Every year, Dutch universities rank among the top universities internationally. Combine that with a vast array of English-language programs and affordable tuition costs and it’s no surprise that the Netherlands attracts international students from all around the world. In 2020, 12% of students in the Netherlands were international!
This guide will outline everything you need to know about why you might want to study in the Netherlands, how to research universities, how to apply, and how to get a study permit. We’ll cover:
Should I attend university in the Netherlands?
Types of universities in the Netherlands
Differences between the American and Dutch education systems
How to research schools
Admissions Requirements
Deadlines
How to apply
Student Visas
Final Thoughts
Should I attend university in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands offers a high-quality education and a diverse range of programs in English at the Bachelor’s level (and even more at the Master’s level!). You’ll find it easy to navigate the Netherlands even if you don’t speak Dutch—95% of locals speak English! The Netherlands’ educational system attracts students from around the world, creating a multicultural and international environment. And all of this for an affordable cost of 6,000–15,000 EUR/year for non-EU students! (Pro tip: Google has an exchange rate calculator for you.)
Furthermore, the Netherlands is a great place to live, with beautiful outdoor destinations and rich traditions. It’s a very safe country and is consistently ranked as one of the happiest nations in the world. And it’s centrally located, making travel to other parts of Europe easy and inexpensive.
Upon graduating, you’ll find that the Netherlands, boasting the 18th largest economy in the world, offers a plethora of professional opportunities. International graduates can apply for an orientation or search year, a residence permit to apply for a job or start a business within three years of graduating. You can read more about quality of life in the Netherlands here.
Types of Universities
The Netherlands has two different types of universities: universities of applied sciences and research universities. There’s almost no overlap in the types of degrees offered at each one.
Universities of Applied Sciences
At these universities, the education is more professionally-oriented, concrete, and hands-on. It’s focused on the “how” of the subject. Degrees are usually four years long and include a placement year—essentially a year-long paid internship that actually counts as part of your studies. For example, a student studying Marketing might work in market research with a local company for a year, gaining experience and professional connections in the process.
Research Universities
In contrast, research universities focus on the “why” of a subject. They’re more theoretical and emphasize critical analysis. Degrees typically take three years to complete and don’t usually include a placement year.
Some research universities also have university colleges. University colleges, which were first established in 1997 in the Netherlands, are smaller programs inspired by Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in the United States. They provide a small-scale, international learning environment with English instruction. University colleges place an emphasis on holistic education and community building. You can learn more about the nine Dutch university colleges here.
Differences between American and Dutch education systems
Length of Degree
Unlike American Bachelor’s degrees, which usually take four years to complete, the length of a degree in the Netherlands depends on what and where you’re studying. Again, generally speaking, a degree at a university of applied sciences will take four years to complete because of the additional internship year, while a degree at a research university will take three years. This doesn’t mean that with the latter you won’t have the opportunity to complete an internship! Many research universities provide the opportunity to study abroad or pursue an internship related to your studies in your final year.
Academic Term
Dutch universities start the academic year in late August or early September and finish it at the end of June or in July, with a two week break for Christmas. The year is broken up into two semesters or four periods.
Choosing a Major
In the Netherlands, you’ll apply directly to the program that most interests you. The one exception would be at university colleges, where you’ll receive a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences but will be able to choose a major within the program.
Classes Outside of Your Major
Similarly to many countries in Europe, in the Netherlands, almost all of your classes will be directly related to your major. In your second year of studies, you may be able to specialize more within your major or complete a minor, but it’s uncommon to study anything completely unrelated to your focus of study.
Double Majoring
The Netherlands does offer some Double/Joint/Dual Degree programs, which vary depending on the university. Some even involve completing part of your degree at another international university, such as the four-year double degree program between University of Groningen and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
Additionally, while they’re not exactly double degrees, the Netherlands has a number of interdisciplinary programs, such as the Media, Art, Design, and Architecture program at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam or Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics at University of Amsterdam.
Tuition and Living Costs
Dutch universities are significantly less expensive than American universities. Annual tuition fees start at approximately €1,900 for EU students and €6,000 for non-EU students—generally significantly less than fees in the UK or US. Additionally, the cost of living in the Netherlands will likely be lower than in the US. Of course, this depends on the city in which you’re studying. Amsterdam will be significantly more expensive than Rotterdam, for example. Note that tuition costs at university colleges tend to be a bit higher than at universities of applied sciences or research universities. To offset these costs, students may choose to work while studying. With a work permit provided by an employer, you can work up to 16 hours per week during the school year and full-time during the summer.
Scholarships
Universities in the Netherlands offer few scholarships, and it is close to impossible to receive a full scholarship. Most scholarships will cover only a percentage of tuition and sometimes only for one year. Institutions do offer a handful of scholarships for international students, among them the Holland Scholarship. The Holland Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of 5,000 EUR awarded to international students from outside the European Economic Area. Other scholarships tend to be specific to international students from particular regions, such as the MENA Scholarship Programme (for students from the Middle East and North Africa).
Be sure to check out the universities that interest you to see the scholarships they offer and whether they require additional application elements to be eligible for the scholarships.
Deferred Entry
Unlike in the US and UK, Dutch universities generally do not allow you to defer your admission until the following year. However, if you’re accepted to a non-numerus fixus program and decide to take a gap year, you can be certain you’d be accepted the next year as well.
Graduate Degrees
In the US, students interested in completing a graduate degree may take a few years off to work prior to applying. This is less common in the Netherlands, where students often go directly into graduate studies upon completing their undergraduate degree. Employers in the Netherlands tend to focus more on your postgraduate degree than your undergraduate degree.
Student Life
Student life in the US often revolves around the campus itself—sports events, extracurricular activities, student productions … In contrast, in the Netherlands, most student life will take place off-campus.
Students are more integrated into the city in which they live. However, universities do have a network of associations that bring students together for academic and sports events, and cities also have student associations that aren’t tied to any particular institution. Dutch people pride themselves on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, so don’t worry—you won’t be just studying all weekend!
Accomodations
In the Netherlands, students are less likely to live on campus. Instead, students live in student housing throughout the city, usually sharing a place with a few other people. Study in Holland provides great tips for searching for housing. Note that university colleges often do offer on-campus housing for part or all of the degree program.
How to Research Colleges
Researching colleges in the Netherlands is relatively centralized and easy. You can use Study in Holland to search for programs that interest you, then check out their websites to learn more. You can also take a look at QS World University Rankings to see how universities rank and read a bit more about the school.
To learn more about individual programs, look at the curriculum, student and graduate testimonials on their websites, and their YouTube channel or social media presence. Check out How to Research Universities Outside of the U.S. for more guidance on how to learn about a school from a distance.
Admissions Requirements
Admissions requirements at Dutch universities vary from program to program, so make sure to check out the particular requirements for the programs you’re applying to.
Good news though—most programs in the Netherlands, with the exception of university colleges and numerus fixus programs, are General Admission programs. That means that if you meet a program’s requirements, you’re in!
Diploma Requirements
Universities require a diploma equivalent to the Dutch VWO. On the Nuffic website, you can see how your diploma from your home country compares to a Dutch diploma. For even more accurate information, see if the particular schools that interest you have a diploma calculator on their website. Note that for US students, many colleges will ask for a certain number of AP exams in addition to a high school diploma.
If you don’t meet the minimum requirements at a university that interests you, consider completing a preparatory program or studying at a university in your home country for a year.
English Proficiency
If you studied in a non-English speaking country, most colleges require you to demonstrate your English proficiency through the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Assessment English exams. Most universities will require a 6.5 or 7 on the IELTS or between 80 and 100 on the TOEFL.
Math Requirements
Depending on the program you’re applying to, you may need to meet certain math requirements. You can meet these through high school courses or through an Online Mathematics Proficiency Test.
How to apply
The first step for the vast majority of universities is registering with Studielink, the official application portal for Dutch higher education institutions. However, some programs, particularly numerus fixus programs, may want you to complete an internal review process first. Check their website just to be sure.
On Studielink, if you’re not a resident of the Netherlands, you’ll make an account without DigiD. Through Studielink, you’ll verify your identity by uploading a scan of your passport or other identification, enter the details of your previous education, and select the study programs for which you want to submit an enrollment application.
Note that you can only apply to up to four programs through Studielink, only two of which can be numerus fixus programs. If you have questions about Studielink, check out this Studielink Q&A.
After completing your enrollment application, pay close attention to your email! You should receive emails from the programs, often within 24 hours, with more information about next steps, which vary from program to program. Generally, you’ll receive an initial email with instructions regarding how to set up your account on the university-specific portal. On the application portal, you’ll be able to upload required documents, which may include your transcripts, proof of English proficiency, an application form, etc.
Interviews and Auditions
Some programs may also require an interview or audition as part of the application process. Again, be sure to check the requirements of the specific programs you’re interested in.
A Note on University Colleges
Unlike most Dutch universities, University Colleges have a more holistic admissions approach. While your grades are important, they will also consider your interests, writing skills, and include supplemental essays, a CV, recommendation letters, and an interview (don’t worry—it can be virtual!). Similarly to when applying to American universities, fit is key! Be prepared to show that you are excited about the university college and that your academic, extracurricular, and personal background make you a strong candidate for their program.
Deadlines
Deadlines range from December 1st through July 1st. The actual date may vary depending on both the program and the applicant’s nationality (for visa purposes), so make sure to check the deadlines for the programs that interest you.
The deadline for all numerus fixus programs—programs that restrict the number of places offered—is January 15th. Note that most programs offered in English aren’t numerus fixus programs.
After applying
Numerus Fixus Programs
In the case of numerus fixus programs, if the number of applicants exceeds the number of places in the program, applicants will receive a ranking number via Studielink on April 15th. Depending on your ranking number, you may or may not be offered a spot in the program.
If you are accepted, you’ll have two weeks to accept your place on Studielink. If you’re not offered a place, there’s still a chance (albeit a small one) that a place will open up. In that case, the university will reach out to you.
Sometimes the number of applicants will be lower than the number of places available. If so, you’re in luck! All applicants will be offered a spot in the program. Note that you still have to accept it within two weeks.
Other Programs
After the university has received all required documents and evaluated your candidacy, you should receive an admissions decision by email. If your offer is conditional, you have yet to meet all entry requirements (for example, you may still need to submit your high school diploma or final transcripts). Your letter of conditional acceptance should clearly outline the requirements and the deadline for fulfilling them.
Are you deciding between a few universities? Many universities offer Open Days (both in-person and virtual), a great opportunity to learn about the university's academics and student life and connect with current and prospective students.
A handful of Dutch universities are also on Unibuddy, a student recruitment platform for higher ed institutions where you can chat with current students.
Additionally, most universities will have an International Student Office and sometimes even an admission officer specific to your region. Feel free to reach out to them with questions about the university or admissions process (after making sure you can’t find the answer on the website, of course!).
Student Visas
You’ll need a student residence permit to study in the Netherlands. Only a higher education institution recognized as a sponsor can apply for you.
There are several requirements for applying for a student residence permit, including proof of registration at a higher education institution and income requirements. Once you’ve gathered the required documents, your educational institution will submit the application and you’ll pay the € 207,00 application fee. You’ll receive a decision within 60 days and be notified when it’s time to pick up your student resident permit. You can read more about the process here.
Final Thoughts
The Netherlands has a rich history of welcoming international students to its institutions of higher education. That means you’ll find International Student Offices and current international students are a great resource and eager to help you with the process of researching and applying to Dutch universities!
Special thanks to Rachel for writing this blog post.
Rachel Ozer-Bearson, Independent Educational Consultant with Mosaico Mentors in Mexico City
