Budgeting for your studies
Being a university student comes with expenses, and it’s important to plan how you will cover them. There are the expected costs like books and tuition fees, but the general cost of living can add up, too: rent for your room, food and drinks, going out socially and insurance. Not to forget additional costs, such as your student association membership or streaming service subscriptions.
Need help with financial problems?
Reach out to our student deans.
Create a personal budget
To make sure your expenses don’t exceed your income, it’s wise to make a personal budget. You can use the Excel sheet (in Dutch) from Nibud (the National Institute for Budget Information). Your personal budget should be based on your actual monthly bills.
Cost of living in the Netherlands
The cost of living in the Netherlands can vary depending on your choices, such as whether you live with roommates or on your own, whether you eat out often or cook, etc. The following table shows figures from the 2021 Nibud national student survey (in Dutch), which have been adjusted for general inflation rates in 2022 and 2023 (4.1%, 11.6%).
| Subject | Cost (euro) |
| Rent | 495 |
| Groceries | 201 |
| Books and materials | 57 |
| Transportation (public transport, bike) | 84 |
| Leisure, entertainment and sports | 144 |
| Clothing and shoes | 112 |
| Health insurance | 134 |
| Phone | 22 |
You can also find more information about the cost of living at mymaastricht.nl.
Don't miss out on financial support
In addition to the UM funds that provide financial aid, you may be eligible for other financial support from the Dutch government such as:
- student finance (studiefinanciering):
- rental subsidy (huurtoeslag)
- health insurance subsidy (zorgtoeslag)
- local tax remission (kwijtschelding)
- energy allowance for students (tegemoetkomingenergiekosten)
- energy allowance for low-income residents (energietoeslag)
- childcare allowance
You can also look into any additional funding that your municipality may offer, such as study allowances for students with a disability.
Organisations that offer support
Several organisations offer free, sometimes anonymous, assistance:
- Humanitas
- geldfit.nl (in Dutch)
- Schuldhulpmaatje (in Dutch)
- Landelijk Stimuleringsnetwerk Thuisadministratie (LSTA) (in Dutch)
If you live in Maastricht, visit Maastricht Helpt (in Dutch) for an overview of available support. You can also visit Trajekt (in Dutch) for assistance.
For advice and tips, consider using apps like FiKKs (in Dutch) and Geldwijzer Maastricht (in Dutch).
Rent and health insurance
If you're at risk of falling behind on your rent or health insurance payments, contact your landlord or health insurer to discuss possible solutions. You may be able to arrange a payment plan. It's important to make agreements that you can realistically keep.
If you’re unsure whether your rent is accurate, contact Huurteam Zuid-Limburg. They can help you calculate the maximum legal rental price for your accommodation.
Serious financial problems or debts
For serious financial problems or debts, contact your municipality as soon as possible. Early intervention can prevent issues from escalating. For more information about debt assistance in Maastricht, visit https://www.gemeentemaastricht.nl/en/werk-en-inkomen/help-money-and-debt . If you live outside Maastricht, check your own municipality's website.
Special assistance from the municipality
If you're unable to pay for necessary expenses (e.g., increased energy costs), you may qualify for individual special assistance from your municipality. The conditions for this assistance vary by location. For Maastricht, visit https://www.gemeentemaastricht.nl/werk-en-inkomen/bijzondere-bijstand (in Dutch).
Impact on your studies
Financial problems can be very stressful and impact your studies. If these issues are threatening to delay your progress, contact your study adviser immediately. You can also reach out to the Student Deans for questions about UM's financial regulations.
Disclaimer
Please note: The information on this page has been compiled carefully, but eligibility for these options depends on individual circumstances.