Netherlands

⇑Universities

In the Netherlands you choose between two types of institution:

• research universities (universiteiten) – academic education focused on theory and research (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO); among them are the universities of Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, Groningen, Maastricht and Rotterdam, and the universities of technology in Delft, Eindhoven and Twente,
• universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) – professional education with a lot of work placements (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO); around 446,000 people study at them, and the Study in NL portal lists 43 of them with international programmes.

The largest numbers of international students are at the University of Amsterdam, Maastricht University – where more than half of the students come from abroad – and the University of Groningen.

You can browse programmes and institutions in the Studyfinder search engine run by Nuffic.

Universities in the Netherlands – profiles

⇑Study system

How long you study depends on the type of institution:

• associate degree – 2 years (120 ECTS), only at hogescholen; it can lead on to an HBO bachelor's,
• bachelor – 3 years (180 ECTS) at a university, 4 years (240 ECTS) at a hogeschool,
• master – 1, 2 or 3 years (60, 120 or 180 ECTS) at a university, usually 1 year (60 ECTS) at a hogeschool, sometimes 2 years,
• doctorate (PhD) – usually 4 years; there is also a 2-year engineering doctorate (EngD).

All degrees correspond to levels 5–8 of the Dutch qualifications framework (NLQF). Keep in mind that a 3-year university bachelor's and a 4-year HBO bachelor's are different paths – choose the one that fits your plans for a master's.

Netherlands – bachelor's programmes
Netherlands – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Netherlands – master's programmes
Netherlands – doctoral programmes

⇑Admission

For almost all programmes you apply through Studielink – the national enrolment portal. Some institutions have their own procedure for international applicants, so check the programme's website.

Bachelor's deadlines:

• 15 January (11:59 pm) – programmes with a limited number of places (numerus fixus),
• 1 May (11:59 pm) – all other bachelor's and associate degree programmes. If you apply through Studielink by this date and meet the requirements, you have the right to be admitted and to take part in the study choice check (studiekeuzecheck). After 1 May some programmes still accept applications, but without this guarantee.

Institutions may set their own, earlier deadlines – always check them. For master's programmes each programme sets its own rules and deadlines.

After you register in Studielink, the institution will ask for documents: your school leaving certificate with grades and proof of language skills.

If you come from outside the EU/EEA, apply early: your institution applies for your residence permit (and entry visa, if you need one) only after you have been admitted, and many institutions set earlier deadlines for applicants who need a visa.

⇑Entrance exams

Most programmes have no exam – you just need to meet the formal requirements. The exception is numerus fixus programmes: selection runs from 15 January to 15 April, and on 15 April you receive a ranking number that decides whether you are admitted.

In one year you can apply for no more than two numerus fixus programmes. For medicine, dentistry, dental hygiene and physiotherapy you can apply only once a year for each of these programmes.

⇑Language

The Netherlands has a very large number of programmes taught entirely in English, especially at master's level. You will usually need IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL – the institution sets the exact score.

For programmes taught in Dutch you have to pass the state exam in Dutch as a second language – Staatsexamen NT2. University language centres run preparatory courses at levels from beginner to advanced; a full cycle of intensive classes costs €250–2,500.

Even if you study in English, basic Dutch will make everyday life and finding a side job easier.

⇑Residence and formalities

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa or a residence permit – your ID card or passport proves that you are staying legally. According to the immigration service IND, you must meet three conditions:

• you are enrolled at an institution in the Netherlands,
• you have health insurance – a foreign policy is enough if it covers you in the Netherlands (e.g. your European Health Insurance Card, EHIC),
• you have enough money to support yourself and do not rely on social assistance.

If you stay longer than 4 months, register at the municipality (gemeente) where you live as soon as possible.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a student residence permit (for university or higher professional education) and, depending on your nationality, also an entry visa (MVV). You do not apply yourself: only your institution can apply for you, as a sponsor recognised by the IND – it will contact you after you enrol. You will need to show that you have enough money: in 2026 the IND study norm is €1,130.77 a month for university and HBO students. Foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German. The permit is valid for the length of your programme plus 3 months, and you must earn at least 50% of the credits each study year. On arrival you register in the municipal personal records database (BRP) where you live.

Note: the IND updates the study norm every 1 January – €1,130.77 applies to 2026. If you start your studies or renew your permit in 2027, check the current amount on the IND website or with your institution.

Health insurance: as long as you only study, you cannot take out Dutch basic insurance – a private or foreign policy that covers you is enough. Once you start working (whether you are from the EU or not), you must take out Dutch basic health insurance from your first day of work – Study in NL estimates it at around €133 a month (Nibud, 2024).

⇑Tuition fees

EU/EEA students pay the statutory tuition fee (wettelijk collegegeld). In 2026/27 it is €2,694 a year for full-time programmes (€2,601 in 2025/26). For part-time and dual programmes, the institution sets an amount between €1,604 and €2,694.

The condition: you do not already have the same degree from a Dutch public institution. For a second programme at the same level, the institution may charge its institutional fee (instellingscollegegeld).

You can borrow the fee: DUO offers a tuition fee loan (collegegeldkrediet), paid out monthly as 1/12 of the fee. EU citizens under 30 can also apply.

Students from outside the EU/EEA pay the institutional fee: according to Study in NL, on average €9,000–20,000 a year for a bachelor's and €12,000–30,000 for a master's programme.

⇑Accommodation and living costs

Study in NL says a student spends on average €1,000–1,500 a month. A sample budget (Nibud, 2024):

• rent – €561,
• groceries – €244,
• books and study materials – €41,
• transport – €67,
• leisure and sport – €239,
• health insurance (if you work) – €133.

Housing is the biggest problem – the Netherlands has a shortage of student rooms. A room costs on average around €550 a month. Start looking before you arrive: ask your institution, and check Kamernet, HousingAnywhere, Pararius and the offers from DUWO and SSH. Never sign a contract for a room you haven't seen, at least on video, and don't pay agency fees.

⇑Scholarships

What you can apply for:

• student finance from DUO (studiefinanciering) – as an EU citizen you can get it if you work in the Netherlands at least 32 hours a month (or on average 24 hours, if the job lasts 6 months or longer) or if you have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 years in a row,
• DUO tuition fee loan (collegegeldkrediet) – for EU citizens under 30,
• Erasmus+ – a semester or year in the Netherlands as part of an exchange with your home university,
• Erasmus Mundus – joint master's programmes run by several universities, with a chance of a scholarship,
• institutional scholarships – you'll find them in Studyfinder and on institutions' websites; they usually look at your academic results, language skills, motivation and sometimes your nationality.

⇑Working while studying

EU/EEA citizens can work in the Netherlands without restrictions and without a permit.

Students from outside the EU/EEA may work as employees only if the employer has a work permit (TWV) for them – for up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August. Self-employed work does not need a work permit.

A job is more than a salary: EU citizens who work at least 32 hours a month may get student finance from DUO (see: Scholarships). Remember that with your first job you must take out Dutch health insurance. Jobs for researchers are listed on EURAXESS.

Netherlands – why work there?
How to find a job abroad?

⇑Useful links

• Study in Europe – Netherlands – the official country profile on the European Commission's portal,
• Study in NL – Nuffic's portal for international students: institutions, tuition fees, costs, housing,
• Studyfinder – search engine for programmes in the Netherlands,
• Studielink – the national enrolment system,
• DUO – student finance for EU citizens – student finance and the tuition fee loan,
• IND – EU/EEA and Swiss citizens – residence of EU citizens in the Netherlands,
• IND – student residence permit – residence permit for students from outside the EU/EEA,
• ENIC-NARIC – recognition of qualifications in Europe,
• Eurodesk – free information on studying, traineeships and volunteering in Europe.