Compensation for study delay

To be eligible for financial (FinSCO) support, you must meet several conditions. The following criteria apply to all international students (who are not eligible for a basic grant from DUO):

• You were enrolled as a full-time student at Utrecht University (incl. University College Utrecht and University College Roosevelt) during the circumstances beyond your control.
• You must be able to prove the circumstances beyond your control.
• Your studies were delayed as a result of these circumstances beyond your control.
• You have consulted with a study advisor, student counsellor or student psychologist (within 3 months of the start of the circumstances beyond your control) about limiting your study delay or temporarily discontinuing your studies if your delay is more than 3 months. If you did not report your circumstances on time, you can still submit a request. In this case, not all your study delay may be reimbursed.
• You must have been delayed in your studies during the nominal duration of your degree programme. This is three years for a Bachelor's degree programme, and one, two, three or four years for a Master's degree programme, depending on the programme in question. Earlier enrolment years (in an equivalent degree-type: bachelor or master) in Dutch higher education will be deducted from this period.
• You must be under the age of 30 when starting your programme at UU in accordance with Article 10.a. of the Regulation.

You can apply for financial compensation after the end of the academic year in which you incurred the delay. You may apply for FinSCO from 1 October 2024 to 31 January 2025 for study delays incurred during the 2023-2024 academic year. The application procedure consists of four steps.

1. Submit application form in Osiris Case
   Log on to Osiris Studentand select the tab Cases. Go to Start a new case (yellow circle with a plus sign) > Financial Matters, Verification and other documents and then select Application for financial (graduation) support 2023-2024 for international students. The deadline to submit the digital application form is 31 January 2025.
2. Upload supporting documents
   After you submit the digital application form, you should also submit (upload) several additional items of supporting information via Osiris Case (documents including your personal statement and a study advisor's statement). This will enable the university to assess whether you meet the conditions. You must submit these documents via Osiris Case within three weeks of submitting the digital application form. Please note: after uploading your documents, you need to submit these documents as well.
3. Assessment of the application by a student counsellor
   One of the student counsellors will look at your application form and supporting documents. The student counsellor then forms an advice for the Director of Student and Academic Affairs.
4. Formal decision
   The Director of Student and Academic Affairs will decide on behalf of the Executive Board. You will receive this decision in OSIRIS Case.

You can follow the status of your application in Osiris Case. The Executive Board will decide on your application within eight weeks after the receipt of your supporting documents. However, this deadline can usually not be met due to the large number of applications submitted just before the January 31 deadline.

Submit a FinSCO request (formerly: graduation support) after the end of each academic year in which you experienced study delays due to circumstances beyond your control and received student finance in the form of a basic grant. This also applies if your study delay is compensated through an extension of your performance grant via DUO. Submitting a FinSCO request ensures that the number of months of study delay you incurred at Utrecht University is recorded. The first 12 months of registered study delay are compensated by DUO. From the 13th month onward, you may become eligible for FinSCO. More information about DUO provisions can be found on the DUO website.

Read the general information on studying with a disability at Utrecht University, and please make sure to (keep in) contact with your study advisor. If you are eligible for a student grant and loan and travel product from DUO (prestatiebeurs), then you may be eligible for additional financial compensation through DUO. The student counsellor will contact you on the basis of your application for graduation support if they expect that you may be eligible.