What the Speech from the Throne means for students
Prinsjesdag is over once again. After years of budget cuts, the government is investing in higher education once more for the first time. What does this mean for students? “The increase in the basic grant is not yet sufficient to completely alleviate the financial pressure on students.”
After years of budget cuts, funding is being allocated to education once again for the first time. It is not the 1 billion promised in the coalition agreement, but the government will invest around 668 million in education by 2027.
Talent Strategy
Part of that money will go towards implementing the previously presented “talent strategy“, which the government launched before the summer. “Tomorrow’s labour market also requires us to attract, train and retain top talent in crucial sectors such as AI, digitalisation, energy and biotechnology,” the King stated yesterday in the Speech from the Throne. “That talent can be found everywhere: from vocational and higher vocational education to universities.”
With this talent strategy, the government aims to provide more guidance on young people’s choice of study. Previously, the National Students’ Union (LSVb) had already criticised the strategy out of concern for student wellbeing. LSVb chair Evy Kras said: “If students are already suffering from burnout before they even start their careers, there is no point in promoting certain degree programmes.”
Structural increase in basic grant
Funds have also been allocated for students. For instance, from April 2027, the so-called “unlucky generation” will receive additional compensation, on top of the allowance that has been paid since 2025. For every month they studied under the student loan scheme, students will receive €44.50. If you studied for four years, that amounts to €2,136.
The government also intends to implement a structural increase in the basic grant for students living away from home. The budget does not specify exactly how much this will be. However, it is known that in 2027 the basic grant will amount to €324.50 for students living away from home and €130.21 for those living at home.
This does not mean, however, that students will see a significant improvement in their purchasing power. According to Nibud’s annual calculations, purchasing power students living in student housing will rise by 0.4 per cent. This is because tuition fees are also set to rise, from 2,694 euros this academic year to, in all likelihood, 2,771 euros from September 2027.
Positive
The Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg (ISO) has reacted “positively” to the fact that investment in education is resuming after years of cutbacks. However, the student body still sees room for improvement. ISO chair Allis Richardson: “The increase in the grant is a positive step forward, but unfortunately it is not yet entirely sufficient to completely alleviate the financial pressure on students.”
The ISO also regrets that no funds have been allocated in the budget for students’ mental wellbeing, which, according to Richardson, is in a poor state. Richardson: “By failing to invest further in support for this generation, you are letting them down, with all the potential consequences that entails.”
