In January 2015, the First Chamber has officially announced the abolition of student grants. In September 2015 the new loan system will be implemented. We have asked Tilburg University students the question: “What do you think of the implementation of the new student loan system?” These were the responses:
Basically, I do feel positively about the abolition of student grants, as long as the savings generated by this decision are used for the improvement of the educational system. For existing students it can be frustrating that the rules on grants are changed during the study. Changing the rules while still playing the game is not entirely fair. I do not think there will be fewer first year students next year. Everybody understands that they need an education after high school, to have a serious shot at a job from which they can benefit for the rest of their lives. Students from poorer families are still entitled to a supplementary grant. If you also add a part-time job income, healthcare and housing allowances to that grant, I think students should be able to survive. Even though you may need to borrow another 100 euro’s each month.
Bas Mulder, 20 years old
I think the barrier to study at the university is increasing as students no longer receive grants. Most students will have to immediately take out a loan to pay for everything, what will ensure that students will search where the opportunities lie in the labor market. Studies such as art history, philosophy and languages will become less attractive and will maybe even slowly disappear. Studies with better job prospects will be attractive since it will offer students the assurance that they can pay off their debts easily in the future. Here, the threshold for prospective students to move into student rooms and to become active in a student association, will increase. Students will spend their college years most effectively so they can quickly set to work and not make too much debt. Thus they will miss certain opportunities, such as becoming independent by living on themselves, building a life in the city where you are studying, and perhaps most importantly, extracurricular activities. Students will now focus more on just their study.
Isa de Palo, 21 years old
I find it very unfortunate that the student grant will be abolished for students in the Netherlands, mainly because it will affect the access of higher education. I know from personal experience that when I had just graduated from high school, the question that everyone asked each other was: “What are you going to study?” instead of “Are you going to college?”. At this point, it is in the Netherlands fairly obvious that everybody is financially able to start an education. With the abolition of student grants a large group of students will be unable to sustain themselves, and therefore they will no longer be able nor willing to study. To make matters worse, if the free transportation card would also be abolished, studying would become impossible for some people. I do not find it acceptable have that higher education gradually becomes accessible only for the elite. I think this is not an idea that suits the Netherlands because we strive for as much equality as possible. Also, this will result in a smaller and smaller highly educated population, and that is harmful to a knowledge based economy like the Netherlands.
Fanoes Bayat, 21 years old
I think we will start seeing the difference between rich and poor, especially for the students who start university next semester. If they have no money and cannot find a part-time job, then the opportunity to study just disappears, along with their motivation. Some people have rich parents, but there are plenty who do not have that benefit. Thus the division between rich and poor will become evident, as it was in the past. I think it should be made possible to give everyone an equal opportunity to study. I do not think it is okay to abolish something that already exists and functions well. The moment you start studying, you already know you will end up with a large amount of debt. Someone who has no job security does not quickly take a step to embark on something that leads to debt, even though there is low interest. Now the threshold for those who will end up with a student loan, is set much higher. You have finished your studies and you can finally start working. No, you have a student loan that is waiting for you.
Shugri Ibrahim, 23 years old
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