Overview
Short-term loan
Study costs
If your study-related costs are running high (tuition fee, room rent, laptop, field trip,...) and you're having difficulties paying for them all at once, you can contact us to see if you qualify for an interest-free short-term loan.
Tuition fee
- If you are a non-scholarship student , you can take out a short-term loan for your tuition fees. Be sure to also check whether you are eligible for a scholarship from the Flemish government  and/or the reduction in tuition fees. In these cases, you may qualify for the scholarship rate for your tuition.
- If you take out an interest-free student loan, we will deposit the borrowed amount (a maximum of € 1.500) directly with the Education and Student Administration, so that your tuition fees are taken care of. You then pay off this amount in monthly instalments. The loan should be repaid in full by the end of the academic year (30 September)
Student housing
- If you are having difficulty paying the monthly rent for your student accommodation, it's possible to take out an interest-free student loan through us:
- If you rent a room from the VUB, the sum borrowed will be deposited directly with VUB Student Housing.
- If you rent a room on the private market, the sum borrowed will be deposited into your bank account so that you can pay the rent.
- You will then pay off the loan to us in monthly instalments. The loan should be repaid in full by the end of the academic year (30 September)
Long-term loan
Depending on your financial situation, you may be able to get a long-term interest-free loan to keep your study costs affordable.
How much is the loan?
Short-term
A short-term loan is a maximum of € 1.500 and must always be repaid during the academic year (through a payment plan).
Long-term
A long-term loan is a maximum of € 1.500 and is meant to resolve a structural financial hardship (for example, if you are unable to pay all your study costs). Repayment of a long-term loan starts two years after completion or termination of your studies at the VUB.
Conditions
Do I qualify for support?
There are certain conditions to qualify for the financial support provided by VUB.
Conditions
General conditions
The general condition to receive financial support from VUB are:
- The student meets one of the nationality requirements established by the Department of Scholarships of the Flemish Community
- the student is enrolled under a diploma contract (students with a credit or exam contract are not eligible) (*)
- the student is enrolled at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (**)
- the student is enrolled in an initial study programme: a bachelor, a first master, a bridging or preparatory programme (***)
- the student proves a financial need, related to the study costs
(*) Students with a credit contract can be eligible for reduced tuition fee. Starting academic year 2023-2024, students with a credit contract are also eligible for an interest-free loan to pay their tuition fees.
(**) Students in the first year of their studies should have an enrollment of at least 54 credits in order to apply for a social allowance, rent allowance and external grants.
(***) Students following a teacher training or a second academic degree of the same level or students who have already obtained a Master's degree can only qualify for reduced tuition fee and an interest-free student loan. This interest-free student loan is also available for students who are following an advanced Master's degree.
Conditions
Don't agree?
We evaluate your request and make a decision based on these conditions. If you do not agree with a decision made by our Financial Support team regarding your request for financial support, you can lodge an appeal.
Request a loan
Short-term tuition fee
Do you meet the general requirements? Apply for a short-term loan using the form below.
Apply for short-term loan tuition fee
As soon as we have received this application, we will process it and will draw up a contract through Docusign, detailing the payment plan you have to follow. You will receive an email from Docusign, containing a contract which you should read, fill in and sign, together with a copy of both sides of your ID card.
Once we receive your signed contract, we process your loan and add our signature and a structured message to the contract. You will receive the final contract again through Docusign and we will proceed to pay the loan to Education – and Student Administration. You can start repaying as stipulated in your contract. Make sure you use the correct bank account number and always include the structured message.
Short-term study costs or housing
You can get in touch with us by email no later than 1 September (at the end of this academic year) for a short-term loan for other study costs or housing. You don't have to fill in an application form, but you do have to meet the general conditions.
Apply for short-term loan via e-mail
We will always draw up a contract for the loan, for which we need the following information:
- Which month will you be able to start repaying the loan?
- How much each month? (The minimum amount is € 50 and the loan must be repaid by the end of the academic year (end of September).
As soon as we have received this information, we will draw up a contract through Docusign, detailing the payment plan you have to follow. You will receive an email from Docusign, containing a contract which you should read, fill in and sign, together with a copy of both sides of your ID card.
Once we receive your signed contract, we process your loan and add a signature and a structured message to the contract. You will receive the final contract again through Docusign and we will proceed to pay the loan. You can start repaying as stipulated in your contract. Make sure you use the correct bank account number and always include the structured message.
Long-term
You may only apply for a long-term loan if you meet the general conditions and you should apply using an application form no later than 1 September (at the end of this academic year). A loan agreement will always be drawn up.