Top Universities & Colleges in Netherlands

The Dutch make really good hosts for students pursuing higher education, as they are heavily invested in their education system. The Netherlands has a really big community of international students from as many as 160 different countries. Studying in the Netherlands is cheaper than other popular destinations such as the U.S. and U.K.

In 2019, the Netherlands was the 17th largest economy in the world; cram that into one tiny country and you have a place with an amazing per capita income. The Dutch believe that no education is complete without proper job experience, which leads to programs that are structured specifically towards the industry needs. If you choose the Netherlands for your studies, you get a place that ranks among the top ten universities in terms of safety and happiness. Teachers at universities are highly approachable and encourage interactions.

The Dutch people are extremely open-minded, a fact that is reflected in the rising number of atheist individuals in the Netherlands. This makes them a community that is free of religious bias in general and therefore, much more welcoming compared to countries that have a strong religious majority and orthodox views. The majority of locals can speak in English. 

Some of the world's biggest multinationals, including Philips, Heineken, KLM, Shell, ING, and Unilever, are Dutch. Netherlands is a world leader in agriculture, water management, art & design, logistics, and sustainable energy. Netherlands is meant to be the gateway to Europe, which means that one can travel to London, Paris, or Berlin in less than 6 hours by high-speed trains.

Popular Cities in the Netherlands

1. Leiden
2. Amsterdam
3. Groningen
4. Rotterdam
5. The Hague AKA Den Haag
6. Eindhoven

Popular Courses in the Netherlands

Popular courses to study in the Netherlands along with their duration and fees are mentioned in the table below.

Popular Universities in the Netherlands

According to QS World rankings 2020, the top universities in the Netherlands are as follows.

With more than 2,100 international study programs and courses, Netherlands has the largest offer of English-taught programs in continental Europe.

The higher education system in the Netherlands is based on a three-cycle degree system, consisting of a bachelor, master, and Ph.D. Dutch higher education has a binary system, which means that one can choose between two types of education:

• Research-oriented degree programs: Offered by research universities
• Professional higher education programs: Offered by universities of applied sciences.

A third, smaller branch of higher education is provided by institutes for international education, which offer programs designed especially for international students. Some research universities offer 2-year professional doctorate programs in engineering (PDEng). 

Credit System 

Netherlands follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, ECTS for allocating credits to courses. Each academic year requires 60 ECTS credits. 1 credit point refers to 28 hours. Attending lectures, preparing for exams, participating in seminars come under completion of these hours. Other components include writing thesis, researching, working on modules or courses, preparing for placements. The credits are assigned based on the successful completion of assessments, thesis, research work, or passing exams.

Compared to other European study abroad destinations, tuition fees in the Netherlands is much lower. The cost of studying is different for EU and non-EU students. Costing around 1800-4000 EUR per year for EU students against 6000-20000 per year for non-EU students, universities in the Netherlands are known for their emphasis on practical education methodology.

Generally, the upper limit of the tuition cost for bachelor’s and masters courses in the Netherlands reaches up to EUR 19,400 to 52,000 per year respectively. Courses such as Business Administration, Medicine, Law usually have higher fees. 

See the list below for most affordable universities in the Netherlands.

• Radboud University 
• University of Twente (UT) 
• Utrecht University
• HAN University of Applied Sciences

Read about program wise tuition fees, cost of accommodation, food cost, travel cost, insurance pricing, and other details of costs involved to stay and study in the Netherlands as an international student.

The universities in the Netherlands accept applications twice a year. The two intakes are:

It is advised to check with a university for the exact deadline. Most of the courses have their deadline up to May 1. Others may be accepting applications from the 1st of February and 1st of March only. 

Most universities have varying requirements for admission. Some seek specific subjects as a part of the curriculum while others may exempt a student for a 4-year bachelor's requirement. The general admission requirements for studying in the Netherlands are briefed below.

• Some universities such as Leiden University, Groningen University, Hanze UAS directly accept applications through their websites for masters and bachelor’s in Netherlands. 
• If an applicant wants to compare his degree qualifications with the Dutch context, one can visit Nuffic and check out the comparisons there.
• Universities generally respond to successfully submitted applications within 3-4 weeks.
• There also exists a common portal through which a student can apply to multiple universities called Studielink. 
• Each university's website has a link to Studielink where one can start the application.
• On the portal, the documents can be uploaded and fees are to be given. A student should, however, first check if his target university accepts applications through the platform.
• There is a degree course lottery system named Numerus Fixus through which a student can apply. 
• Up to 4 applications can be made through Studielink, out of which 2 can belong to Numerus Fixus. 
• After the university accepts the application, a letter of acceptance is received by a student which needs to be responded within 10 days.
• Pay the fees for the university to confirm the acceptance. 
• A student will receive an application payment receipt that needs to be saved as it is further required.

Please note that both undergraduate and postgraduate applications in the Netherlands can be made through Studielink. However, some universities may require a direct application that must be checked on the official website of a university.

Find below a list of documents a student requires during the application process of Dutch universities. 

• Passport
• ID card
• Academic transcripts
• Personal statement explaining the choice of a university, future goals, etc.
• Passport size picture
• Language Proficiency Scorecards
• Proof of application fees paid 

Additionally, depending on the university and level, of course, one may be asked to submit the following documents as well.

• Motivation Letter
• Resume
• Reference letters/LORs
• Academic work samples

• The first step is to have a valid passport.
• In case, one wants to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, a residence permit is required.
• Additionally, a long-stay visa called MVV is required as an authorization for a temporary stay. 
• MVV is nothing but a stamp that will be marked on a visa.
• In some cases, one may be exempted from the requirement of the MVV visa.
• The educational institution applies for the MVV (long term stay study visa) and the residence permit at the same time on behalf of the student. 
• The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has to give a decision within 60 days about the residence permit.
• If the IND intends to grant the visa, then they will inform the education institutions that applied for the MVV on the student’s behalf to collect the MVV from the Dutch Embassy.
• There will be a set of legalized documents to be provided by the student. 
• A student has 3 months to collect the MVV. Make an online appointment for this with the Embassy in the student's home country. 
• A student’s passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the day one gets the MVV. Once he has collected his MVV, he can travel to the Netherlands. 
• Entry into the Netherlands is allowed within 90 days of the issue. The validity is shown on the MVV sticker. The MVV allows one to travel within the Schengen Area.
• Students are requested to go through the link to understand the step by step procedure for obtaining an MVV.

The following are the steps one needs to follow to obtain a residence permit once reaching the Netherlands.

• The residence permit has to be obtained after reaching the Netherlands at the IND office. An appointment should be booked before visiting the office.
• One needs to be clean when it comes to having a criminal record. This has to be proved by signing an antecedent certificate. 
• A TB test is to be given. There are some exemptions and documents to be filled for the TB test.
• Certain conditions are to be fulfilled after reaching the Netherlands that are advised to be known by a student.
• One might need a Citizen Service Number as well.

For obtaining the residence permit, below mentioned conditions are to be met.

• The primary condition is to be accepted by a university or university of applied sciences which is a recognized sponsor.
• The program should be full time accredited.
• One can check for the university's recognition on this list.
• Proof of sufficient amounts is to be produced. 

Find below a few scholarships for reducing the cost of education in the Netherlands as an international student.

• Holland Scholarships for non-EEA students 
• Netherlands Fellowship Programmes 
• ‌Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for Developing Countries
• ‌Masters’ Fellowship Program for Developing Countries.
• The Global Study Awards
• Radboud Scholarship Programme 
• Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships
• Study a Masters in Europe Scholarships
• Rotary Scholarships for Water and Sanitation Professionals
• L-EARN for Impact Scholarship
• World Citizen Talent Scholarship for International Students
• Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (AES)
• Leiden University Excellence Scholarships (LexS)
• Civil Society Leadership Awards
• Orange Knowledge Programme in The Netherlands
• Eric Bleumink Scholarships at University of Groningen
• Talent for Governance Training Scholarships for Developing Countries
• Scholarship for the Global Management of Social Issues at Tilburg University
• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships for Excellent International Students
• ISS Ph.D. fellowships in Development Studies
• World Citizen Talent Masters Scholarships at the Hague University of Applied Sciences
• Netherlands Fellowship Program for Short Courses
• Tilburg University Academic Excellence Scholarships for International Students
• Netherlands Master’s Fellowship Program for Developing Countries
• Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) for Developing Countries
• VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme for International Students
• Utrecht Excellence Scholarships for International Students
• University of Twente Scholarships (UTS)
• Maastricht University Holland High Potential Scholarships for International Students
• Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships for International Students at TU Delft.

Most institutions are spread across the city. Some higher education institutions have their campuses within a limited area offering vibrant campus culture.

Be it sports, recreational activities, or other student activities, associations within an institution exist for ensuring student’s wellbeing. These associations managed by students are recognized at the international level too. For example, AIESEC  and Erasmus Student Network. These are complemented by outdoor spots such as pubs and restaurants where groups of students hang out. 

Be it enjoying a boat trip on the canals or lakes, or walking across the streets or beach, Netherlands leaves no space for getting bored. This is complemented by the country's cool and cloudy climate throughout the year. Rains are frequent which keeps the climate humid. Sometimes the weather gets stormy though winds are frequently blowing throughout all the seasons. The winters are cold ranging from the temperature of 3 to 6 degrees. Dutch welcome snowfalls and love to do ice skating. The spring season stretches for 3 months and is comparatively warm with an average temperature of 17 degrees.

Dutch experience the most pleasant time during mid-May to mid-September. This is also suggested to be the best time to visit the country. It is recommended to pack a sweater, coat, a protective wind jacket, gloves, a warm hat, and an umbrella for winters.

A student can have health insurance from his home country while studying. However, if he does an internship or starts working after graduating, he must get health insurance from a Dutch company that costs around 100 EUR per month.

It can be challenging to find a job in the Netherlands due to language barriers. Employers prefer Dutch-speaking people. A student is advised to keep himself updated about the local job market in the Netherlands while studying itself. One can also choose a demanded course in the labor market to enhance the chances of getting a job after passing out from a university. A student must keep visiting online sites to know tips and tricks of building a resume in the Netherlands.

Currently, over 660,000 people are employed in agriculture: good news for students of Food Science and Technology, Environmental Studies, Power and Energy Engineering and of course, Agriculture. Students with transferable skills in fields such as Marketing, Management, or Engineering could similarly find a position within these fields. Creative industries are also a key point of investment focus for the government. Students in fields of Media, Graphic Design, Architecture, Game Design, and Software Engineering are well-positioned to find themselves a role. Approximately 172,000 people are currently employed within the creative sector, with around 66% of the self-employed. With the key focus on Civil Engineering and the need for skilled workers to maintain and create structures, transferrable problem-solving and material-based skills are well in demand.

Some high paying fields of the profession along with their tentative salaries mentioned in the table below.

• You can work for 16 hours per week while studying and full time during vacations in June, July, and August.
• You will need a work permit if you want to do a job while studying. 
• Your employer will apply for a work permit for you.
• However, if you do an internship that is a part of your coursework, a work permit is not required. An internship assignment should be signed by your host institution and the employer. As long as your payment is only compensation for expenses, it will not be subject to taxation.
• Do not forget to apply for a Citizen's Service Number (Burgerservicenummer – BSN). The university should explain this during the orientation program. You can get this from the local city hall.
• It is required to take Dutch health insurance as soon as one starts working.
• Laws in Ireland are extremely strict when it comes to working outside allowed hours. An employer gets fined if such a situation is observed.
• One can also be self-employed while studying. You need to register your company in the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel). You need to pay taxes yourself. You might be obliged to take out Dutch public healthcare insurance.

See the points below to know some quick tips and tricks for studying in the Netherlands.

1. Open to learning - Be ready to face the new language in the new country. There can be chances when you will have to look for jobs over websites written all in Dutch. Use Google translator and never miss any news on the job. It is recommended to start understanding the language from the initial days.
2. Network - Stay in touch with friends, colleagues, seniors, and professors. You can ask them to refer you for jobs.
3. Stay motivated - Dutch folks love motivation. Stay inspired and open to explore new opportunities.
4. Manage time - This is a universal asset. Time management will not only help you while studying but later while finding and doing your job too.

• One can extend one's stay up to 12 months after a bachelor’s or masters to apply for a job. This period of 12 months is called ‘Orientation year’.
• An application can be made online and registration fees of EUR 622 apply.
• One must obtain a work visa for this time. One may be required to get a work permit after study in the Netherlands whose type depends on the program one has passed- bachelors, masters, or PH.D.
• The residence permit needs to be updated reflecting a change in the purpose of stay.
• If one gets a job within a year of stay back period, the next step is to ask the employer for applying for a work permit on one's behalf.
• International students seeking a job after their Masters and Ph.D. will need to apply for a residence permit for ‘highly educated migrant seeking employment’.
• Proof of funds needs to be produced to renew one’s residence permit after graduation.
• If one gets a job in orientation year, one must be earning at least EUR 2228 per month. 

Permanent Residency

‌After residing in the Netherlands legally for 5 consecutive years, the third-country nationals or non-EU/EEA nationals can apply for permanent residency in the Netherlands.