Funding

Since the start of the National Education Programme, four Calls for Proposals (grant rounds) have been organised at Utrecht University. Students, student organisations, faculties and UU employees could apply for grants for activities that contribute to the objectives of the National Education Programme (NPO). That is: eliminating and repairing disadvantages among students caused by the corona pandemic.
The last, fourth, Call closed on 1 February 2023. There has been a huge take-up of this grant opportunity. This means that all available budgets from the National Education Programme are now all earmarked. No new round of grants will be organised.
Please note that acknowledged student organisations can still make use of the Student Organisation Grant. This is a one-off additional subsidy opportunity in 2022-2023. Look here for more information.
1. Who may submit an application?
Anyone who organises an activity that contributes to the objective of the NPO project: to repair corona-induced delays in UU students' cognitive, social and emotional well-being. However, please note that there is no more money available for community activities and/or for activities aimed at facilitating the intake and progression of prospective students to the UU.
2. Where can you apply for the money?
You can apply using the forms on this page.
3. What if you do not have a detailed plan yet, but only an idea?
You can submit your idea through the idea box. Soon, boxes with a QR code will be placed in various physical locations in UU buildings to encourage students and staff to submit their ideas. As a student, you can also express your ideas at brainstorming sessions that the NPO project team organises throughout the year. Check out 'Students wanted' to see if a brainstorming session is being organised soon.
4. Can you use the money for existing activities?
To a limited extent, provided that the money is used to strengthen existing activities so that they make a clear contribution to the objectives of NPO. For example: does your faculty always organise open days for prospective students? If so, you cannot apply for funding for these familiarisation days. Do you want to organise additional orientation days and do you need to use extra means of communication to increase the target group compared to previous years? Or does the enthusiasm among prospective students appear to be greater than in other years (e.g. because students were not able to do this earlier due to corona) and do you not have sufficient resources for this? Then you could submit a request to NPO.
5. Does a request always have to be made in advance or is it also possible to do it afterwards?
You have to submit an application in advance.
6. Does it have to be a one-off activity?
No, it does not have to be a one-time activity. The activity may also take place several times. However, if it concerns an activity or plan that will continue after the NPO project, you must clearly indicate how you expect to pay for it in the future.
7. What is the duration of the activity?
In principle, the project runs in 2022-2023. In consultation, it is possible to extend the project to December 2023. If there is still a budget left after 2022-2023, the UU project team will look at which successful projects can be extended.
8. How much can you apply for?
The current Call for Proposals does not have a maximum. But you are in competition with other subsidy requests. We try to support as many good projects as possible, which can also help as many (diverse) students as possible. Of course, the budget is not infinite. But at the moment, we do not think it is necessary to set a limit. However, always keep in mind that if the money runs out, there is no reserve. Whether there will be another Call for Proposals therefor depends on the number of eligible and awarded applications per Call.
9. What is the minimum amount you can apply for?
500 euro. That is including taxes.
10. What is the deadline for applying?
For this call the deadline is 10 November 2022, 23.59 hours.
11. How is the payment made?
This depends on the application and is done in consultation.
12. How often must a report be made if an application is approved?
This depends on the duration of the project. For smaller projects, one report and accountability afterwards is sufficient. For larger projects, we also ask for an interim evaluation. You will be notified when we expect the report. The form can be found here.
13. What is needed to justify a project application?
This depends on the size of the project. There is a form for an interim report and a final report. The financial justification does not have to be detailed, but it is important to distinguish between personnel and materials. It is also important to be clear what the applicant's own contribution to the project is. We also want to know how many students will be helped by the project. The ministry asks for this in the final report later.
14. Is there a predefined distribution per faculty?
No.
15. What is the role and input of students?
Students are involved with NPO in many ways and are warmly invited to contribute to and think about projects and initiatives. They can apply for funding, submit ideas or participate in brainstorms: see 'Students wanted'.
16. How are student organisations involved in the NPO programme?
They can contribute ideas, apply for subsidies, submit ideas, etc.: more information.
17. What about taxes?
We expect that you take the BTW into account yourself. An awarded amount always includes the tax.
18. How do I know what is a realistic amount per student?
Look carefully at the amount it costs per student and test this against societal norms. Is this amount, given the content of the activity, justifiable to the outside world? In addition, will people be paid who are already part of the faculty's budget or will extra people have to be hired?
19. What if I have a technical or ICT element in my project?
First examine whether this is technically possible by contacting ICT. Will personal data be used? Then first check with the privacy officer which requirements your project must meet.
20. When is the next call?
There will be no next call.
Applications relating to one faculty or programme go through the following steps:
- Your request is reviewed by a faculty committee. This committee varies in composition per faculty: sometimes it includes the head of the faculty office, often the student-assessor, sometimes the head of Education and Student Affairs and/or the vice-dean of education. The faculty forwards the advice to the Central NPO project team.
- All applications receive advice from the Central NPO project team. They make an additional check against the government's conditions, can compare the application with other applications, and have the total overview of all applications from programmes and faculties.
- Subsequently, all applications (including potential rejections) are discussed in a meeting with the Spending Committee. The Spending Committee includes the heads of Education & Student Affairs of the faculties and UCU, the student-assessor of the Executive Board, a delegation of the NPO project team and (only for projects with an IT component) an information manager from the ITS Directorate of the University Administration Department.
- The Central NPO project team makes a decision based on the final recommendation of the spending committee, and informs applicants of the outcome. The faculty receives the mail in the c.c.
For applications via the general form (multi-faculty), steps 2 to 4 above apply.
Check this checklist before you apply as a student organisation.
- Is it an (annually) recurring activity or a lustrum? If this is the case, the activity is in principal not eligible for a sum of money. The organisation should have sufficient budget for this. Exception: New elements are added to the activity which clearly contribute to the wellbeing of the students and/or make an extra contribution to the skills of incoming and graduating students.
- Has the organisation already made use of the separate grant for student organisations (250 or 500 euros)? If not, this should be used first.
- Is it a drink, party, gala, dinner or similar activity? In that case it is in fact not eligible for financial support. Especially now that the budget for social activities and community has been used up. Exception: the activity has a strong substantive component that concretely improves student welfare and/or makes a clear contribution to the skills of incoming and graduating students (such as study skills).
- Is the amount requested from NPO realistic? Look carefully at the amount of money it costs per student and test this against social standards. Is a realistic amount per student being asked for? And, given the content of the activity, can this be justified to the outside world?
See examples of faculties and student organisations.

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