about your studies? Please contact the LSVb’s Student Line.