Extra (financial) assistance

As it takes  some time before the study grant is calculated and paid, you can request an advance on your study grant of up to half of the total amount. The advance will be transferred to your account  within one week after having signed the contract and will later be deducted from your study grant once it is paid by the Department of Scholarships (‘afdeling Studietoelagen).

Do you want to apply for an advance? Make an appointment with the staff at the Social Services’ Office on your campus.

Do you have to pay the non-scholarship rate and you find it difficult to do so in one instalment? In that case, you can apply for a staggered payment at the  Social Services’ Office. Send an e-mail to the staff at your campus requesting a payment in installments  as soon as you receive the invoice for the tuition fees.

Do not  send the request too late: the period in which you can request to pay in instalments is limited and once it has expired, payment in instalments can only be allowed in exceptional cases.

Are you short on money for your studies? In very exceptional cases and depending on the situation (time of graduation), you can get an interest-free loan. You pay back the amount of the loan according to a repayment schedule during the academic year or after completion of your studies.

Struggling to make ends meet? Setbacks, extra study expenses or large medical expenses? You want to rent a place of your own, but you do not know how to pay the rent? Your parents have stopped supporting you financially due to the circumstances so you are on your own? Your parents are not well off, are in the middle of a divorce, have unforeseen costs and you are not eligible for a study grant? You are no longer eligible for a cheap season ticket for public transport and find it difficult to pay for your transport?

When you have tried all the other options to pay your study costs and you still cannot find a solution, it is best to make an appointment with the Social Services’ Office.

Together, we can take a look at the situation and help you apply for an (additional) financial allowance. We will take all the factors into account: the expenses for your study and living costs, the family income, the number of people in your family and your study progress.

Students who receive a study grant from the Flemish Community may also be eligible for this grant.

A ‘Social Grocer’ is a shop where you can buy healthy food and quality products at cheaper rates (or get them free). You will find a range of both fresh and packaged food, household and personal care products.

You cannot just walk into a ‘Social Grocer’; you usually need a referral form. Social Service’ Office on your campus will help you find out whether you qualify to shop at the ‘Social Grocer’ in your student city or in the surroundings.

The King Baudouin Foundation supports young people for higher studies with the ‘Dieter Fund’ and the ‘Tine Boes Fund’.

The ‘Dieter Fund’ is for students in problematic family situations, particularly students in special youth care and foster care. The ‘Tine Boes’ fund offers assistance for young people in difficult living situations who following education in a number of specific fields.

The coronavirus pandemic has had, and still has, serious consequences for many people and for many vulnerable people, the situation has often grown worse. The ‘Hello? Welfare’ helpline was launched by the social association sector to respond to social emergencies. The social workers on the other end of the line are ready to help residents of the Brussels-Capital Region if they have questions or face social problems related to housing, food insecurity, social isolation, family or financial situation, administrative procedures....

If you need a laptop for a very short term (e.g. an exam on campus), you can reserve one via the AVM uitleendienst.
If it's a device you want to borrow over a longer period because it is difficult for you to provide a device yourself, you can contact the Social Services. 

Odisee has a limited number of laptops ready for lending.