Around one third of college and university students have a student loan, averaging €365 a month, but at the same time they forget to claim other cash they are entitled to, according to research by family spending institute Nibud.

On average, students will graduate with a debt of some €17,500 Nibud calculates, based on research among 3,000 hbo college and university goers. But many have no idea under what conditions they have borrowed the money – some 50% have no idea what interest they have to pay over the loan.
In addition, one in five students do not claim help with health insurance and one in 10 never completes a tax return, Nibud says.
On average students who live away from home have €914 a month to spend, with rent costing an average €340. Students who live at home have income of €535.