Minister appeals court's decision

Impossible to explain. That's how the former Minister of Education, Robbert Dijkgraaf, described the situation of university of applied sciences graduates, who don't receive student financing from the Dutch government to pursue a Master's programme at the university level, while university Bachelor's graduates do. 

A matter of principle
Several students have taken to court to fight this situation, to no avail. But then, in December, the Utrecht court made a decision that changed everything. Not only did they rule in favour of students from a university of applied sciences who wanted to get financing to get a Master's at Maastricht University, but they also extended the ruling to all graduates from universities of applied sciences interested in obtaining Master's degrees in universities.

The judge even warned the minister that if other graduates from universities of applied sciences were denied financing for a Master's at the university level, his ruling would be the same.

Appeal
Extending that benefit to graduates from universities of applied sciences could cost the Dutch Ministry of Education millions. Every year, between five and six thousand such graduates choose to continue their studies at universities. If they were all to receive a grant (considering the value paid for students not living with their parents), this would cost the ministry some twenty million euros a year.

In October, Bruins told the Higher Education Press Agency that he did not have the money for this. Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the ministry announced that it has since appealed the ruling.

The ministry is unable to say anything more about the appeal, but the underlying reasons are clear: in addition to the high price tag, the minister will also refer to the court in Breda, which ruled in the minister's favour last year.

Different rulings
The verdict did not come as a surprise as the Breda judge also had serious doubts about the policy. However, he let the minister convince him that a Bachelor's degree at a university of applied sciences normally takes four years, while a Bachelor's degree at a research university usually takes three years. As a rule, DUO sponsors students for four years. 

However, the Utrecht judge noted that university of applied sciences students can receive a fifth or even more years of student financing if they decide to pursue a Master's degree at a university of applied sciences instead of a university. University students who transfer to a Master's degree offered by universities of applied sciences are entitled to this. The minister cannot sufficiently substantiate the distinction between graduates from the two educational institutions, which constitutes discrimination.

It is now up to the Central Appeals Tribunal to give a final judgement. It is not yet known when they will consider the case.