First-years to pay 50% less tuition fees

The measure in which students will pay only 1,030 euros in their first year (the discount applies for the first two years for PABO students due to shortage of teachers in primary education) was introduced to keep higher education accessible as well as counter the unintended effects of the student loan system implemented in 2015. Studies have shown that young people whose parents did not attend university are statistically less likely to attend themselves, and even less likely to take out a loan.

Many parties in both the Senate and the House of Representatives believe that it would be better to increase the supplementary grant instead as this would more accurately target those groups for whom the loan system is considered a hurdle. Now, they argue, students without such concerns also benefit from the discount.

The Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg (SIO) and the National Student Union (LSVb) are not satisfied with the bill and say that the rise in interest will mean students will still be paying more despite the discount. They point to calculations by the cabitent that show that the reduced fees will cost 175 million euros while an increase in interest on borrowing costs will yield 225 million