Explore research universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, with English-taught programmes, independently accredited degrees, practical guidance on tuition and living costs, and clear routes for admission, residence and post-study planning.
Choose an academic research university or a professionally oriented university of applied sciences.
A wide range of degree programmes is available in English.
Check the institution and exact programme through official Dutch recognition and NVAO accreditation.
Teaching commonly combines discussion, group work, projects and independent study.
Dutch higher education hosts a large international student population.
Eligible graduates can apply for a one-year permit to explore work or entrepreneurship.
EUR 1,000–1,500 per month
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a Dutch residence permit and may live and work under EU free-movement rules, subject to the applicable conditions. Students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland normally need a student residence permit for full-time study. Only an educational institution recognised by the IND can submit this application; where an MVV is required, the institution applies for the MVV and residence permit together. The exact process depends on nationality and personal circumstances.
Up to 60 days
EUR 254 — IND student residence application fee, normally paid through the institution; exceptions may apply
Health insurance is legally required, but the correct policy depends on the student’s situation. A student who is in the Netherlands only to study generally cannot take Dutch public health insurance and should use adequate home-country, EHIC or private cover. A student with a part-time job generally must take Dutch public health insurance. Internship and self-employment cases can differ, so students should check their position with the SVB or their institution.
Eligible graduates may apply for the Dutch orientation-year residence permit within three years after completing an accredited Dutch bachelor’s or master’s degree or another qualifying route. The permit is valid for one year, cannot be extended for the same qualification, and allows free work, internships and self-employment without a TWV. A graduate who finds suitable work must change to the appropriate residence category, such as highly skilled migrant, start-up or self-employed.
Use the institution’s international office and student-support services for local guidance. Call 112 for life-threatening emergencies. Take particular care in cycle lanes and at tram crossings, secure bicycles properly, and verify housing providers before transferring money. Never sign or pay for accommodation without verifying the room, contract, landlord or provider and whether municipal registration at the address is allowed.
Large, international study hub with research universities, applied-sciences institutions and arts schools. Housing is among the most competitive and expensive; arrange it early and budget above the national average where necessary.
Modern port city with strong business, economics, logistics, design and applied-study options. Students use metro, tram, bicycle and rail; housing remains competitive.
International city associated with government, law, peace, security and public policy. It hosts applied-sciences and specialist institutions and offers direct rail links to Leiden, Delft, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Centrally located university city with strong rail connections and a compact cycling culture. Demand for rooms is high, so housing should be addressed well before arrival.
Northern student city with a large cycling population and a visible international community. The city is more compact than the western metropolitan area but housing still requires early planning.
International border-region city near Belgium and Germany, known for a multilingual student environment and problem-based learning at several programmes. Check cross-border travel and housing plans carefully.
Technology and design centre with strong links to engineering and the Brainport economy. Students should compare city and nearby-town housing and transport options.
Compact historic university city strongly associated with engineering, architecture and technology. Housing demand is high and many students also search in nearby The Hague or Rotterdam.
Historic university city with humanities, sciences, medicine and international studies. The Hague is close by for selected campuses and placements; verify the programme’s actual teaching location.
Eastern technology and applied-sciences city with a more campus-oriented setting at the University of Twente. Study in NL notes that housing is generally less expensive than Amsterdam, but students must still secure a verified room.
Use the level-by-level requirements in ‘Admissions & Apply’. Institutions set the final requirements and may seek Nuffic advice on foreign qualifications.
Decide whether an academic research route or a profession-oriented applied route best fits the student’s goals.
Use Studyfinder and the institution website to identify the exact programme, language, campus, start date and tuition category.
Check the institution in official Dutch records and the exact programme in NVAO before relying on a degree claim.
Read the programme page for diploma level, subject prerequisites, selection, portfolio, language test and deadline.
Use Nuffic’s country information where helpful; the institution makes the final admission decision.
Gather passport, diploma, transcripts, translations, CV, motivation, references, portfolio and other requested evidence.
Book the accepted English or Dutch test early enough for scores to arrive before the deadline.
Most programmes begin in Studielink, while some international applicants also use an institution portal or another route.
For numerus-fixus or selective programmes, complete ranking, matching, test, interview, audition or portfolio stages on time.
Review academic and financial conditions, accept by the stated deadline and pay any required deposit or tuition instalment.
Provide the recognised sponsor institution with the residence-permit documents and sufficient-funds evidence.
Secure accommodation before travel and arrange the health-insurance route appropriate to the student’s situation.
Submit final verified documents, register with the municipality when required, obtain a BSN and attend orientation.
The Netherlands offers research universities and profession-oriented universities of applied sciences, a large English-taught catalogue, independent programme accreditation, interactive teaching and an established international student community. Costs, admission and immigration still need programme-specific checking.
WO is research-oriented university education and normally places more emphasis on academic theory and research. HBO is higher professional education delivered by universities of applied sciences and normally focuses more on professional skills, projects and internships.
A degree is a recognised Dutch qualification when it is awarded through a recognised institution and an appropriately accredited programme. Verify the exact programme in official Dutch records and NVAO; a ranking or an institution’s marketing claim is not a substitute for accreditation.
Dutch is the national language, but many programmes are taught fully in English. Always check the exact programme language and whether any placements, licensing routes or local modules require Dutch.
Studyfinder displayed 1,858 international and English-taught programme records in the 9 August 2026 research snapshot. The catalogue is dynamic, so use the current Studyfinder result rather than treating this number as permanent.
A typical WO bachelor takes three years and 180 ECTS. A typical HBO bachelor takes four years and 240 ECTS. Medicine, arts, accelerated routes and other programmes may differ.
Research-university masters usually take one to three years depending on field. Applied-sciences masters vary and may run from one year to several years, particularly for part-time or regulated professional routes.
The statutory higher-education tuition fee is EUR 2,694 for academic year 2026/27. Eligibility rules apply; students who do not qualify pay an institutional fee set by the institution.
Study in NL gives indicative averages of EUR 9,000–20,000 per year for bachelor’s programmes and EUR 12,000–30,000 for masters. Exact fees depend on the programme, institution and academic year.
Study in NL estimates average student spending at EUR 1,000–1,500 per month. Housing, city, insurance status and lifestyle can move the total outside that range.
No. Study in NL describes a severe housing shortage and advises students to arrange accommodation before arriving. Start early, verify the provider and contract, and confirm that municipal registration is permitted at the address.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit. Students from outside those groups normally need a student residence permit for full-time study, submitted by an IND-recognised sponsor institution.
The IND statutory decision period is up to 60 days. An incomplete or complex application can take longer, so follow the institution’s immigration deadline rather than applying close to the programme start.
The IND study application fee is EUR 254 in the current official guidance checked on 9 August 2026. It is normally paid through the educational institution; exceptions may apply.
For 2026, the IND study norm for HBO or university students is EUR 1,130.77 per month. Students normally prove funds for 12 months, and tuition is not included in that norm.
The final checklist comes from the recognised sponsor institution. It commonly covers passport, proof of registration, sufficient funds, required forms or declarations, legalised or translated official documents where requested, and a TB declaration or test where applicable.
Yes, with restrictions for employment. The employer needs a TWV and the student chooses either up to 16 hours per week or full-time employment in June, July and August. The student must continue to meet residence and study requirements.
Yes. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may work without a Dutch work permit under EU free-movement rules, subject to the normal employment, tax and insurance rules.
A non-EU student with a study residence permit may work as a self-employed person while continuing to meet the permit conditions. No TWV is needed, but Chamber of Commerce registration, tax and health-insurance obligations may apply.
Study-only students generally use adequate home-country, EHIC or private cover and normally cannot take Dutch public insurance. A student with a part-time job generally must take Dutch public health insurance. Internship and self-employment cases should be checked with the SVB.
For most programmes, register through Studielink and complete any institution portal steps. Some international routes differ, so begin with the exact programme page and follow that institution’s instructions.
The general deadline is 15 January for numerus-fixus programmes and 1 May for other programmes. Institutions may set different or earlier deadlines, particularly for non-EEA applicants, selective programmes and scholarships.
Requirements are set by the institution and programme. Applicants normally provide an appropriate prior diploma and transcript, meet subject and language prerequisites, and submit any programme-specific motivation, references, portfolio, audition, test or work-experience evidence.
Commonly accepted tests include Cambridge English, IELTS, LanguageCert, Pearson, TOEFL iBT and TOEIC. There is no universal score for every Dutch programme; check the exact institution and programme requirement.
The Dutch institution makes the admission decision and may use Nuffic advice on the level of a foreign qualification. A general diploma comparison does not guarantee admission to a particular programme.
Yes. Options include the NL Scholarship, Erasmus+ and institution or programme-specific awards. The NL Scholarship is EUR 5,000 in the first study year and is not full tuition. Eligibility, participating institutions and deadlines change.
It is a one-year Dutch residence permit for eligible recent graduates and other qualifying highly educated applicants. It permits free employment, internships and self-employment while the holder looks for work or starts a business.
Eligible graduates can apply for the orientation year, usually within three years of completing a qualifying programme. To remain after that year, the graduate must qualify for another residence route such as highly skilled migrant, start-up or self-employed.
If you will stay more than four months, register in the municipal Personal Records Database. Registration provides a BSN, which is commonly needed for work, banking and insurance arrangements.
Call 112 for life-threatening emergencies. Follow local cycle and tram rules, secure bicycles and protect personal documents. For housing, verify the room, provider, contract and registration rights before transferring money, and ask the institution for help if something looks suspicious.
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