Why study in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands offers highly ranked universities, an unusually wide choice of English-taught programmes (especially at master's level), interactive small-group teaching, and very low tuition for EU and EEA students.
Thirteen of the country's fourteen research universities appear in the QS World University Rankings 2027, nine of them in the global top 200, led by TU Delft at 48th. Dutch universities are known for problem-based learning, close ties with industry, and a direct, informal teaching style. Almost everyone speaks English, which makes daily life easier even before you learn Dutch.
The downsides are worth knowing up front: finding housing can be very hard in most student cities, non-EU students pay much higher fees than EU students, and the number of English-taught bachelor's programmes is being reduced (see below).
The Dutch higher education system explained
The Netherlands has two kinds of university, and choosing between them is the first decision most applicants need to make.
| Research university (WO) | University of applied sciences (HBO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Academic and research-oriented | Practical and career-focused, with internships |
| Bachelor's length | 3 years (180 ECTS) | 4 years (240 ECTS) |
| Master's | 1 to 2 years, leading to an MSc or MA | Fewer master's, usually professional |
| Examples | TU Delft, University of Amsterdam, Leiden, Groningen | Amsterdam UAS, Rotterdam UAS, Fontys, Hanze |
| Best if | You want an academic degree or plan a master's or PhD | You want hands-on training and direct entry to work |
Focus
- Research university (WO)
- Academic and research-oriented
- University of applied sciences (HBO)
- Practical and career-focused, with internships
Bachelor's length
- Research university (WO)
- 3 years (180 ECTS)
- University of applied sciences (HBO)
- 4 years (240 ECTS)
Master's
- Research university (WO)
- 1 to 2 years, leading to an MSc or MA
- University of applied sciences (HBO)
- Fewer master's, usually professional
Examples
- Research university (WO)
- TU Delft, University of Amsterdam, Leiden, Groningen
- University of applied sciences (HBO)
- Amsterdam UAS, Rotterdam UAS, Fontys, Hanze
Best if
- Research university (WO)
- You want an academic degree or plan a master's or PhD
- University of applied sciences (HBO)
- You want hands-on training and direct entry to work
There are also university colleges, small liberal arts and sciences colleges attached to research universities, such as University College Utrecht and Amsterdam University College, which offer broad English-taught bachelor's degrees with selective entry.
What is changing for international students?
The Netherlands is actively reducing the number of international students, especially at bachelor's level, so check that your programme will still be taught in English before you apply.
The government's Balanced Internationalisation Act (Wet internationalisering in balans) aims to make Dutch the main language of most bachelor's programmes, with English-taught programmes needing to pass a new assessment. The bill was still moving through parliament at the time of writing, but universities have already acted: no new English-taught bachelor's programmes are being created for now, a Dutch track is being added to major English-taught bachelor's programmes, and some English-taught bachelor's programmes are being converted to Dutch or capped. Programmes in fields with labour shortages, such as engineering and technology, generally face less pressure than business and social sciences.
What this means for you: master's study is largely unaffected and most master's programmes remain in English. For bachelor's study, confirm the language of instruction, any cap on international places and the application deadline with the university before you commit.
Which are the best universities in the Netherlands?
TU Delft is the highest-ranked Dutch university in the QS World University Rankings 2027, at 48th in the world, followed by the University of Amsterdam at 60th.
| University | City | QS World Rank 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) | Delft | 48 |
| University of Amsterdam (UvA) | Amsterdam | 60 |
| Utrecht University | Utrecht | 113 |
| Leiden University | Leiden and The Hague | 119 |
| Erasmus University Rotterdam | Rotterdam | 148 |
| Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) | Eindhoven | 152 |
| Wageningen University & Research | Wageningen | 154 |
| University of Groningen | Groningen | 157 |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) | Amsterdam | 185 |
| Maastricht University | Maastricht | 254 |
| Radboud University | Nijmegen | 283 |
| Tilburg University | Tilburg | 429 |
A note on rankings: most Dutch universities fell slightly in the 2027 table, and the differences between them are small compared with differences in subject strength. Utrecht University no longer supplies data to rankings that rely on universities submitting their own figures, which affects its position. Treat overall rank as a rough guide and look at your subject.
Which universities are strongest by subject?
Dutch universities are often far stronger in their specialist areas than their overall rank suggests.
Wageningen is ranked first in the world for agriculture and forestry by QS, despite sitting outside the overall top 150. The three technical universities, TU Delft, TU/e and the University of Twente, are the main destinations for engineering, with Delft the broadest, Eindhoven closely linked to the Brainport tech region and the semiconductor industry, and Twente known for nanotechnology and entrepreneurship. Erasmus University Rotterdam (including Rotterdam School of Management) is best known for economics and business, Leiden for law, international relations and archaeology, Amsterdam for communication, social sciences and economics, Maastricht for problem-based learning and European studies, and Groningen for a broad range of subjects in one of the country's liveliest student cities.
For subject-specific guidance alongside university selection, see our dedicated guides: Bachelor's in Business and Management, Bachelor's in Law, Bachelor's in Engineering, Bachelor's in Computer Science and Bachelor's in Psychology.
Studying specific subjects in the Netherlands
Some popular subjects have limited places, early deadlines or are only taught in Dutch, so check your subject before planning around the 1 May deadline.
| Subject | How it works in the Netherlands | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Bachelor's programmes are taught in Dutch and have a numerus fixus (limited places), so most international students need fluent Dutch. Some English-taught options exist, such as Maastricht's international track, with very limited places. | Maastricht, Groningen, Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Nijmegen |
| Psychology | Very popular with international students and often numerus fixus, so the deadline is usually 15 January. Some programmes have moved to Dutch or capped English places. | Amsterdam, Leiden, Groningen, Maastricht, Tilburg, Twente |
| Business and economics | Widely available, but several English-taught programmes have become numerus fixus. Erasmus's IBEB became numerus fixus from 2026/27, and RSM's International Business Administration closes on 15 January for 2027 entry. | Erasmus, Amsterdam, Maastricht, Tilburg, Groningen |
| Engineering | Strong English-taught options, especially at master's level, and less affected by the language changes. Some bachelor's programmes are numerus fixus. | TU Delft, TU/e, Twente |
| Computer science and AI | Popular and competitive; check for numerus fixus and early deadlines. | Amsterdam (UvA and VU), Delft, Eindhoven, Twente, Utrecht, Groningen |
| Law | Dutch law bachelor's programmes are in Dutch. English-taught options focus on international and European law. | Leiden, Maastricht, Tilburg, Groningen, Amsterdam |
| Agriculture, food and environment | A world-leading specialism, mostly taught in English at master's level. | Wageningen |
What does it cost to study in the Netherlands?
What you pay depends mostly on your nationality. EU and EEA students (and Swiss nationals) pay the government-set statutory fee, while most non-EU students pay a much higher institutional fee set by each university.
| 2026/27 | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory fee (EU/EEA) | €2,694 | Same at every public university and university of applied sciences; expected to rise to €2,771 for 2027/28 |
| Institutional fee (non-EU), bachelor's | Commonly around €9,000 to €20,000 | Example: €17,809 for Radboud's mathematics bachelor's |
| Institutional fee (non-EU), master's | Commonly around €15,000 to €35,000 | Example: €32,562 for Utrecht's pharmacy master's |
Some universities also charge EU students a higher institutional fee for a second degree, and certain small-scale, intensive programmes such as university colleges charge more than the statutory fee.
For your residence permit, non-EU students must show they have at least €1,130.77 per month for living costs in 2026, which comes to about €13,569 for a year, on top of tuition. Real costs are usually higher, especially rent in Amsterdam, Utrecht and other Randstad cities, and you also need Dutch health insurance if you take a job.
How do you apply through Studielink?
Almost all bachelor's applications, and many master's applications, start on Studielink, the national enrolment system, followed by any extra steps on the university's own portal.
| Deadline | What it's for |
|---|---|
| 15 January | Numerus fixus (limited-place) bachelor's programmes, such as medicine, many psychology and some business programmes. You can apply to at most two numerus fixus programmes a year. |
| 1 April (often) | Many universities' deadline for non-EU applicants, to leave time for the residence permit and housing |
| 1 May | The standard deadline for most other bachelor's programmes |
| Varies | Master's programmes have no national deadline; each programme sets its own |
You can hold up to four active applications in Studielink in a year. Numerus fixus programmes run a selection process after the deadline and release rank numbers on 15 April. Many programmes also require a studiekeuzecheck (a matching activity, such as an online questionnaire or a short assessment) before you can enrol.
Do not treat 1 May as your deadline. Many popular programmes, and most non-EU applicants, have earlier deadlines, and applying early also helps with housing.
The residence permit: what non-EU students need to know
Non-EU students studying for longer than three months need a residence permit for study, and the university applies for it on your behalf as your recognised sponsor with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
Depending on your nationality, you may also need an entry visa (MVV), which is usually handled in the same application. Your university will ask you to pay your first year's tuition, the IND fee (around €250 in 2026) and to prove your living-cost funds, often by depositing them with the university. To keep your permit, you must make satisfactory study progress each year, and the university reports this to the IND.
EU, EEA and Swiss students do not need a residence permit, though they must register with their local municipality.
Important: IND fees and required amounts are adjusted every year. Confirm current figures with your university and on the IND website (ind.nl) before applying.
Can you work while studying in the Netherlands?
It depends on your nationality. EU, EEA and Swiss students can work without restrictions. Non-EU students can work, but only up to 16 hours per week during the year, or full-time in June, July and August, and not both.
For non-EU students, the employer must apply for a work permit (TWV) from the UWV before you start, which usually takes several weeks. Some employers are reluctant to do this for short-term student jobs, so part-time work is harder to find than in Australia, the UK or Canada. Anyone with a job in the Netherlands, even a few hours a week, must take out Dutch basic health insurance.
What happens after you graduate? The Orientation Year
The Orientation Year (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden) is a one-year residence permit that lets non-EU graduates live in the Netherlands and work for any employer without restrictions while they look for a longer-term job or start a business.
You can apply within three years of graduating from a Dutch bachelor's, master's or PhD programme (graduates of certain top-ranked universities abroad can also qualify). During the year, employers don't need a work permit to hire you. If you then find a qualifying job, you can switch to the highly skilled migrant scheme at a reduced salary threshold, which was €3,122 gross per month in 2026 for former Orientation Year holders, much lower than the standard threshold.
The Orientation Year is shorter than Canada's or New Zealand's post-study work options, so it pays to start job hunting before you graduate. Confirm current conditions with the IND.
What scholarships are available to study in the Netherlands?
Most scholarships in the Netherlands are partial and aimed at non-EU students, with a few larger merit awards from individual universities.
| Scholarship | Who it's for | What it's worth | When to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship) | Non-EEA students starting a full-time bachelor's or master's at a participating institution, who haven't studied in the Netherlands before | €5,000, paid in the first year only | Deadlines vary by institution, usually 1 February to 1 May |
| University excellence scholarships | High-achieving non-EU students, mostly at master's level | From partial tuition waivers to full tuition plus living costs at some universities | Usually with or soon after your admission application, often December to February |
| Orange Tulip Scholarship | Students from selected countries | Partial or full tuition at participating institutions | Check the Nuffic Neso office for your country |
| Erasmus+ | Students at EU institutions on exchange, and some joint master's programmes | Monthly grants, or full funding for Erasmus Mundus joint master's | Through your home university or the Erasmus Mundus programme |
| Dutch student finance (DUO) | EU/EEA students who work enough hours per month in the Netherlands, and some others | Tuition fee loan, and possibly a grant | Through DUO once you're eligible |
EU students can also take a Dutch tuition fee loan (collegegeldkrediet) to cover the statutory fee. Scholarship deadlines often come months before admission deadlines, so research funding when you start your application, not after you receive an offer.
For a wider view of funding across countries, see our scholarships guide and the scholarship directory.
What are the best cities to study in the Netherlands?
Distances are short and trains are frequent, so many students live in one city and travel to another. Housing availability often matters more than the city itself.
| City | Universities | Good for | Housing pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | UvA, VU, Amsterdam UAS | Largest job market, international atmosphere | Very high |
| Rotterdam | Erasmus, Rotterdam UAS | Business, economics, port and logistics | High |
| Utrecht | Utrecht University, HU | Central location, classic student city | Very high |
| Leiden and The Hague | Leiden, The Hague UAS | Law, international relations, international organisations | High |
| Delft | TU Delft | Engineering, close to Rotterdam and The Hague | High |
| Groningen | University of Groningen, Hanze | Student-dominated city, wide subject choice | High |
| Eindhoven | TU/e, Fontys | Tech and semiconductor industry | Moderate to high |
| Maastricht | Maastricht University | European studies, problem-based learning, near Belgium and Germany | Moderate |
| Enschede | University of Twente | Campus-based study, engineering, entrepreneurship | Moderate |
What are employment prospects like after studying in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands has a strong economy, many international employers and a reduced salary threshold for graduates, but Dutch language skills make a noticeable difference to your options.
International graduates find the most opportunities in engineering, IT, data, finance and research, especially around Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam. After the Orientation Year, most non-EU graduates who stay move onto the highly skilled migrant scheme with a recognised sponsor employer. Many roles outside large international companies expect at least some Dutch, so starting language classes early is worth it. Immigration rules here change regularly, so treat this as orientation rather than immigration advice and check the IND for your situation.
Curious what studying abroad is actually like day to day? Read real Student Experiences from current students, in their own words.
Ready to compare courses? Browse Dutch courses on StudyDecidr by subject and university, or try the free course matching tool to build a shortlist based on your grades.
Sources and methodology
Dated statistics used in this guide: rankings are from the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026), as reported by NL Times and IamExpat. The €2,694 statutory fee for 2026/27 and the expected €2,771 for 2027/28 are based on university fee regulations and reporting on Statistics Netherlands (CBS) inflation figures. The €1,130.77 monthly study requirement is the IND's published amount for 2026. Institutional fee examples are from Radboud University and Utrecht University. Studielink deadlines are from Study in NL guidance and university admissions pages. The reduced highly skilled migrant threshold is the 2026 figure published by the Leiden International Centre.
Why the policy figures carry extra caution: the Balanced Internationalisation Act was still going through parliament at the time of writing, universities are changing the language of some programmes year by year, and IND fees and required amounts change every January. Confirm the language of instruction, deadline and fee for your exact programme with the university, and immigration details at ind.nl.
General claims (subject strengths, city comparisons, typical fee ranges, housing pressure) reflect publicly available information rather than a single official source, so always check directly with the university.