Admission process in the Netherlands

Cost of education in the Netherlands

Please specify all prices and requirements on the website of your chosen university.

Admission to Dutch universities

The Netherlands has a binary education system. Universities are divided into applied (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO) and research (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) categories. Both options are available to foreign students.

• Research universities (WO) are classic universities that prioritize research and innovation. They offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs.
• Universities of applied sciences (HBO) prepare students for professional careers with a strong focus on experiential practice. Applicants can enroll in bachelor’s and master’s programs. There are no PhD programs available at universities of applied sciences.

How to choose a university

Decide on a specialty

This is a key point when looking for a university, and our career guidance article is here to help. The most popular fields for international students in the Netherlands are economics and business, humanities and social sciences, and engineering. Each university has its own top study programs and faculties. For example:

• University of Amsterdam is best for students who want to study medicine and the humanities (media and communications, psychology and literature)
• Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is known for its programs in architecture, engineering, and physics
• Utrecht University is famous for its veterinary medicine, physics, and geography faculties

You can evaluate a particular university faculty through subject ratings and reviews written by graduates and lecturers.

The level of education can also significantly differ from one university to another. For example, the University of Amsterdam offers strong master's and doctorate programs, while its bachelor's programs do not stand out from that of other Dutch universities.

Check out international rankings

Rankings should be used as a reference point in the initial stages of the search. Not all of them are objective or suitable for your personal goals. By all means, some excellent universities are not included in rankings. For example, there is not a single university of applied sciences, given that their students are career-oriented and publish less research.

In the QS ranking, the most significant criterion (40%) is the university’s reputation based on the opinion of students and lecturers. This is a good indicator for the quality of education. But if you plan on pursuing an academic career, then the ARWU ranking is better for you — it evaluates the quantity and quality of the university’s scientific publications.

For example, the University of Amsterdam ranks 54th and 1st in the country according to the QS Ranking. However, it ranks 101st in the ARWU, while Utrecht University boasts 50th place^[1].

You can learn more about ranking systems in this article.

Compare tuition costs

Education in the Netherlands is one of the most expensive options in Europe, but cheaper than that of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. On average, annual tuition will cost you 15,207-19,552 USD.

However, you can sometimes come across programs that are cheap for the Netherlands. For example, the Erasmus University Rotterdam has a Research Master in Philosophy and Economics that costs 4,671 USD per year. Also, do not forget about the universities of applied sciences (HBO) — they are cheaper, averaging at 11,949-13,035 USD per year.

There are fewer private universities in the Netherlands than public ones. Usually these are medical schools, business schools, or international affiliates of other universities. As a rule, their programs are more expensive. For example, at Saba University School of Medicine, the Clinical Medicine program costs 23,300 USD per semester^[2].

Choose a university and program according to your budget. Be sure to consider living costs along with tuition. In the Netherlands, expect to spend about 1,086 USD per month on day-to-day expenses. That being said, keep an eye out for scholarship opportunities — we will discuss them a bit later.

Study the requirements

As you might assume, the admission requirements of popular universities tend to be more rigorous than those of their less known counterparts.

But more importantly, many programs (mainly architecture, law, and medicine) have a numerus fixus — a limit on the number of students. They also have different application deadlines (usually January 15) and higher requirements. All this should be taken into account when choosing a university — be sure to have a plan B.

Some universities do not accept high school diplomas received after the 11th grade. It is advisable to contact the admissions committee of the chosen university and clarify the possible nuances.

Think about other criteria

Consider your own individual values. While we discussed the main criteria addressed during the selection process, your case may be different.

Identify and make a list of what else might be important to you while studying at a Dutch university — for example, housing, foreigner student ratios, and food costs.

List of the best universities in the Netherlands

Requirements for admission to the Netherlands

Some universities accept high school diplomas received after the 11th grade. However, some research universities may require you to take a preparatory course, choose another university, or study for one year in your home country.

For each program, you need to confirm your language level unless you are a native speaker.

• English. For most programs, it is sufficient to know English at the Upper-Intermediate level, which corresponds to 6.0 points on the IELTS exam or 78 points on the TOEFL exam. However, for the humanities (philology, journalism, and law), IELTS 7.0-7.5 may be required.
• Dutch language. Universities accept NT2 and CNaVT certificates. For bachelor's and master's programs, an Upper-Intermediate (B2) level is sufficient, while doctorate programs usually require an Advanced (C1) level.

What other requirements do you need to be prepared for?

• Motivation letter. A common requirement at Dutch universities, where you describe your achievements, reasons for studying, and educational goals.
• Recommendations. These are references from a teacher or employer. Some universities request that the recommendation is sent in by the author rather than the applicant. They are usually required for graduate and doctorate programs, as well as some scholarships.
• GPA. The Netherlands uses a 10-point system for assessing knowledge. For successful admission to most universities, your grade point average should be above 7.5. For some specialties, grades in core subjects must be high. For example, a student applying for a bachelor’s program in engineering should have good grades in mathematics and physics. Straight-A students have the highest chances of admission.

At almost every Dutch university, admission consists of three stages:

1. First, sign up on Studielink. Go through the passport verification and indicate the required information regarding your previous education. After that, choose a university, program, and start date (winter or autumn semester).
2. Next, a university representative will contact you. He will ask you questions about your education and provide access to the university website. There, you will upload your documents: language proficiency certificates, diplomas and transcripts, and course descriptions. Additionally, they may require recommendations, motivation letters, resumes, and portfolios.
3. If everything goes well, you will be sent an invitation letter and invoice to pay for tuition. The first fee must be paid before the start of classes, otherwise your application may be rejected. From this moment on, you will be able to apply for a visa.

Deadlines in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the school year starts during the first week of September. Application deadlines for most universities are in May and April. But, there is an exception — numerus fixus. Such programs have a separate deadline — January 15th. It is easy to tell these programs apart — on Studielink, a warning about limited placements and dates is put on the relevant programs. Most often, these include those in the law, medicine, engineering, and architecture fields.

Diploma legalization

Diplomas and certificates from the CIS countries are recognized in the Netherlands without an apostille. Depending on the program, only a translation into English or Dutch is required.

Preparatory programs

Preparatory courses, known as the Foundation year, are usually chosen by applicants who hesitate about their language level or grades. Such courses last from 2 to 12 months. Students get used to the Dutch education system, improve their knowledge in the chosen direction, and prepare for standardized language tests (IELTS, TOEFL, or NT2).

The Foundation year is an excellent choice for applicants who were denied admission due to academic differences. Not all research universities accept students from the 11th grade, so the Foundation year can be a good alternative to another year of study.

For admission, you need an IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 70 certificate, along with high grades in core subjects.

How to apply for a bachelor’s degree

Studielink is used to apply to most universities. Register, verify your passport information, and indicate information regarding your previous education. You can then select universities and apply for one or more programs. After that, you will be contacted by email and invited to upload documents on the university system — this is usually a website or app.

Some research universities may not accept an 11th grade high school diploma, because secondary education lasts 12 years in the Netherlands. In this case, the student needs to:

• Study at an accredited university in the home country for one year
• Or take a preparatory course at the chosen university
• Or choose another university

Before admission, it is advisable to contact the admissions committee to clarify questions regarding your diploma.

Documents for admission

• Diploma and transcript with grades
• Motivation letter
• IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 certificates for English-language programs, and NT2/CNaVT for Dutch programsB2 level.

How to apply for a master’s degree

As with bachelor’s programs, master’s applications start with registration and passport verification on StudielinkThis is a unified application system. There, you need to select a university, program, and describe your previous education.

If your application for Studielink is approved, the admission process will move to the university website. The university may ask for additional documents, such as a motivation letter, language certificates, recommendations, resumes, and a list of achievements. Prestigious universities and programs with a high competition usually conduct an additional interview.

Your bachelor's degree must be in the same subject area as the chosen program. Often, universities lay out a list with the required subjects, according to which the applicant can check. If you want to change your profession and enroll in another program, you can take preparatory courses at universities.

Some research institutions do not accept bachelor’s degrees from universities of applied sciences. As such, students enroll in pre-master's programs and receive 30-60 credits.

Documents for admission

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (GPA average 75%)
• Motivation letter
• IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 certificates for English-language programs, and NT2/CNaVT for Dutch programsB2 level
• Resume
• GRE/GMAT (for MBAs)

How to apply for a doctorate degree

Doctorate studies in the Netherlands are most correctly classified as work, not study. Most of the programs here are paid jobs. The university hires you to conduct a specific study, assigns a supervisor, and awards you with a doctorate degree after completing your dissertation.

At the university, you will be a full-fledged employee. You will conduct research, teach, and perform some of the duties of a research assistant.

The approximate salary for doctorate positions is 2,172-3,259 USD per month. Vacancies can be found in scientific journals, on university websites, and through specialized resources such as AcademicTransfer.

If you have your own topic or idea for research, but there is no suitable vacancy for it, you can contact the university and propose it yourself.

For admission, you usually need knowledge of Dutch or English, a good academic portfolio, and high grades throughout your master's program. Teaching experience will also be helpful.

Documents for admission

• Master's degree
• Resume and academic portfolioPublished research and results
• For studying in English — IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90; in DutchB2 level — NT2 or CNaVT
• Motivation letter
• Recommendations
• Study plan (depending on the program)

Scholarships and grants in the Netherlands

Scholarships are available at all major Dutch universities. Most often, they are designed for talented and motivated students — for example, the Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship from the University of Amsterdam is offered to master’s students from non-EU countries. It covers 27,156 USD of tuition and living costs per year. Similar scholarships are offered by:

• Utrecht University — tuition coverage and 11,949 USD for yearly living expenses
• Maastricht University — 14,121 USD for tuition, 771 USD for insurance, and 13,415 USD for other yearly expenses
• University of Delft — tuition coverage for master's programs, reimbursement of living expenses, as well as access to additional courses and workshops on personal development

There are also many government scholarship programs. All of them are listed on the Study Holland website. It lists current opportunities by country, degree, and area of ​​study. Of these, there are two popular grants — Orange Tulip Scholarship and Holland Scholarship.

You can apply for both grants at the same time.

Dutch student visa

To enter the country, you will need a long-term MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) visa. A residence permit for study (VVR) is simultaneously issued. The visa application is carried out jointly with the university:

• After enrollment, the university will contact you and provide instructions on the visa procedures
• Then, you will need to prepare and email the necessary documents to the university
• The university will submit documents on your behalf to the Dutch Immigration Department (IND)
• The IND will take 2-4 weeks to approve the request
• Finally, go to the visa center to receive the long-awaited visa

The entire process does not usually take more than a month, but may be delayed in case of an error with the documents. The cost of obtaining a visa is about 239 USD.

Required documents

• Completed MVV application form
• Passport, the validity of which covers the entire stay in the Netherlands with a margin of 3 months
• Proof of financial solvency — this may be a grant or scholarship certificate, a sponsorship letter, or a bank account statement with at least 10,862 USD
• Two 35x45 mm photographs, made in accordance with ICAO requirements
• Tuition payment receipt for the first academic year
• Housing reservation for the first 10 months
• Written consent to be tested for tuberculosis upon arrival, or a medical examination certificate obtained from any public clinic within 30 days