Do you not meet the conditions for statutory tuition fees? Then you will pay institutional tuition fees.
There are 2 exceptions.
Second-degree tuition fees - Exceptions
Exception 1
You started a second study programme of the same type of degree (Bachelor or Master) during your first study programme. You follow this second study programme without interruption, even after obtaining a degree for the first study programme.
Exception 2
You have obtained a Bachelor's or Master's degree and have started a study programme in the field of healthcare or education for the first time.
The following study programmes belong to the field of health care:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Dentistry
- Health Sciences
- Human Health and Life Sciences
- Movement Sciences
- Medicine
Important information
- This regulation concerns Bachelor's and Master's degrees obtained at a Dutch educational institution (HBO and WO). Foreign diplomas do not count in this regulation.
- This regulation does not apply if the degree was awarded before 1 September 1991.
- Bachelor's and Master's degrees are regarded as separate degrees. Are you going to follow a Master's degree after obtaining a Bachelor's degree? Then this is not considered a second degree. Only if you are going to follow a second Bachelor's degree after already obtaining a Bachelor's degree (or a second Master's degree after obtaining a Master's degree) do you fall under this regulation and pay the institutional tuition fees.
- Please take note of any specialisations that fall under one Bachelor's or Master's programme. These have the same ISAT code (also known as programme number) and are therefore considered the same study programme. Have you obtained a degree, and do you want to continue with another specialisation? Then you will pay the institutional tuition fees for the following academic year. You can check whether this applies to your study programmes by looking them up in the CROHO register of DUO and comparing the ISAT codes.
- For questions on this subject, we refer students to the information on this page, DUO and the Government of the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
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I finished my last course in February but want to stay enrolled until August. Do I have to pay institutional tuition fees as of March?
When you have graduated, you can choose to remain enrolled for the duration of the current academic year. You will then pay the same fees.
Do you opt to re-enrol from September? In that case, you will pay the institutional tuition fees if you opt for re-enrolment in the same programme or if you opt for re-enrolment in a second similar degree programme (e.g., a Bachelor's programme if you have already obtained a Bachelor's degree).
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I am following two Bachelor/Master programmes at once (both at VU Amsterdam or one at VU Amsterdam and one at another university/college). I’m paying the statutory tuition fees and I have not completed either study programme. How much tuition fees do I pay?
On our website you will find the bachelor tuition fees and (pre)master tuition fees.
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I am already following several parallel Bachelor's or Master's programmes and am starting a third and/or fourth study programme. How much will I have to pay in tuition fees?
Are you starting a second, third or fourth study programme after having completed your first study programme? Then you will pay the institutional tuition fees for these programmes.
Are you paying institutional tuition fees and are you following several parallel programmes? Then you will pay the institutional tuition fees multiplied by the number of study programmes you are following.
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I am enrolled in two study programmes with the same ISAT code (also known as programme number) and I graduate from one of them. What do I pay?
Programmes with the same ISAT code do not count as two different programmes but are specialisations of the same programme. Did you obtain the first degree? Then you will pay the institutional tuition fees in the following academic year.
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I have obtained my degree but have re-enrolled for next year just to be sure. Now I get the message that I have to pay institutional tuition fees. How can that be?
If you enrol for a second study programme at the same level (bachelor/master), this enrolment is regarded as a second degree. This also applies to re-enrolment in the same programme from which you have just graduated. You will then be required to pay the institutional tuition fees.
Was the re-enrolment a mistake? Then submit a deregistration request based on graduation in Studielink as soon as possible. One condition is that you must have graduated from the study programme by 31 August at the latest. A late request for deregistration will be evaluated first. Once approved, the enrolment for the new academic year will be cancelled. The increased tuition fees claim will be cancelled in full.
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I have already obtained a Bachelor's/Master's degree and am going to start a Bachelor's/Master's programme in the field of healthcare or teaching. Do I have to pay institutional tuition fees?
For a second study programme, you pay the statutory tuition fees if you have completed an associate degree, bachelor or master programme, but are following a programme in the field of education or healthcare for the first time. Whether a programme falls under healthcare or education programmes can be checked in the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes (CROHO) at DUO.
Source: Government of the Netherlands (page in Dutch)
Do you have any questions?
Please contact the Student Desk.