Study in Netherlands
Why Study in Netherlands?
Students in higher education find the Dutch to be excellent hosts due to their significant investment in the education system. With 160 countries represented among international students, the Netherlands offers a diverse and affordable alternative to the U.S. and U.K. The country ranks among the ten safest and happiest in the world and was 17th in GDP per capita in 2019.
The Dutch education system emphasizes job experience, tailoring programs to industry needs. The Netherlands is ideal for Indian students seeking high-quality, affordable education in Europe. Many programs are taught in English, and faculty members are friendly and approachable.
Home to multinational companies like Philips, Heineken, KLM, Shell, ING, and Unilever, the Netherlands excels in agriculture, water management, art & design, trade, and clean energy. Its central location in Europe allows quick access to London, Paris, and Berlin via high-speed trains.
Explore studying in the Netherlands to see if it aligns with your professional goals.
Popular Student Friendly Cities in Netherlands
Zürich
Geneva
Montreux
Lausanne
Neuchâtel
Popular Universities in the Netherlands
Education system in Netherlands
The Netherlands is a popular choice for international students who want to study abroad. Education in the Netherlands is renowned worldwide for meeting all international standards. It can be very helpful to have a diploma from a Dutch university in terms of starting one’s own business or establishing a successful career in any country. Over 1,500 English-language courses and nearly 2100 international study programs are offered at Dutch universities, and most of the population speaks some level of English, so you won’t have to learn Dutch fluently to study there.
The Dutch higher education system has a three-cycle degree structure, which includes bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. Higher education in the Netherlands is based on a binary system, which allows for two types of education:
- Research-oriented Degree Programs: It is offered by 13 different research Universities.
- Professional Higher Education Programs: Universities of applied sciences have the authority to provide this program.
The third type of higher education, which is a smaller branch of higher education, is provided by institutions of international education that specialize in serving international students, great for students looking for the best courses to study abroad. The professional doctorate in engineering (PDEng) is available at some research universities.
Study Abroad Programs in Netherlands
In the following table, you will find a summary of the most in-demand courses and their duration and fees in the Netherlands.
| Courses | Duration | Fees (Per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Econometrics and Data Science | 24 Months | 20,473 Euro |
| Animation | 12 Months | 8, 198 Euro |
| Big Data Engineering | 24 Months | 14,500 Euro |
| Water Science Engineering | 18 Months | 14,682 Euro |
| Medical Physiology | 24 Months | 18,900 Euro |
| Health Sciences | 12 Months | 14, 500 Euro |
| Economics | 12 Months | 14, 762 Euro |
| Law | 12 Months | 17, 087 Euro |
| MBA (Management Consultancy) | 12 Months | 14, 762 Euro |
| Industrial and Applied Mathematics | 18 Months | 16, 200 Euro |
| Language, Literature, and Education | 12 Months | 16, 060 Euro |
| East European Studies | 12 Months | 12,000 Euro |
| Conflict Resolution and Governance | 12 Months | 16, 060 Euro |
| European Policy | 12 Months | 10,000 Euro |
| Identity and Integration | 12 Months | 14,000 Euro |
| Medical Informatics | 24 Months | 14,976 Euro |
Admission Process to Study in Netherlands
It varies from university to university what the admission requirements are. While some universities will require students to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree, others may exempt students from it. There are also a few universities that allow students with TOEFL CPT, TOEIC TOEFL PBT, TOEFL ITP, as well as Cambridge English (169-172). Detailed information about the general eligibility requirements to study in the Netherlands follows.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
● A minimum of 55% in senior secondary school
● IELTS Academic – Minimum 6.5
● TOEFL iBT – Minimum 90 overall
MASTER’S PROGRAM
● Nearly 70% in a bachelor’s degree
● If required, a work history
● GRE/GMAT
● IELTS – Overall 6.0-7.0 minimum
● TOEFL iBT – Must score between 90 and 100 overall, with a preferred score of 21 in an individual section
Cost of Attendance in Netherlands for Indian Students
VISA Process To Study Abroad in Netherlands
As an Indian student who’s dreaming of studying in the serene land of the Alps for a promising future, you must prepare and be aware of the entire visa process to avoid last-minute inconveniences. While it’s undoubtedly an attainable goal, the process may take a while to complete. Thus, before you initiate the study abroad application and visa process, ensure you have grasped all the vital information
How to apply for a student visa to study abroad programs?
- A valid passport is the first step. One needs a residence permit if they intend to stay longer than 90 days in the Netherlands.
- A long-stay visa, known as the MVV, is also required for a temporary stay in the country. An MVV is nothing more than a stamp that will be attached to a visa. It may be possible to be exempt from MVV visa requirements in some cases.
- A student’s educational institution will apply for their MVV and residence permit all at the same time.
- IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) must decide within 60 days whether to grant a residence permit. After the IND grants the student’s visa, the educational institutions will get the information from the Dutch Embassy to collect the MVV on behalf of the student.
- Students will have to submit legalized documents to get the MVV.
- The MVV must be collected within three months. For this, the student should set up an online appointment with the Embassy in their home country or ask the study abroad counselor from Divine EAC for help in this process.
- The student must hold a valid passport for at least six months on the day he or she receives the MVV.
- He can travel to the Netherlands once he collects his MVV.
- Within 90 days after issuance, visitors are allowed entry into the Netherlands. The MVV sticker shows how long a visitor can stay in the Netherlands.
- One can travel within the Schengen region with MVV. Aspiring students must consult with the overseas education consultant of Divine EAC in order to learn more about how to obtain an MVV.
Top Scholarships in Netherlands
A number of study abroad scholarships for international students are available in the Netherlands. Over half of every 100 foreign students who study in the Netherlands obtain a scholarship. In addition to the regional and country-based categories, scholarships are available in categories that range in value from low to high. There are also different numbers of scholarships available. Besides, the Government and universities always offer a variety of attractive scholarship programs with relatively easy requirements for international students. In order to get a clear step-by-step process of how to apply for scholarships to study abroad, then you must speak with Divine EAC.
Holland Scholarship
This scholarship is offered by the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and has a value of up to 5,000 Euros per year. Scholarships are limited each year. The Netherlands offers only about 768 scholarships for qualified students who want to study there.
Orange Tulip Scholarship
The value is 10,000 Euro/year. The deadline for OTS scholarships is every year on the 1st of April. Students should be sure to update the information continuously in order to avoid missing the deadline.
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship
A merit scholarship for excellent international undergraduate students is offered by the University of Amsterdam, valued at 6000 Euros/year for the best students. Students pursuing economics and business, psychology, and social and behavioral sciences programs can apply for these scholarships in the Netherlands.
University Twente Scholarship
An outstanding academic record is required for the University Twente Scholarship. The value of the scholarship is 3,000 to 22,000 Euros/year. You must have already completed an English language test and have met the required scores in order to qualify for this scholarship.
Work Opportunities in Netherlands
The Netherlands is a great place to work while you study.Your employer will need to apply for a work permit for you if you wish to work alongside your studies. The organization in charge of issuing work permits is UWV or Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen. A work permit is not necessary if you are enrolled at a Dutch host institution and have to attend an internship as part of your program. An internship agreement must be signed between your host institution and your employer.
To work in the Netherlands, one must also obtain a Bürgerservicenummer (BSN). It can be obtained from the City Hall when you apply for a residence permit (normally during your first week of orientation at the University). It is important to know that you must take out Dutch health insurance once you have a job. Not having health insurance could land you in hefty fines. Unless you have a permit, you are not permitted to work paid employment.
You can then begin working with certain work conditions to be followed:
- Maximum work hours are 16 per week; or
- In the summer, you will be working full time from June to August.
- Working for more than the allowed amount of hours or working for an employer without a TWV is illegal.
As soon as the IND discovers an infringement, they will contact the educational institution you are enrolled in. An official fine will be imposed on the employer for the violation.
How to find a job in the Netherlands
● Look for opportunities on websites, among friends, colleagues, and shops around you. You never know what your lucky break will be until you try, so you should look for all the available opportunities.
● If you don’t know the Dutch language yet, use Google Translate to search in Dutch so that you will be more likely to find what you are looking for. Demonstrate your motivation – Dutch people tend to appreciate people who are motivated and passionate.
● Whatever you plan on doing, show it! You might want to learn a new language or learn some skills that are crucial for your job. It is not scary to learn Dutch. Languages sound strange and are really difficult to learn at first, but once you become acclimated to the surrounding environment, it won’t be that difficult to come up with some basic Dutch phrases.
● Improve time management – Of course, you can’t get it right, but you can do your best. Keep a diary and organize everything. Then you can be sure you will not forget anything and will always be on top of your game.
Taking part in an internship in Netherlands
- It is very common for university students to find internships through their University. There is almost always a specific desk at universities where you can get access to internship opportunities.
- Your student visa will allow you to do an internship in the Netherlands as a part of your study program.
- An employment permit does not have to be obtained by the employer. On request, an internship agreement must be provided to the Labour Inspectorate by the employer.
- There will be no tax on your pay as long as it only compensates for expenses. These expenses can include travel costs and food costs.
Self-employment in the Netherlands
- In addition to your study, it is possible to work without a TWV in the Netherlands as a self-employed person.
- Keeping up with the requirements of your residence permit is important.
- Your company must be registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel). It is your responsibility to pay taxes. You may need to take out Dutch public health insurance.
Getting a job after a degree
- The employability of Dutch alumni is high. Nuffic (the national organization responsible for education in the Netherlands) has set up a special career portal that offers information on all career opportunities, about business culture, salaries, and practical guidance on a career in Holland.
- Agriculture is currently home to over 660000 workers, so good news for students majoring in Food Science and Technology, Environmental Studies, Power and Energy Engineering, and Agriculture. Similar opportunities exist within this field for students with skills in Marketing, Management, and Engineering.
- The government also puts a high priority on investing in creative industries. Architecture, graphic design, game design, and fashion are among the many industries where students are qualified to find employment.
- In the creative sector, there are currently 172,000 employees, of whom 66% are self-employed. Transferrable problem-solving skills and material-based skills are well in demand with an emphasis on Civil Engineering.
Frequently asked Questions
The majority of students in the Netherlands work while they study. An international student with a valid residence permit can work part-time during classes with 16 hours a week format and full-time during June, July & August.
You cannot study for free in the Netherlands, but it is fairly affordable and accessible. Check out for a meeting with an overseas education consultant at Divine EAC to find out how much it costs to study in the Netherlands.
The city of Amsterdam is popular among students in the Netherlands. The number of students there exceeds 100,000 worldwide.
