Are you younger than 18 and do you not have a residence permit yet? Then you are entitled to education in the Netherlands. This also applies to compulsory education and qualifications. That means you have to go to school to get a basic qualification. This is a diploma at least at havo level, vwo level or mbo level 2. With a basic qualification you can enroll at a school or educational institution.

Did you start a mbo- course before you were 18? Then you can finish this one. Even if you are still in the asylum procedure. And perhaps even if you have already exhausted all legal proceedings. This does not always apply to training courses hbo and wo.

It is important that you were lawfully residing in the Netherlands when you enrolled at the school. This means that you had a residence permit or a W document at the time.

Are you 18 years or older and do you want a mbo-attend training? Have you applied for asylum and is your procedure still ongoing? Then you can register for one mbo-course. You must prove that you are lawfully resident in the Netherlands. You usually do this with your W document.

Would you like to register for a hbo- or wo- course? This is possible. You are not a client of the UAF? Most of the time you have to pay institutional tuition fees instead of the statutory tuition fees. This depends on the country of origin.

Until you are 18, NIDOS or COA probably pay for your education. This usually changes after your 18th birthday.

Sometimes you can get the recovery order to apply for tuition.

For example for:

• Courses on the Vocational Training Path (BOL) of MBO
• Full-time courses at secondary general adult education (VAVO).

Are you following an MBO (level 3 or 4) or higher education course? Then the UAF might support with the costs of your study materials and your travel costs.

Studying when you have exhausted all legal remedies is very difficult. Sometimes you can still complete your education. You are not entitled to student finance. Sometimes you can get the recovery order apply for tuition. For example for:

• Courses on the Vocational Training Path (BOL) of MBO
• Full-time courses at secondary general adult education (VAVO).

You can no longer register for a new study programme. Please take this into account when making your study choices. 

Do you not have a residence permit? Then you are only allowed to do an internship in the following situations:

• You started a mbo-course or a mbo BOL-course before you were 18.
• You follow a special course for students with a disability.

Hbo and university students are not allowed to do this.

You cannot insure yourself for medical expenses without a residence permit. Sometimes you are insured for medical expenses via the COA. This applies in the following situations:

• You are still in an asylum procedure.
• You live in an asylum seekers centre. 

A number of educational institutions offer (free) courses for asylum seekers and refugees. The courses are mainly intended for people who are waiting for a residence permit and therefore cannot follow a normal education.

• Inclusion (University of Utrecht)
• IncLUsion (University of Leiden)
• Radboud Welcomes Newcomers (Radboud University)
• TU/enable (Eindhoven University of Technology)
• Unbound (University of Amsterdam and Right2Education)
• WURth-while (Wageningen University)

Note: Are you not yet a client of the UAF? Then we cannot reimburse any travel costs you incur for these courses.