The RightToLearn Fund

The RightToLearn Fund provides financial support to young people (prospective students, students, and early-career researchers) connected to Utrecht University, at a point in their lives when financial constraints might hinder their (further) academic development.

In addition, the fund supports initiatives and projects aimed at helping financially vulnerable groups (such as refugees and other disadvantaged groups) to fully develop their talents - either by promoting access to higher education or by facilitating entry into the Dutch university system in connection with Utrecht University.

Eligible project proposals must:

• Fall outside the primary tasks that are (or should be) financed from regular business operations or from own resources;
• Fall outside the criteria that apply to third-flow funding (contract research and contract teaching);
• Assume a maximum support of € 10,000 per project, for individual applications in principle € 5,000;
• Must be feasible, including in terms of financing, and is very sound and thoroughly substantiated in this regard (a larger own contribution is a plus).

You can submit an application to this fund three times per year.

• Round 1: January 12 – February 6, 2026
• Round 4: June 1 – July 3, 2026
• Round 5: September 14 – October 9, 2026

Submit your application on time via the funding portal. 

Project proposals must include the following documents:

• Project description including planning and expected results;
• Budget including coverage plan that includes the personal contribution of the submitting component (in money and possibly in kind, provision of people, resources, infrastructure, etc.). Make sure that the budget is in a clear format where costs and benefits are displayed in separate columns on the left and right sides of the budget;
• Letter of recommendation from dean, head of department or director.