Requirements

Persons are eligible for Study Financing from the age of:

• 17 years old
  • The study financing awarded during the period underage from legal adulthood will have to be repaid
  • conditions regarding legal guardianship in the place of study may be applicable.
• 18 – 25 years old
  • Regular study financing conditions
• 26 years and older
  • The study must be a high priority study
  • The total amount of the study financing will have to be repaid

• The chosen study must be listed on the Government of St.Maarten Priority Listing of Studies and Careers
  • Please create the option to go to Priority Listing page for more information
• Applicant classified as gifted students based on their outstanding academic performance may be exempted from this requirement.
  • Please create the option to go to Gifted Students page  Please click here to view required results.
• The applicant must be admissible to the chosen study .

• Only persons who are in possession of the DUTCH nationality are eligible for study financing.
• Naturalization
  • Persons who are in the process of being naturalized must have the following document:
  • Bekendmaking van de verkrijging van het Nederlanderschap
    
  • A letter from the Governor regarding the ceremony is not valid proof

• The applicant must have been resident of St. Maarten for at least five (5) years prior to requesting study financing
• If the applicant is not residing on St.Maarten then:
  • At least 1 parent or guardian must have been a resident of St. Maarten for at least five (5) years preceding the request for study financing
    • The five (5) years residency requirement is reduced to at least two (2) years , if:
      • The applicant was born on St.Maarten or in the former Netherlands Antilles or
      • At least one parent was born on St.Maarten or in the former Netherlands Antilles

• Persons who have completed a form of secondary education
• The completed form of secondary education must be higher than PSVE PBL
  • Graduates from the St. Maarten Vocational Training School are only eligible for study financing to pursue a study or certification at NIPA

Persons are only eligible for study financing:

• once per degree type.
  • For example: An applicant is not eligible for study financing to pursue two bachelor’s -or master’s degree
• more than once to pursue continuing education such as:
  • A bachelor’s degree after completing SBO or MBO or
  • A master’s degree after bachelor’s degree

Applicants should not be eligible from other study financing agency, educational institutions, etc. unless the funding is deemed insufficient to cover all expenses.

• The applicant must be admissible to the chosen educational institution and study major
• The educational institution must be the most appropriate/effectual to pursue the chosen study.
• Educational institutions on St.Maarten will have first priority. This entails that no study financing will be awarded to pursue studies abroad if those studies are available locally on St.Maarten.

The availability of sufficient financial resources (liquidity position of the Government of St.Maarten) taking into the responsibilities towards existing study financing recipients and new applications may result in the denial of requests for study financing.

In all cases, applicants with the best academic results will be given first preference

Study financing is granted for all disciplines notwithstanding the priority list of study programs, to the applicant that has acquired a / an:

• HAVO/VWO/IB/CAPE diploma,
• American or Canadian secondary education diploma with a GPA of 2.50 or higher,
• CXC diploma with at least six (6) subjects acquired on General Levels I, II or III,
• General Equivalency Diploma (GED) diploma with a score of at least 480 in accordance with the old format or a minimum test score of 145 or (Pass High School Equivalency) for each subject in accordance with the new General Equivalency Diplomas GED® which went into effect on January 26, 2016.

1. that study financing is granted for following studies on the priority list on the level of Bachelor’s degree with the exception of medical studies, to the applicant in possession of a/an:
   • HAVO or VWO diploma and having scored a satisfactory mark for the English language and a six (6) or higher for the courses set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
   • CXC diploma with at least six (6) subjects acquired on General levels I, II or III and a III or higher for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
   • International Baccalaureate (IB) or Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) diploma with a sufficient score for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
   • General Equivalency Diploma (GED) diploma with a score of at least 520 in accordance with the old format or a minimum test score of 165 or (College Ready) for each subject in accordance with the new General Equivalency Diplomas GED® which went into effect on January 26, 2016.
   • American or Canadian secondary education diploma with a GPA of at least 2.50 or equivalent and a C or higher for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program
2. that study financing is granted for following studies on the priority list on the level of Bachelor’s degree with the exception of medical studies, to the applicant in possession of one or more of the diplomas mentioned under point 1 and who has completed at least two (2) terms at an educational institute of higher learning with a GPA of at least 2.50 or equivalent and a C or higher for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program.
3. that study financing is granted for following studies on the priority list on the level of Technical Vocational Education Associate of Science degree, to the applicant in possession of a/an:
   • General Equivalency Diploma (GED) diploma with a score of at least 460 in accordance with the old format or a minimum test score of 145 or (Pass High School Equivalency) for each subject in accordance with the new General Equivalency Diplomas GED® which went into effect on January 26, 2016.
   • Accu Placer Test with the following scores:
     • Reading 63 or more
     • Science Skill 51 or more
     • Elementary Algebra 45 or more

1. that study financing is granted for following a Dutch language based program on the priority list on MBO, HBO or WO level with the exception of medical science, to the applicant in possession of a/an:
   • HAVO or VWO diploma and has scored at least a seven (7) for the Dutch language, an average of six (6) or higher for all subjects combined and a sufficient grade for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
   • VSBO-TKL diploma and has scored at least a seven (7) for the Dutch language, an average of six (6) or higher for all subjects combined and a sufficient grade for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program.
   • desired study/training program:
     1. Cannot be followed in Aruba, Bonaire or Curaçao en
     2. Is a BOL training program on level three (3) or four (4).
   • The applicant is not younger than 17 years of age.
2. that study financing is granted for following English language-based study programs on the priority list on MBO, HBO or WO level, to the applicant that is in possession of a/an:
   • HAVO or VWO diploma with an average of six (6) or higher for all subjects combined and a sufficient score for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
   • VSBO-TKL diploma with an average of six (6) or higher for all subjects combined and a sufficient score for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
     • Be it determined that:
       1. The desired study/training program:
          • Is a BOL training program on level three (3) or four (4).
       2. The applicant is not younger than 17 years of age
     • VSBO-PKL diploma with an average of seven point five (7.5) or higher for all subjects combined and a seven (7) for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program.
       • Be it determined that:
         1. The desired study/training program:
            • Is a BOL training program on level three (3) or four (4).
         2. The applicant is not younger than 17 years of age.
       • CXC diploma with at least six (6) subjects acquired on General levels I, II or III and a III or higher for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
       • American or Canadian secondary education diploma with a GPA of at least 2.50 or equivalent and a C or higher for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
       • International Baccalaureate (IB) or Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) diploma with a sufficient score for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program.
3. that study financing is granted for following study programs on the priority list on HBO or WO level, to the applicant that is already engaged in the study program and has acquired at least forty-five (45) credits per academic year.
4. that study financing is granted for following study programs on the priority list on MBO level, to the applicant who is already engaged in the study program and has scored satisfactory study results.

The study financing is granted for following study programs on the priority list on SBO, HBO or WO level, to the applicant in possession of a:

• HAVO or VWO diploma with at least a six (6) for the Dutch language, an average of six (6) or higher for all subjects combined and a sufficient score for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
• PSVE diploma:
  • Theoretical Middle Staff level, with an average of six (6) or higher for all subjects combined and a sufficient score for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program,
  • Practical Middle Staff level, with at least a seven (7) for the Dutch language, an average of six (6) or higher for all subjects combined and a sufficient score for all compulsory subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program.
  • Be it determined that the desired study/training program:
    • Cannot be followed in St. Maarten
    • Is a BOL study program on level three (3) or four (4).
    • that study financing is granted for following study programs on the priority list on HBO or level, to the applicant that is already engaged in the study program and has acquired at least forty five (45) credits or equivalent per academic year.
    • That study financing is granted for following study programs on the priority list on SBO level, to the applicant that is already engaged in the study program and has scored satisfactory academic results.

The study financing is granted for specialization, to the applicant that is in possession of a/an:

• Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of no less than 3.00 or equivalent;

1. that study financing is granted for following a medical study program on university level, to the applicant that is in possession of a/an:
   • VWO diploma with qualification level Science and Health (Du:NG) that encompasses the subject Physics or qualification level Science and Technology (Du: NT) that encompasses the subject Biology, an average of 6.5 or higher for all subjects combined, and a six (6) or higher for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program
2. IB diploma with at least 36 credits and at least one six (6) for the subjects Chemistry, Physics or Biology on higher level,
3. CAPE diploma encompassing “Unit 1 and 2” and a score of at least III for at least two of the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics
4. Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Medical Science with a GPA of at least 3.00 or equivalent.
5. that study financing is granted for following a medical study program on Bachelor’s degree level, so-called “Pre-Med” study program, to the applicant that is in possession of a/an:
   • HAVO diploma with qualification level Science and Health (Du:NG) that encompasses the subject Physics or qualification level Science and Technology (Du: NT) that encompasses the subject Biology, an average of 6.5 or higher for all subjects combined, and a six (6) or higher for the subjects set as prerequisites for the desired study program
6. CXC diploma, with six (6) General level I, II, 2 A Levels or 8 General Levels I, II, III and a score of at least III for at least two of the following subjects:  Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics

American or Canadian secondary education diploma with a GPA of at least 3.00 and encompassing at least two of the following subjects in the subject combination:  Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology.