Flexible study

In order to be able to participate in flexible study, the following conditions apply

• You are registered or will re-register as a full-time student and the type of tuition fee that applies to you is the statutory rate (and not the institutional rate).. 
• You belong to one of the following groups:
  • You have a job and wish to combine it with a degree programme.
  • You are an elite athlete.
  • You are a student board member and receive a board scholarship of at least €425 from the UU during the academic year in which you are a flex student.
  • At the start of the degree programme you provide informal care for a family member.
    This only applies if you care for your father, mother, brother or sister, son or daughter. This kind of informal care goes beyond the usual help. It is unpaid help that has not been imposed as an obligation on someone. Help for individuals without health restrictions, such as childcare for healthy children and grandchildren, does not apply here.
  • You have a chronic illness or disability.

Number of credits required

You will have to enrol in courses for a minimum of 15 EC per academic year. Make sure you meet the entrance requirements and pay attention to the order and combination of courses you wish to attend. This means that in some cases you might have to enrol for more than 15 EC when your programme's curriculum requires you to do so.

If you want to be eligible for flexible study, you must first apply for enrolment as a full-time student via Studielink and go through the regular enrolment process. If you re-enrol, you will have to do so as a full-time student.

Signing up for flexible study

As soon as you have received your re-enrolment confirmation, you will need to apply for flex study via a form. Do this before 1 August at the latest. In case you only found out after 1 August that you belong to one of the target groups and you would like to participate, please contact Quirine van der Steen as soon as possible.

Drawing up a study plan

Based on the information provided with your programme's curriculum, create a suitable and realistic study plan (Word). Take into account the entry requirements and the order in which the courses should be taken according to the curriculum (check the Course Planner for course descriptions). 

Making an appointment with your Study Advisor

Make an appointment with your Study Advisor. Send the completed study plan to your study advisor one week prior to your appointment. Your Study Advisor will discuss your study plan with you and will assess whether you meet the participation criteria.

Signing your study plan

After you have met with your Study Advisor, your study plan for the first academic year will be determined. Both you and the study programme will need to sign this document.

Paying tuition fees

Your study plan forms the basis on which your tuition fees will be determined. As a flex student, you will pay per credit (ECTS) (1/60 of the statutory tuition fee plus 15%). This amount will then be charged to you. It is possible to add courses later in the academic year, which will be charged extra, but it is not possible to get a refund for courses you have not completed.

Registering for courses registration

Finally, you will have to register for the courses in your study plan. 

For each credit (EC) you pay 1/60 of the statutory tuition fees, plus 15%. This surcharge has been determined by our Minister of Education.

Disadvantages flex studying

Do you want to know whether flex studying is financially attractive to you? Please contact your programme's Study Advisor to discuss your situation.

Flexible study is not an economical option in all cases:

• if you plan a number of courses for an entire academic year, but stop halfway through that year, the tuition fees charged will not be refunded.
• if you want to take more than 52 EC in courses, the 15% surcharge will make this a more expensive option. 
• if you have already paid your tuition fees at another educational institution,  you will have to pay the statutory tuition fees again at Utrecht University.

No Proof of Payment of Tuition Fees (Bewijs van Betaald Collegegeld) will be issued for another education institution.

Paying tuition fees

The tuition fees can be paid as a lump sum or in instalments.

Deregistration and tuition fees reimbursement

If you unsubscribe, tuition fees will not be refunded. There is no exception to this.

Student grant

As you are a full-time student, you are entitled to a student grant (DUO). How long and how much you will receive, depends on your student grant history.

Financial compensation for a delay in your studies

Compensation for study delay is only possible:

• for the part that you have already said in advance you wish to take as flexible study.
• if you are unable to complete this part due to circumstances beyond your control, as referred to in the Financial support scheme in cases of circumstances beyond one's control (Regeling Financiële steun op grond van overmacht).
• if you meet the other conditions of this scheme.

More information

• Circumstances beyond your control