Dutch higher education runs on two parallel ladders rather than one, and applying to the wrong one sets you back a full admission cycle. A research university (WO) awards a three-year bachelor's of 180 ECTS and a master's that is usually a single year; a university of applied sciences (HBO) awards a four-year, 240-ECTS bachelor's built around compulsory placements, and its master's can run part-time for up to four years. Specialisation starts at the application itself — you apply to a named programme rather than to a faculty, and changing direction later costs credits. That split decides more for an international applicant than any ranking does: it sets whether your school certificate is accepted at all, what you pay, how long you stay and which route into a Dutch master's stays open. This guide works through both ladders, the money, admission and what happens after graduation; for the institution landscape see our companion overview of universities in the Netherlands.
Higher education in the Netherlands for a non-EU/EEA applicant: fees, deadlines, permits and work rights for the 2026/27 academic year, checked in August 2026.
Parameter
The Netherlands for a non-EU/EEA student
Types of institution
Research universities (WO) and universities of applied sciences (HBO); both award state-recognised degrees
Bachelor's
WO: 3 years, 180 ECTS. HBO: 4 years, 240 ECTS, with placements built in
Master's
WO: 1 year (60 ECTS); 2 years (120 ECTS) for research, engineering and science tracks; 3 years in medical fields. HBO: 1-4 years, often part-time
Doctorate
4 years, most often a salaried university post rather than a fee-paying programme
Tuition, institutional rate
The national typical band is 10,170-22,600 USD per year for bachelor's and 13,560-33,900 USD for master's[1]; medicine and the top business master's sit above it, up to 32200 and 38,533 USD at Erasmus University Rotterdam[2]. The statutory rate of 3,044 USD per year is reserved for EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students
Living cost
1,130-1,695 USD per month, with room rent the largest single line[3]
Language of instruction
English across most master's programmes and a large share of bachelor's; each institution sets its own IELTS or TOEFL minimum, so there is no national score[4]. MBO vocational colleges teach in Dutch only
Application route
Studielink, the national portal, plus the institution's own file
Main deadlines
15 January for numerus fixus programmes, 1 May for the rest; individual institutions set earlier dates for non-EU applicants[5]
Residence permit
Student residence permit filed by your institution as recognised sponsor; 287 USD[6]
Proof of funds
1,278 USD per month, normally shown for 12 months, covering living costs only[7]
Work during study
16 hours per week in term or full-time in June-August with an employer-held work permit; self-employment unrestricted[8]
After graduation
Orientation Year permit: 12 months, full labour-market access, no salary threshold, 287 USD[9]
Studying abroad doesn’t break the bank anymore
Universities for any budget
Scholarship options
Installment plans up to 2 years
Pros of studying in the Netherlands
🎓 The applied ladder accepts a 12-year school certificate directly
Research universities compare your certificate with the Dutch vwo, which takes six years and ends at 18, so a 12-year leaving certificate usually falls short. Universities of applied sciences generally do not apply that benchmark and admit the same certificate straight into a four-year, 240-ECTS bachelor's. That matters because the ladders connect: an HBO bachelor's plus a bridging semester leads into a WO master's, so the applied route delays the research track rather than closing it.
🇬🇧 A full master's without a Dutch language exam
The Netherlands was among the first countries in Europe to teach mainstream university programmes in English, and at master's level that is still the norm rather than the exception. Admission asks for an IELTS or TOEFL score set by the institution, not a Dutch test, and there is no national minimum to clear[4]. Vocational MBO is the exception, and the MBO section below explains why it is closed to English speakers.
🧪 A doctorate is a salaried job, not a tuition bill
Most Dutch PhD candidates are employees of the university rather than fee-paying students: positions are advertised as vacancies, you apply as you would for a job, and the university pays you for four years while you write the dissertation. The trade-off is competition — one advertised position draws applicants worldwide — and the fact that your research topic is largely fixed by the vacancy text rather than proposed by you.
🛂 Twelve months to find work, with a lowered salary bar afterwards
Graduates of accredited Dutch programmes can take the Orientation Year residence permit: 12 months of unrestricted labour-market access, with no employer sponsorship and no minimum salary, applied for up to three years after graduation[9]. Converting it into a work permit is also easier for recent graduates, who qualify under a reduced Highly Skilled Migrant salary threshold rather than the standard one.
🏅 Ranking depth means you choose by subject, not by risk
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, TU Delft is 48th, the University of Amsterdam 60th, Utrecht =113th, Leiden =119th, Erasmus Rotterdam 148th, Eindhoven 152nd, Wageningen 154th and Groningen 157th — eight research universities inside the global top 200 for a country of 18 million[10]. Wageningen also holds first place worldwide in Agriculture and Forestry in the QS subject rankings 2026[11]. Practically, there is no weak-university trap to avoid, so you can select on programme content and city.
🗣️ Seminar culture rewards argument rather than recall
Students address professors by first name, disagreeing with the lecturer is normal, and average results are not turned into a public ranking of the group. Maastricht University built its whole model on problem-based learning . Grades follow your reasoning and your contribution to group projects, so exam cramming alone will not carry a semester.
Cons and limits of the Dutch route
💶 The non-EU rate is several times the statutory fee
EU/EEA students pay a fixed statutory fee of 3,044 USD per year; everyone else pays an institutional rate that each university sets itself[1]. At Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2026/27 that means 15,255 USD per year for most bachelor's programmes, 18,419 USD for liberal arts and 36,386 USD for medicine, and 23,730-38,533 USD per year at master's level[2]. Add 1,130-1,695 USD per month of living cost and a master's year in a research university regularly passes 39,550 USD in total.
🏠 Housing, not admission, is the real bottleneck
The national student housing monitor put the shortage at 21500 rooms in 2025 and projects 26000-63200 by 2032/33[12]. Campuses at most large universities house well under a fifth of their students, and waiting lists in Amsterdam and Utrecht run past a year. Start the room search when you submit the application, not after you are admitted, and treat the city as a variable — a place in Groningen or Enschede is far easier to find than one in the Randstad.
📜 A 12-year certificate or a 3-year bachelor's may not map onto the entry level
For a research-university bachelor's, admissions often ask for a completed first year at a university at home or a foundation year in the Netherlands before they will consider a 12-year certificate. At master's level, a 3-year Indian pass bachelor's is typically read as two years of WO study or an HBO bachelor's rather than a full research bachelor's[13]. Some applicants respond by applying where a 12-year certificate is accepted directly, such as Austria or France.
⏳ The selection deadline falls in mid-January, not in spring
Programmes with capped intake (numerus fixus) close on 15 January, while other programmes generally close on 1 May — but institutions routinely set earlier dates for applicants who need a visa[5]. Missing 15 January for a numerus fixus programme means a full year's wait, because there is no late round. Language certificates and credential evaluations therefore have to be finished in the autumn before, not in the spring.
💼 Term-time work is capped and the paperwork sits with the employer
Non-EU students may work 16 hours per week during term or full-time from June to August, and only after the employer obtains a work permit, which must be filed at least five weeks before you start[8]. Many employers skip that paperwork altogether, and most customer-facing jobs still require working Dutch. Part-time earnings will not close a 22,600 USD fee gap, so plan the budget without them.
🌧️ Weather and rent both push you toward the smaller cities
The country sits on the North Sea coast, so cloud, wind and damp are the default; summer highs reach around 25 °C but sunshine stays scarce[14]. It compounds the housing problem: the cheapest student cities are also the coldest and windiest ones.
Briefly about secondary education in the Netherlands
Education in the Netherlands is compulsory for children ages 5 to 16. Schools are divided into 3 types:
State — controlled by local authorities;
Special religious — run by the school board and based on religion;
Special neutral — promote equality of religions.
These differences are present at all levels of education: for example, there may be Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim elementary, secondary schools, and universities.
In addition to differences in types of schools, there are different streams of secondary education. Which stream a Dutch pupil finishes is exactly the benchmark your own certificate is compared against:
Name
Meaning
Duration
Direction
Age
VMBO
Preparatory secondary vocational education
4 years
Practical knowledge that leads to vocational training (MBO)
16 years
HAVO
Senior general secondary education
5 years
Prepares students for higher vocational education in applied sciences (HBO)
17 years
VWO
University preparatory education
6 years
Prepares students for a bachelor's degree at research universities (WO)
18 years
In addition to public schools, there are private schools in the Netherlands. They are much smaller and most are based on a particular religion.
How your school certificate or bachelor's is assessed
Every admission decision in the Netherlands is made by the institution itself, but all of them start from the same comparison: how your qualification lines up against the Dutch ladder above. Two thresholds do most of the work.
For a bachelor's. Research universities benchmark against vwo — six years of academic secondary school finishing at 18. A CBSE or ISC senior secondary certificate, a WAEC or NECO SSCE, or a US high school diploma is 12 years of schooling and normally does not reach that level on its own, so admissions ask for either a completed first year at a university in your home country or a foundation year in the Netherlands. An International Baccalaureate diploma or A-levels usually map across without that detour. Universities of applied sciences apply a lower benchmark and accept most 12-year certificates directly, which is why the HBO route is the realistic first step for many applicants from India, Nigeria or the Philippines.
For a master's. The recurring obstacle is degree length. A 3-year Indian pass bachelor's is generally treated as roughly two years of research-university study or as equivalent to an HBO bachelor's, while a 3-year honours degree from a strongly accredited institution can reach full WO bachelor's level; four-year degrees are commonly asked to show First Class standing or a CGPA around 75%[13]. If your degree falls short, the standard fixes are a pre-master's or bridging programme at the same university, or a Dutch HBO bachelor's top-up year.
Who evaluates it. Nuffic is the Dutch ENIC-NARIC centre and issues credential evaluations through the IDW portal. Two things to plan around: a complete application takes at least ten working weeks to come back, and the result is advisory — it is not legally binding and does not admit you anywhere, since universities and employers decide for themselves[15]. Order the evaluation in the autumn before you apply, so it is on file before the January and May deadlines rather than after them.
Foundation programs in the Netherlands
Reasons to attend the pre-university Foundation course:
The student does not have sufficient knowledge of English/Dutch for admission;
Documents or exam results do not meet academic requirements;
Smooth transition from school to higher education;
Adaptation to life and study in the Netherlands;
The opportunity to enter a prestigious research university bypassing the main competition.
Usually, Foundation programs last for 1 year. Successful graduates are automatically accepted to the university where the Foundation program was conducted, alternatively, students can try to enter other educational institutions. Via Foundation you can go to:
The information about the exact universities the applicant can enter through Foundation should be requested from the administration of the program itself.
Typically, preparatory courses include modules in specialized subjects (for example, business, economics and social sciences, engineering) and advanced language learning. During English/Dutch courses, in addition to language, the general academic program is taught. For example, scientific writing and reading, presentation, note-taking, and essay writing, the discussions in a foreign language. Some programs attach a mentor to students who provide support in bureaucratic procedures. In addition to classes, Foundation programs offer career guidance sessions and cultural events are sometimes organized.
During the course, students are evaluated by writing and homework, presentations, and exams. At the end of the Foundation, students are not only ready to study at the university and adapted to the Dutch education system but are also familiar with the country and local culture.
Colleges — Vocational education in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, there are virtually no typical colleges that may be familiar to a student from outside the Netherlands. Higher professional education is considered to be associate/bachelor’s degrees at universities of applied sciences. And the remaining qualification courses or short programs are designed for unemployed or working adults. There are also MBO programs (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, literally "middle-level applied education") oriented towards vocational training. Students are usually teens and adults from 16 to 35 years old, but there are no age restrictions for courses. Programs last 1-4 years. However, to enter the MBO, you must know the Dutch language, at least at the A1 level, and have a residence permit in the country. There are no English-language colleges in the Netherlands.
More on MBO
There are 4 program levels:
Level 1: assistant training. It lasts a maximum of 1 year and teaches simple executive tasks. The graduate moves on to level 2.
Level 2: basic vocational education. The program is designed for 2-3 years of study and is focused on the implementation of management tasks.
Level 3: the program lasts for 3-4 years. Students are taught to independently solve the tasks.
Level 4: VET mid-level management. It lasts for 3-4 years. Prepares for work with higher responsibility and gives access to higher education.
At all MBO levels, 2 curricula are offered:
School education — internships in the company take 20-59% of the time;
Apprenticeship — the internship is more than 60% of the study time.
After the Level 4 MBO, students can apply for an associate/bachelor's program at a university of applied sciences or start working. Professional programs are implemented by 43 regional vocational schools, 12 specialized trade colleges (vakscholen), 11 agricultural training centers (agrarische opleidingscentra), and one school for people with disabilities.
Bachelor’s in the Netherlands — Undergraduate
A bachelor's degree in the Netherlands can be obtained at a research university or at a university of applied sciences.
Universities of applied sciences teach many specialties, for example, healthcare, visual arts, agriculture, programming, design, law. Such universities have great academic freedom, as they independently determine the content and structure of the curriculum. For example, universities have introduced dual programs in which students study and then work.
Studying at applied universities is aimed at preparing students for work. Programs provide students with practical skills and competencies of specific relevant specialties. This is achieved through compulsory internships and project activities. As a rule, the study lasts 4 years and consists of 240 ECTS credits. After graduation, graduates are employed or enter a master’s program. There are also 3-year programs, but to enter them immediately after a 12-year school certificate you normally need to go through Foundation.
In general, universities of applied sciences accept applicants with 12 years of school, but the requirements of each university should be checked. For example, at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, you need to finish the year at the university of your country and only then you can continue your education in the Netherlands.
Research universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs in economics, behavioral and social sciences, language and culture, engineering/technology, natural sciences, law, and medical sciences. Interdisciplinary humanities programs also exist.
The goal of science-based bachelor’s programs is to prepare students for further education. To this end, emphasis in training is placed on academic and scientific skills. Subjects in the curriculum can be general and specialized. Almost all programs have a mandatory research methodology course and include writing a final thesis. The duration of study is 3 years, the number of credits — 180. After receiving a bachelor's degree, students enter a master’s program or start working in their specialty.
Master’s in the Netherlands — Graduate/Postgraduate
Masters programs in universities in the Netherlands are highly specialized in specific disciplines. Like bachelor’s programs, graduate programs are offered in research universities and universities of applied sciences.
Master’s at universities of applied sciences. The main goal of applied programs is to increase the knowledge and professional competence of students. Much attention is paid to improving analytical skills and preparing students for leadership positions in the specialty. Some programs are designed for full-time study, but most are part-time, as students combine study with work. This allows students to apply theory to practice in real-time and discuss life cases in the classroom with teachers and fellow students. Moreover, in many programs, research should be based on actual experience gained at work. Master's programs usually last from 1 to 4 years (60-240 credits).
Master’s at research universities. The main goal of science-oriented master's programs is to provide knowledge and improve the analytical skills of students. This is done so that in future students can conduct independent research.
Academic Master’s — advanced training for employment;
Research Master’s — scientific research inclination;
Teacher training programs — preparation for teaching in schools.
Most research university programs last 1 year (60 ECTS). Specialties at technical universities require 2 years. Research Master's studies, teacher training, and programs in technical fields (engineering, mathematics, natural sciences, and agriculture) last 2 years (120 ECTS). The longest are three-year programs in the field of medical sciences (180 ECTS).
Doctoral studies in the Netherlands — Postgraduate
Doctoral programs in the Netherlands are offered only by research universities and are held at graduate schools (within individual universities) or research schools (created by a consortium of several institutes for ongoing projects and research). PhD research focuses on a specific topic and is defended as a dissertation. Doctoral studies usually last for 4 years. PhD programs in the Netherlands are not typical and are divided into:
Paid PhD positions. In most countries, doctoral students are actual students, but in the Netherlands, they are researchers hired by a university to write a dissertation. Vacancies for doctoral positions are placed online, and applicants apply for them as they would apply for a job. The majority of candidates in the country occupy precisely those positions. However, getting a position is not easy due to high competition. Recruited candidates conduct research on the topic indicated in the vacancy and contribute to the academic work and activities of the university. Often doctoral students teach and perform other duties at the department. You can find a position through the AcademicTransfer vacancy board, on the websites of universities, or directly at the departments of universities.
PhD training programs are offered at graduate schools and research institutes of some universities. These programs have general doctoral courses and specialized subjects in their specialty. PhD training programs usually charge students.
If the candidate has their own idea for a research project and has not found a suitable vacancy, they can apply for an externally funded PhD position. The position gives the candidate access to the research community, international relations, and all the amenities of the university campus while working on research. For an externally funded PhD position the student needs to:
Find funding. To do this, you present your idea to universities or research groups that are engaged in research in this area and can provide funding;
Choose a university;
Find a supervisor. Present your idea to a professor whose work interests you or who is conducting research on the same subject;
Develop a curriculum with a supervisor in accordance with the standards, rules, and principles of the selected university.
As a rule, in the Netherlands there are 3 ways to finance a doctoral degree:
Employment at a university (paid PhD positions);
Scholarship or grant awarded by an external organization (about 1/6 of all doctoral students in the country);
The dissertation defence is a formal ceremony in academic dress. The candidate is accompanied by two paranimfen, who once acted as bodyguards and today give moral and administrative support, and defends before a doctoral committee of three or more academics (an odd number is required).
Academic career in the Netherlands
In order to become a professor at a university in the Netherlands, you must have a PhD. Without it, you can only rely on assistant positions with a minimum salary. In addition to the degree, the applicant must obtain a BKO certificate (basic teaching qualification) following the results of a special exam. Additional requirements are the presence of cited publications in scientific journals and experience in participating in scientific projects.
In research universities, the selection of applicants for positions is strict, since here a successful candidate becomes both a teacher and a research associate. The teaching workload in universities is high. This is especially true for universitair docenten (teachers/associate professors) in the field of social sciences and humanities, who spend 70% of their time teaching and only 30% doing research. The remaining professors devote approximately 40% of their time to teaching and 60% to research. Thus, the educational process does not lag behind scientific progress.
Since the Netherlands makes a special bet on the internationality of the educational system, teachers should be fluent in English. A large share of the academic staff at Dutch universities is international.
An academic post is considered prestigious in the country, so a decent salary is also in place: from 3,390 USD to 9,040 USD per month.
The following permanent positions exist in universities:
Academic rank
International equivalent
Typical positions
Hoogleraar 1 and 2
Full professor
Dean of the faculty, head or academic advisor of the department / institute
Universitair hoofddocent 1 and 2
Associate professor (US), senior lecturer (UK), reader (UK)
Coordinator of diploma programs, chairman of second-level committees (for example, pedagogical)
Universitair docent 1 and 2
Assistant professor (US), university lecturer (UK)
There is no Dutch government scheme that covers an international student's full institutional fee, so funding here works as a discount on a fee you are still expected to pay. Budget on that basis and treat any award as a reduction rather than a plan.
NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship) is the main entry point. It is open to non-EEA nationals starting a full-time bachelor's or master's who hold no previous Dutch degree, and it pays 5,650 USD once, in the first year of study — it is not renewable and not a tuition waiver[16]. For 2026/27 it runs at 11 research universities and 24 universities of applied sciences, the round opened on 1 November 2025, and each participating institution sets its own closing date, so the deadline you need is on your university's page rather than the national one.
Institutional awards are where the larger sums sit. Most research universities run their own excellence scholarships for non-EEA applicants, ranging from partial fee discounts to full-fee-plus-stipend packages for a handful of candidates per intake; they are decided by the faculty, usually alongside your admission file, and their deadlines often fall earlier than the admission deadline itself. The national portal also lists the MENA Scholarship Programme and Erasmus+ mobility funding; the Orange Knowledge Programme closed in 2024 and has no further rounds[17].
At doctoral level the funding question is different in kind: a salaried PhD position is itself the funding, which is why competition for advertised vacancies is heavier than for any scholarship at bachelor's or master's level.
Applying through Studielink: the runway to September 2027 entry
Applications to publicly funded Dutch programmes go through Studielink, the national portal, and then continue in the institution's own admission system, where transcripts, motivation letters and language certificates are uploaded. Working backwards from a September 2027 start, the runway looks like this.
Autumn 2026. Shortlist programmes and check each one for numerus fixus status and for a separate non-EU deadline. Order your Nuffic credential evaluation now — it takes at least ten working weeks — and book your IELTS or TOEFL sitting.
October-November 2026. Studielink accounts open for the new cycle, and scholarship rounds at participating institutions typically open around the same time; the 2026/27 NL Scholarship round opened on 1 November[16].
By 15 January 2027. Hard deadline for every numerus fixus programme. There is no second round, and selection results follow in the spring[5].
February-May 2027. Non-selective programmes generally close on 1 May, but institutions commonly bring the date forward to 1 April or earlier for applicants who need a visa. A smaller February intake exists at some universities if you miss the September cycle.
Spring-summer 2027. Accept your offer, pay the deposit, and let the university file your residence permit — you do not apply to the IND yourself. Then transfer proof of funds and start the room search in parallel.
Your institution acts as your recognised sponsor and submits the student residence permit application on your behalf, combining the entry visa (MVV) and the residence permit where both are required. The fee is 287 USD for a first application, a change of purpose or an extension; Turkish nationals pay 96 USD and Israeli and San Marino nationals are exempt[6].
You must show 1,278 USD per month in available funds, normally for twelve months — about 15,333 USD — and that figure covers living costs only, with tuition on top[7]. Money is usually transferred to the university, which holds it and confirms the balance to the immigration service. Keeping the permit then depends on academic progress: you have to complete at least half of your annual credits, and your institution reports on this[8].
Health insurance follows an unusual rule that catches students out. While you only study, you cannot join the Dutch public scheme and must keep home-country or private international cover. The moment you take a paid job or a paid internship, Dutch public insurance becomes compulsory and you pay a monthly premium on top of your budget; the rules for internships changed on 1 September 2025 for EU, EEA, Swiss and treaty-country students[18]. Check the effect on your budget before accepting a term-time job.
Opportunity to work while studying
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals are allowed to work without any restrictions or additional requirements.
Everyone else needs a TWV, the Dutch employment permit for a foreign worker. The detail that shapes your job search is who files it: the employer applies, not you, and the application is free but takes paperwork many small employers decline to do for a single student hire.
Undeclared work is common as a result, and it leaves you without protection: an employer who does not pay is difficult to pursue when the job was never registered, and the breach can also affect your residence permit.
Two routes avoid the TWV entirely. A curricular internship needs no permit — the university and the employer sign an internship agreement instead. Self-employment is unrestricted, with no permit and no hours cap, which is why freelancing is the usual fallback for students whose Dutch is not yet employable.
Opportunity to stay and immigration to the Netherlands
EU nationals do not need a work permit to stay and work in the Netherlands after study. Non-EU graduates use the Orientation Year (zoekjaar) permit set out in the key facts above[9]. Two features of it are easy to miss.
Permission is issued after each completed training program or after each completed scientific research. That is, if you studied or conducted research twice, you have the right to apply for Orientation Year 2 times for each type of activity.
An application can be submitted within 3 years after graduation. This is convenient, as a student can start working at home or in another country and only then return to the Netherlands. Conditions for the applicant (any of three):
Complete an accredited bachelor’s or master’s program in the Netherlands;
Complete a doctoral program lasting at least 1 academic year (10 months);
Conduct research in the Netherlands.
Graduates of a foreign university that placed in the top 200 of the QS, THE or ARWU rankings in their graduation year can also apply, within three years of graduating[9]. The application costs the same 287 USD as the study permit.
On getting employed and after the expiration of the residence permit, the immigrant submits documents for a work permit. The place of work must comply with the requirements of the Immigration Service, and the employer must appear in the public register of recognised sponsors.
There are several types of work permits: Highly skilled migrant, EU Blue Card, Researcher within the meaning of Directive, Spiritual counselor, Employee in specific positions in art and culture, Employee of an international non-profit organization, and others. The route most graduates take is the highly skilled migrant permit, and within three years of graduating you qualify at a reduced salary threshold of 3,528 USD per month gross rather than the standard 4,923 USD (under 30) or 6,714 USD (30 and over)[7].
If you stay on, permanent residence becomes available after 5 years of continuous lawful residence on valid permits with the income requirement met throughout; study years generally count toward that clock, the application costs 287 USD and the immigration service decides within 6 months[19].
Prospects and employment opportunities
Students have a chance to find work while still in training: for this, you need to contact the university’s career center, where the applicant will be given recommendations on further employment. Often, partner companies of universities are looking for personnel among graduates, so the most successful ones can be directly hired.
The unemployment rate in the Netherlands was 3.9% in May 2026[20]. The country is among the top 20 richest in the world, and the main sectors are agriculture and food processing, creative industries (interior design, games, fashion, and architecture), chemicals, energy, high-tech systems and materials, gardening, science and healthcare, logistics and water management. The most sought-after specialists are engineers, ICT and healthcare workers, and innovators in creative industries.
Dutch diplomas comply with the requirements of the Bologna Process and are valid in any EU country. Since the strengths of Dutch education are high technology, urban studies, and design, the chances of finding work in these areas in Europe are relatively good. Outside the EU, a degree from a well-known Dutch university is widely recognised by employers.
