About The Hague University of Applied Sciences Emergency Fund

When was the fund set up and why?

The THUAS Emergency Fund Foundation was founded in 1991 on the initiative of students. The idea behind the fund was to help students at THUAS who found themselves in immediate and demonstrable financial distress or who were at risk of experiencing financial difficulties with a short-term interest-free loan. Students often experience financial stress. If something unexpected happens beyond their control, they can quickly find themselves in financial difficulties. The THUAS Emergency Fund Foundation was set up to provide a bit of extra financial support in extraordinary circumstances.

Is the emergency fund part of The Hague University of Applied Sciences?

The emergency fund has its own board, its own bylaws and its own bank account. Of course there is a relationship between the two as the goal of the fund is to support THUAS students, but that is the extent of the relationship. The THUAS board has no influence on which students receive support and has no access to any of the available resources.

How large is the fund?

Until today the fund was set up to assist a few students a year with a very small loan. The current balance of the fund of approximately € 2,000 was more than enough to provide this assistance. However, the current situation demands a lot more. That is why we are sending this request, so that we can help more students in need.

Does THUAS contribute anything to the fund?

The Hague University of Applied Sciences operates with public funding, which cannot be used for any other purpose than education. The university of applied sciences would like to contribute, but is not allowed to do so. That is why we are appealing to alumni and (former) staff members to make a donation. As this is private funding, it can be used to buy groceries or pay rent.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences does support the emergency fund to the extent permitted by law. For example by handling all logistics procedures. And by providing a short-term interest-free loan to provide a sufficient balance to immediately support students in need.

Who is eligible for a loan from the emergency fund?

There is a scheme, intended for situations that involve a loss of income caused by the corona crisis. Requests to the emergency fund are evaluated by the THUAS deans and are granted upon their recommendation [by the board of the foundation?].

• The student must be enrolled at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and be a current student in a degree programme from which he/she has not graduated yet.
• The student is not eligible for financial support from any other schemes.
• The student has sufficiently demonstrated an immediate financial need to one of the deans, which puts their study progress at risk and is not caused by the student’s own (study) behaviour.
• The loan cannot be requested solely for the purpose of paying tuition fees.

How many people are in need?

We don’t know yet exactly how many people will find themselves in financial difficulties and who will be unable to turn anywhere else for assistance. Based on the signals we have received so far, we estimate that this concerns dozens of students who can use some extra support. That is why we are trying to raise enough resources to be able to help as many students as possible.