Important announcement regarding financial support
New conditions have been announced for the scholarship from the Flemish Government, which will take effect starting next academic year. As a result of these savings, the financial support offered by the VUB will also be reviewed from the 2026–2027 academic year.
More information about the proposed changes can be found here.
The Caroline Pauwels Relief Fund
The Financial Emergency Support is intended for students who are facing unforeseen and exceptional financial difficulties beyond their control that jeopardise their ability to continue their studies.
Examples may include a sudden loss of income, unexpected personal or family circumstances, or other urgent financial situations that cannot be adequately addressed through regular financial support schemes.
The support is temporary, limited in scope, and assessed on the basis of the student's individual circumstances.
Conditions
Do I qualify for support?
There are certain conditions to qualify for the financial support provided by VUB.
Conditions
General conditions
The general condition to receive financial support from VUB are:
- the student is enrolled under a diploma contract (students with a credit or exam contract are not eligible) (*)
- the student is enrolled at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (**)
- the student is enrolled in an initial study programme: a bachelor, a first master, a bridging or preparatory programme (***)
- the student proves a financial need, related to the study costs
(*) Students with a credit contract can be eligible for reduced tuition fee. Starting academic year 2023-2024, students with a credit contract are also eligible for an interest-free loan to pay their tuition fees.
(**) Students must be enrolled for at least 27 credits (with the exception of the final year of their degree programme). This condition applies to applications for social allowance, financial emergency allowance and external grants.
(***) Students following a teacher training or a second academic degree of the same level or students who have already obtained a Master's degree can only qualify for reduced tuition fee and an interest-free student loan. This interest-free student loan is also available for students who are following an advanced Master's degree.
Conditions
Don't agree?
We evaluate your request and make a decision based on these conditions. If you do not agree with a decision made by our Financial Support team regarding your request for financial support, you can lodge an appeal.
Appeals procedure student services
Emergency Fund for students who meet the nationality requirements
Students who meet the nationality requirements and have already applied for the social allowance, but who are found to be experiencing unforeseen and exceptional financial difficulties, may receive additional support of up to €2,000 through the Emergency Fund.
This support cannot be requested directly, but may be granted by Social, Legal and Financial support when additional financial assistance is deemed necessary. This support cannot be used to pay tuition fees.
Emergency fund for international students
International students who meet the eligibility requirements can use the form below to apply for the “financial emergency”.
Application form coming soon.
Financial contribution towards mental healthcare
All mental healthcare offered by VUB is free of charge.
If the mental healthcare cannot be provided by the internal VUB support system or (subsidised) support from our external partners (CGG, CAW, TEJO, ELPs), perhaps due to long patient waiting times, you can apply for a financial contribution.
The matter relates, for example, to mental health assessments or non-study-related mental healthcare which involves an impact on the student’s educational functioning and requires support.
This contribution is financed by the Caroline Pauwels Relief Fund.
Important announcement regarding financial support
New conditions have been announced for the scholarship from the Flemish Government, which will take effect starting next academic year. As a result of these savings, the financial support offered by the VUB will also be reviewed from the 2026–2027 academic year.
More information about the proposed changes can be found here.
Conditions
- You are enrolled as a student at VUB.
- You have to meet the study conditions established by the Department of Scholarships of the Flemish Community.
- The mental healthcare cannot be provided by the internal VUB support or (subsidised) support from our external partners (CGG, CAW, TEJO, ELPs), or perhaps due to long patient waiting times. The matter relates, for example, to mental health assessments or non-study-related student mental-healthcare which involves an impact on the student’s educational functioning and necessitates support.
- The therapy and assessment is/will be provided by a recognised psychologist/service.
- Financial support is received for
a. 8 individual sessions maximum at € 30 per session maximum (240 euro maximum)
b. 2/3 of the amount or € 240 maximum for a group offer
c. 2/3 of the amount or € 480 maximum for mental health assessment, and this per academic year, or a combination of these 3 aspects is possible - This support can be requested just once per academic year.
Request
Fill out the form below with your healthcare provider and send the filled out form to social.financial.support@vub.be no later than 1 September (at the end of the relevant academic year).
Our Financial Support team will process your application and arrange payment if approved. You will always be informed of the decision by email.
Contribution from your health insurance provider
Many health insurance providers offer a contribution for short term psychological counseling. Make sure to check with your provider.
Check the overview of all health insurance providers and their contributions
Free menstrual products
Thanks to the support of the Caroline Pauwels Relief Fund, the VUB is providing two vending machines with free menstrual products for students. The vending machines contain panty liners, sanitary pads and tampons.
This initiative is part of the VUB's commitment to combating menstrual poverty and removing barriers for students. The vending machines are available to anyone who needs menstrual products — whether for financial reasons or simply because you forgot them. In this way, the VUB aims to contribute to a campus where everyone feels supported and welcome.
The vending machines are free and discreetly accessible and are located at the following locations:
- Etterbeek Campus: next to Student Information (building D)
- Jette Campus: next to the entrance to the medical library (building A)
Food Package
In collaboration with the non-profit organization ASEB, we are able to offer food packages for students. You can therefore reserve a food package for only € 4 through the app Au P'tit Panier - Apps on Google Play.
Food packages weigh about 8-9 pounds and contain a little bit of everything. There are dried staples (pasta, rice), fruits and vegetables, fresh produce (meats, yogurt), frozen foods, bread and a few snacks (chips, drinks).
You can go to any of the following four distribution points in Brussels to pick up your package:
- Remblai: Rue Lacaille 4, 1000 Brussels
- Saint-Louis: Rue de la Ommegang 6, 1000 Brussels
- Free Alma: avenue Lenneke Marel 6, 1932 Sint Stevens Woluwe
- CERIA: rue du Thrush 47, 1070 Anderlecht