Study grants: how to get them as a pupil or a student.
A scholarship for each stage of the student journey
All about the secondary education study allowance
Here are the conditions for receiving a secondary school study allowance.
- You are a pupil at an educational establishment in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
- You live in Belgium (There are some exceptions for neighbouring countries and refugees)
- Your family income is low and does not exceed a certain amount
How do I know the family income?
- Read the “Notice of assessment” document sent to you by the tax authorities or available on MyMinFin.
- Check, depending on the number of dependants, whether the income is below the limit in the following table.
| Number of dependent children | Maximum earnings |
|---|---|
| 0 | 23.407,05 euros |
| 1 | 31.210,71 euros |
| 2 | 38.523,85 euros |
| 3 | 45.350,63 euros |
| 4 | 51.690,89 euros |
| 5 | 58.031,14 euros |
| Per additional child | 6.340,26 euros |
-
Other income may be taken into account (e.g. integration allowances for disabled people, rent). The income of friends in the same student accommodation or siblings is not taken into account.
- A recent change (income from the Public Centre for Social Assistance (CPAS), loss of a parent's job, etc.) has occurred and has reduced your family's income.
When and how to apply for a secondary education study allowance?
Remember to send in your application every year, between July and 31 October of the current school year. Example: for 2023-2024, between 04/07/23 and 31/10/23.
Gather together the necessary documentation for your application for a study allowance:
- “Notice of assessment” document sent to you by the tax authorities or available on MyMinFin.
- Household composition in Belgium: ask your commune (in a number of communes this can be done through their online services).
- Proof of enrolment in your school: ask your school.
- Copy of the bank card showing the account number onto which the study grant will be paid.
Send in your application
- Online: you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a file number straight away.
Did you know that KidsLife's mission is to provide you with as much information as possible? Aren’t you receiving any family benefits through KidsLife yet? Request your transfer easily and free of charge!
When will I know that the study grant has been awarded?
Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Apply for the allowance in July to find out quickly if you have been awarded the study grant! You will be notified of the decision by post. If you applied electronically, log in to print out a copy of the decision.
Follow the progress of your application easily through Wallonia-Brussels Federation online services (for those who applied online).
Or by telephone using your file number (0800 11 869 free of charge).
How do I apply for a school in Flanders or a Dutch-speaking school in Brussels?
How do I apply for a school in Flanders or a Dutch-speaking school in Brussels?
The Groeipakket (the name of the allowances in the Flemish region) offers a school allowance (or participation allowance) to secondary school children. The amount of the secondary school allowance varies from €113,17 to €3.973,00.
To receive it, the Government checks the family's annual income, family situation and cadastral income.
Do you think you meet the requirements? You just have to apply to KidsLife to get it.
All about the higher education study grant
What are the conditions for entitlement to a higher education study grant?
Who is entitled to a higher education study grant? Check to see if you meet the following criteria:
- You are studying at an educational establishment in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
- You live in Belgium
There are a number of exceptions for neighbouring countries and refugees. - Your family income is low and does not exceed a certain limit
How do I know the family income?
- Consult the “Notice of assessment” document sent to you by the tax authorities or available on MyMinFin.
- Check, depending on the number of dependants, whether the income is below the amount in the following table.
| Number of dependent children | Maximum earnings |
|---|---|
| 0 | 25.867,70 euros |
| 1 | 33.825,47 euros |
| 2 | 41.288,63 euros |
| 3 | 48.249,14 euros |
| 4 | 54.715,05 euros |
| 5 | 61.180,96 euros |
| Per additional child | 6.465,91 euros |
- Other income may be taken into account (e.g. integration allowances for disabled people, rent). The income of friends in the same student accommodation or siblings is not taken into account.
- A recent change (income from the Public Centre for Social Assistance (CPAS), loss of a parent's job, etc.) has occurred and has reduced your family's income.
When and how to apply for a higher education study grant?
Remember to send in your application every year, between July and 31 October of the current school year. Example: for 2023-2024, between 04/07/23 and 31/10/23..
- Gather together the necessary documentation for your application for a study grant:
- “Notice of assessment” document sent to you by the tax authorities or available on MyMinFin.
- Household composition in Belgium: ask your commune (in a number of communes this can be done through their online services).
- Copy of the bank card showing the account number onto which the study grant will be paid.
- Send in your application
- Online: you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a file number straight away. Take it with you to request your “Minerval” (tuition fee) discount.
- By post: you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt over the course of the year.
Did you know that KidsLife's mission is to provide you with as much information as possible? Aren’t you receiving any family benefits through KidsLife yet? Request your transfer easily and free of charge!
How do I know that the study grant will be paid?
Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Apply for the allowance in July to find out quickly if you have been awarded the study grant! You will be notified of the decision by post. If you have applied electronically, you can print out a copy of the decision.
Follow the progress of your application easily through Wallonia-Brussels Federation online services (for those who applied on line).
Or by telephone using your file number (0800 11 869 free of charge).
How much is the study grant for university or school?
The amount of the study grant varies between €400 and €5,000. Each file is assessed by a manager who will take your situation into account. They take your family income and composition into account, as well as whether or not you are in student accommodation, live more than 20 km from the school or university, have a public transport pass, etc.
You will receive a lump-sum study grant if there has been a significant change that has reduced your family's income (e.g. divorce, pension, illness, etc.).
How can I apply for a reimbursement or waiver for the “Minerval” (tuition fees)?
Take the acknowledgement of receipt of your study grant application with you when you go to enrol at the higher education establishment. This document will help the school or university with its calculation. It will then determine whether or not you have to pay the “Minerval” (the amount to be paid for one year in higher education). This is specific establishment-related support, which has nothing to do with the higher education study grant. The school secretariat or social service can also provide you with information about any private or provincial study grants that exist.
How do I apply for a school or university in Flanders or a Dutch-speaking establishment in Brussels?
The Groeipakket (the name of the allowances in the Flemish region) no longer provides for a participation allowance after secondary school. However, you can apply for a study grant from the authorities in Flanders.
Questions around the same topic
Students must be enrolled for at least 27 credits or 17 class hours for Child Benefit and Growth Package entitlement. This only applies to children aged 18 and over. Minor children are entitled to Child Benefit or the Growth Package regardless.
A diploma year is the higher education academic year in which a student can obtain a diploma for the training cycle in which they’re enrolled. If the student is enrolled for fewer than 27 credits, but in their diploma year, then they’ll retain their Child Benefit or Growth Package entitlement for 1 year. This is typically a year in which they’re only required to submit their thesis or internship report.
Studying abroad? Then the KidsLife Child Benefit Fund will request a document completed by the foreign school concerned on an annual basis (document E402 or P7INT)
If you receive the Growth Package from KidsLife Flanders, then the documents for the 2023-2024 school year will be sent in the month of July.
We currently suspect that the young person concerned is studying abroad. An E402 document is used for schools in Europe. You’ll receive a P7INT form in the event that your child is enrolled in a school outside of Europe.
In order to retain your Growth Package or Child Benefit entitlement for a 'student abroad', we require a completed school certificate (E402 or P7INT) from the foreign school concerned. Payments may temporarily be paused as of the new school year, pending receipt of this form.
The documents for the 2021-2022 school year will be sent in July 2021 if you receive Growth Package from KidsLife Flanders. Do you live in Brussels or Wallonia, you will receive the documents in september.
Is the young person concerned not studying abroad? Then please contact your KidsLife adviser, who will be happy to look into this for you.
If you are a young person studying abroad, you may be further entitled to Child Benefit or Growth Package. To establish the entitlement, we need a school certificate (document E402 or P7INT) from the school abroad each school year.
View all situations when a young person goes abroad
Studying within the European Union? Then we require an E402 document. Studying outside the European Union? Then we require a P7INT document.
Is the young person going to study abroad for the first time? Communicate this via My KidsLife, the online Growth package file.
