Student debt

A student debt can consist of:

• an interest-bearing loan
• a performance-related grant that has not (yet) been converted into a gift
• too much money received that was not immediately repaid

When do you have to pay it back?

You do not have to repay your student debt directly. If your right to a student grant ends, the initial phase commences on 1 January of the following year. This is a two-year period in which you do not have to pay anything back. You can make repayments however.

Paying earlier than you are required to is advantageous. This means the interest amount is not as high. If you wish to repay earlier, please contact RCN-Studiefinanciering.

Compulsory monthly amount

The repayment phase starts after the two-year initial phase. From that time, you have to make repayments. These are in monthly instalments. 

Example of start date repayments
Say that you have completed your education and you will no longer be entitled to a student grant from September 1^st, 2014. 
Your initial two-year phase starts on January 1^st, 2015. You can make repayments but you do not have to. 
From January 1^st, 2017, you must start making repayments.

How long do you have to repay?

You must repay your total debt in 180 months (15 years). The minimum amount you have to pay per month is $45.42. You can pay it off faster.

Ability to pay measurement

You can ask us to reduce your monthly amount. We then calculate how much you can pay per month based on your income. If this is lower than your current monthly amount, we will lower your monthly amount. We always look at your income from two years ago. With regard to the monthly amount for 2016 for example, we look at your income in 2014. We do not take your partner’s income into account.

If you are also repaying a student debt to DUO, we can deduct this amount from your monthly amount. 

The ability to pay measurement is valid for one calendar year. Your situation will be reviewed after this year.

If you have paid your monthly instalments every month for 15 years and part of your debt is still open because the monthly amount was reduced then we will cancel the remainder.

You can apply for an ability to pay measurement with the form Ability to pay measurement 2020 (' Aanvraag Draagkrachtmeting 2020').

You can apply for an ability to pay measurement with the form Ability to pay measurement 2021 ('Aanvraag Draagkrachtmeting 2021'). 

Temporarily not repaying

You can choose to take a break if repaying your debt temporarily is not convenient. 

Rules for stopping repayment:

• You can cancel the repayment of your student debt for a minimum of one month and a maximum of five years.
• The interest on your debt continues to run.
• The maximum repayment term of 15 years will be extended by the number of interest only months you use.

You must apply for an interest only period at least one month in advance. If you want the interest only period to start on June 1^st for example, you must apply for this before May 1^st.
You can apply for an interest only period with the form Application interest only period ('Aanvraag Aflosvrije periode').

You can use this form to submit changes. (e.g. change of address or postal preference)