NAF Study Loans

Applications for study loans are closed and will reopen in 2026.

The NAF provides interest-free loans to eligible Dutch or American students and professionals enrolling in advanced studies coursework or research at an accredited institution of higher learning. It is meant for Dutch students studying in the United States or American students studying in the Netherlands.

Applications open each year from January-April. Late submissions are not reviewed. All loan applications must be completed in English.

The NAF’s Education Committee meets to review loan applications annually in May. All loan applicants will be notified of their award status shortly after the committee meeting. Applicants from the US are subject to a credit check.

There are three types of loans:

1. Maarten van Hengel Study Loan: Applicants must demonstrate a record of superior academic accomplishment. Applicants may apply for up to $20,000.
2. Mark Pigott Education Fund Loan: Dutch and American Fulbright awardees are eligible to apply for up to $15,000 to supplement their Fulbright award.
3. Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust Loan: Applicants must demonstrate a record of superior academic accomplishment and leadership skills. Applicants may apply for up to $10,000.
4. NAF Study Loan: Study loans available up to $20,000.

On the application, you will be asked to provide:

• Proof of identity, such as a scan of your passport or driver’s license
• Proof of residency, such as a scan of a utility bill
• Current resume/CV
• Copy of grades list/transcript
• Proof of admission: Upload a scan of your offer of admission to an academic program in the United States or the Netherlands
• Two professional references: As the applicant, you only need to supply the email address of the reference, who will receive a separate email with instructions for submitting their letter. Letters of recommendation must be written by someone able to attest to the applicant’s academic record and potential within his/her field of study (e.g., former professor, academic advisor, or employer). Personal references not accepted.
• Budget: A table will be included in this application for you to list your estimated budget for the duration of your study program, including sources of income and expenses
• Statement of purpose: In no more than 2 pages, briefly state your goals for the period of the loan. How will achieving these goals further your academic or professional development? Why is it important to go abroad to carry out the proposed study program?
• Information for guarantors: A guarantor is an individual who promises to pay a borrower’s debt in the event that the borrower defaults on their loan obligation. This program requires one guarantor for loans up to $10,000 and two guarantors for loans up to $20,000. You will also have to provide proof of residence for each guarantor and a scan of their signature(s).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you have a geographical focus?

Only US citizens may apply for a NAF study loan to study in the Netherlands, and only Dutch citizens may apply for study in the United States. The study must be in the country of exchange, not a satellite campus that is located in neither the Netherlands nor the US.

Does the NAF’s loan program support undergraduate study?

The NAF does not award loans for individual undergraduate study.

What loan amounts are available?

The maximum loan amount is $20,000.

Are the loans really interest-free?

All NAF loans are interest-free for 4 years after the loan recipient’s graduation. After that period expires, and if the loan is not paid back in full, a 7% annual interest rate is charged to the remaining loan balance.

What is expected in terms of repaying the loan?

Repayments must be made on a monthly basis to the NAF once due, which depends on your graduation date. This ensures the financial health of the loan program so the NAF can continue to distribute loans each year to students pursuing an advanced degree in the US or the Netherlands.

What is the difference between an educational loan and a grant?

Grants are gifts and do not need to be repaid, while loans must be paid back to the NAF.

Is there a timeframe for using the assistance?

If you are approved for a loan, it must be applied to the intended studies fully during the academic year requested.

Do you provide education funding for summer pre-doctoral research or language programs?

These programs are not supported at this time.