If you receive study financing and you are delayed in your studies for more than one month due to a (chronic) illness or functional impairment, you can apply for an extension of the performance-linked grant via the student dean.

If your application is approved, you will receive one extra year of performance-linked grant (basic grant/supplementary grant) and student travel product and you may borrow from DUO for one year longer. You will receive this extra year after your performance-linked grant period.
If you still fall under the loan system, you will not receive an extra year of basic grant. A small part of your loan will be waived if you graduate within ten years.

To qualify for an extension of the performance-linked grant, you must meet a number of conditions.

If you have never received study financing, you cannot receive financial compensation from DUO. However, you may be able to receive compensation from Student Financial Support.

Application process

  1. Make an appointment with a student counselor at least two months before you want anything arranged.
  2. The discussion with the student counselor will involve checking whether you meet the conditions for extending the performance-linked grant. The student counselor will therefore assess whether you can submit a request to DUO.
  3. If so, the student counselor will give you the necessary forms to fill out. The ‘Medical Information’ form must be signed by a physician or paramedic (a psychologist or physical therapist, for example). The expert must be BIG-registered.
  4. Fill in your own information on the DUO forms.
  5. The student counselor signs the forms and sends them to DUO.
  6. DUO will make a decision and inform you of it. This may take several weeks.

If the student counselor will not support your application for an extension of the performance-linked grant, you can also submit the application yourself. The application will likely be rejected by DUO. You can file an objection against a negative decision by DUO.