Every year, over 1,600 young people from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom begin studies in the European part of the Netherlands. To ease the transition from preparatory education on the islands to higher education in the Netherlands, a special tool has been developed. This tool provides prospective students and their parents or guardians with a clear overview of all necessary arrangements.
1 Location containing all information
Through the tool on rijksoverheid.nl/caribbeanstudenten, Caribbean students receive a personalised overview of their rights, necessary arrangements, and support options. In addition to the Dutch version, an English version is available at government.nl/caribbeanstudents.
Improved support for prospective students
In recent years, partly based on the National Ombudsman’s advice (Dutch), considerable efforts have been made on various fronts to enhance information, guidance, and preparation for Caribbean students. For example, since last year, Caribbean students have automatically received a citizen service number (BSN) when applying for study financing. This enables them to apply for a DigiD and arrange several matters before they depart for the Netherlands.
The tool was developed through a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), the Education Executive Agency (DUO), the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), the Health Insurance Complaints and Disputes Foundation (SKGZ), the Strategic Education Alliance (SEA), and the Department of Public and Communication (DPC).
More information
Would you like to learn more about how the government can best support students? You can learn more about the life event ‘I want to study’ on the Digital Government website (Dutch).
