One of the most popular Northwest European countries due to its distinctive tulip fields, windmills, and expansive plains, the Netherlands is an excellent destination to become a professional or access cutting-edge educational programs. Are you considering studying in the Netherlands? If the answer is yes, then we recommend that you continue reading, because we will talk about the entire process, requirements, documents, costs and procedures that you must carry out as a foreigner to study, live and work in the historic nation of the Netherlands.
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The Netherlands is a country that, for several years, has been the focus of numerous advances in terms of politics, education, medicine, ecology, urban planning and the economy. In 2008, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development placed the Dutch education system in ninth place worldwide. In Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, we find 3 of the 100 best universities worldwide according to the OECD, which are: Delft, Leiden and Utrecht. As a foreigner, you should know that education in this country is classified into age ranges and academic levels. It is also important to highlight that there are more than 2,100 programs for foreign students that are taught in English , since more than 70% of the population is fluent in this language. This wide range of courses in English make the Netherlands a very attractive nation to study, regardless of the origin of the applicant. Likewise, there are many scholarships and financial aid that you can obtain to study in this country. Do you already feel encouraged? In that case, you must follow the steps that we will mention below, which we will talk about in more detail throughout the post:
Speaking of the visa and residence permit to study in the Netherlands, it is important that you take several aspects into account. Whether or not you require a visa will depend on 3 factors : your nationality, the reason for your visit to the country (which in this case would be educational) and the duration of your stay (less than or longer than 3 months). Currently, in the Netherlands there are 2 types of visa, which are:
As you can see, if you want to study in the Netherlands, you only have to take into account your nationality and the duration of the program to know the exact requirements. It is also useful to know that in the Netherlands, higher education is provided in two types of universities. In addition, it is possible to study at Institutes for International Education. Below we explain what the types are and how they differ:
And to study a Dutch course? What does it take to learn the Dutch language as a foreigner? If so, again, the requirements depend on the duration of the program and your nationality, since there is no special visa to study Dutch. As we already mentioned, if you are fluent in English you will have no problem studying in the Netherlands and communicating with people. However, if you are interested in learning their official language, you will be pleased to know that there are several universities that offer Dutch courses to international students . Some of these institutions are the University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen and the iconic University of Leiden, the oldest in the country. Dutch courses are classified into different levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced). In advanced, students receive the necessary preparation to take the state assessment in Dutch: the NT2 exam.
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Shared room |
$1,333 |
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Shared room |
$932 |
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2 bedroom apartment |
$1,982 |
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2 bedroom apartment |
$1,322 |
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Bus or Metro ticket |
$5 / $8 |
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Movie Ticket |
$14 |
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A beer in a bar |
$6 |
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A beer in the supermarket |
$3 |
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Typical Street Food |
$10 |
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Meal in a Restaurant |
$25 |
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Medical consultation |
$170 / $370 |
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Phone plans |
$4 / $20 |
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Average Cost of Living per Month |
USD $2751 |
It goes without saying that before you pack up and take the first flight to the Netherlands, you should consider how much it costs to live and study in the Netherlands. It is very important that you take into account all the expenses that you will have when moving to this country, such as the cost of air travel, visa and accommodation. In general, it is estimated that a person needs about $2,751 to live in the Netherlands for a month .
This figure reveals that this European country is not exactly the cheapest for foreigners. In fact, according to an article published in CEOWorld magazine, the Netherlands ranks 15th among the most expensive countries to live in. Despite this, we must not forget the excellent education that this country offers and the recognition that you would have internationally by completing one of its programs. Therefore, even if life is not the cheapest, it is worth making the investment to study in the Netherlands. To make a budget and organize your expenses, we recommend you take into account the following:
If you want to study in the Netherlands you should know that higher education is not free . Although the government supports all universities with funding (not including Nyenrode), students must pay their respective tuition. Fortunately, tuition fees in this country are reasonable, not to mention that some of their majors and academic courses are shorter in duration. Similarly, it is possible to obtain a scholarship through the Holland Scholarship program .
This program is especially aimed at students with nationalities that do not belong to any of the countries that make up the European Union (EU). In case you are already studying at a university in your country and want to continue your education in the Netherlands, you can also check with your institution if they offer an exchange program or agreement with a Dutch institution.
From the beginning, we have been mentioning the international recognition of Dutch education. In 2017, the Netherlands received no more and no less than 122,000 foreign students. This figure places it on the list of the 10 European countries that receive the most foreign students . In an article published by Euronews in 2018, the spokesman for the Dutch Union of Educators (CNV), David Bruning, explained that the Dutch educational system is very attractive to foreigners because they can study in English at an affordable price and in an environment that does not overwhelm the student . For all this, studying at a university in the Netherlands will be an experience that will change your life. In addition to having the opportunity to share with students from up to 190 different countries, you will receive your academic training in one of the happiest and safest countries in the world.
As you already know, the universities in the Netherlands are divided into those of applied sciences and those of research. Regardless of the category of the institution where you want to study, the requirements you must meet are:
These are general requirements, but there are other documents or procedures that vary according to the university of your interest. In general terms, you should perform the following steps:
Apart from the universities, in the Netherlands there are also Institutes for International Education. In most cases, these establishments belong to Research Universities (WO). They offer specialization courses, master’s degrees and in a few cases, doctorates . The most popular institutions that fall into this category are:
In these study centers you also find short courses in different areas and topics. Depending on the duration and the institution, the requirements may vary a bit. For example, if you have Cuban or Ecuadorian nationality, you will need a Schengen visa . The rest of the requirements will depend on the IIE and the duration of the program you are interested in, but as a general rule you must speak English and certificate and translate the relevant documents .
If your dream is to study in the Netherlands, there is no reason not to fulfill it, since the admission process of the Dutch educational system for foreign students is relatively simple. Next, we tell you step by step what you should do:
The Netherlands is a country that has numerous institutions of international recognition. Universities of applied sciences, which prepare students for specific professions in the field of art and science, have between 20,000 and 40,000 students. According to the 2020 QS World University Rankings , the top 2 universities in the Netherlands are Delft University of Technology (ranked 50th) and the University of Amsterdam (ranked 64th). However, there are many other universities in the Netherlands renowned for the quality of their teaching. Some of them are:
Do you want to study in this first world country? If the answer was positive, continue reading to find out about the types of visas that you can apply for, what are the requirements that will be requested and what is the process that you will have to follow to fulfill your dream.
Do you plan to study a bachelor’s or university program in the Netherlands for more than 3 months? Then you will need the MVV student visa. One of the advantages that this nation offers to foreign students is that, in general, the universities or institutes themselves are the ones that initiate the process to obtain the visa. This support from the institution undoubtedly builds trust and helps you to know from the beginning how the process works and what documents you should have on hand
As a holder of an MVV, you can only work in paid employment if your employer has a TWV (Temporary Work Permit) for you . With a TWV, you can work a maximum of 16 hours a week or full time during the summer (June, July, and August). You can also work as a freelancer as long as you meet the requirements of your MVV.
If you plan to travel to the Netherlands to visit friends or relatives, do tourism and also participate in an educational course for less than 3 months , this is the visa that corresponds to you. However, it is important to know which nationalities need a Schengen Visa , as there are countries that are exempt from this visa. To check whether or not you need a Schengen Visa to travel to the Netherlands, click here .
Important: if you are under 18 years of age and traveling alone, you must have legal authorization from your parents or representatives and present your economic solvency documents.
Yes, in the Netherlands you can work during your short stay as long as your employer has a work permit issued by the UWV . This rule also applies to voluntary or unpaid work. You may also need the BSN (” burgerservicenummer” ) issued by the town hall. For more information, visit the official portal of the UWV.
Fortunately, there are different institutes in the country that offer Dutch courses to foreigners. Some of the most relevant are:
To study Dutch at any institute or language center in the Netherlands, you must have your MVV visa if the course lasts more than 3 months. Otherwise and if your nationality requires it, you must have the Schengen visa. In addition, each institution has its own admission requirements that you should consult when you have already selected the program of your interest. In general, you will most likely need to comply with the following:
There are courses for all ages and levels, so don’t give up on your dream of learning Dutch.
Again, the process depends on each institution and the type of course you are applying to. The offer is quite varied so take your time to choose the program that best suits what you are looking for. The duration of the course is what will determine whether or not you need the MVV visa.
Remember that this visa is requested by the same institution, so it is extremely important that you contact the academy to start the process if the program lasts more than 3 months. If you will see private classes with a tutor for a few weeks and your nationality does not require a Schengen visa, it will be enough to buy a plane ticket and plan the rest of your trip.
The Netherlands does not have a specific visa to learn its official language. However, if the Dutch culture has captured you enough to want to learn Dutch, there are several options available to you. If you complete the procedures for the student visa (MVV), you can participate in intense courses of up to 52 weeks. On the contrary, if you have a tourist visa that only allows you to be in the Netherlands for 3 months, you can enroll in short courses of 1-7 weeks or see private lessons with a Dutch tutor.
Thanks to the international recognition that education in the Netherlands has gained, today you have access to many interesting scholarships and financial financing . Here we mention the most popular:
The scholarships and financial support are aimed at all types of students, from many parts of the world and who wish to study a degree, postgraduate or undergraduate courses. Although each financing has its own requirements, we can distinguish several in general terms:
In case you do not qualify for a scholarship, you also have the option of entering an exchange program if a university in your country has an agreement with a Dutch institution. For more information, we recommend you visit the official Study in Holland website.
Do you want to work while you study in the Netherlands? Both the Schengen visa and the MVV Visa allow you to work, but it is necessary that both you and your employer meet some requirements. One of the mandatory requirements is that your employer must process a personal work permit for you . The law stipulates that, with the student visa, you can work a maximum of 16 hours a week or full time in the months of June, July and August. The work permit (TWV) must be requested by your employer at least 5 weeks before you start your work activities. The process is free and although you cannot do it on your own, you can ask your employer to give you a copy. Once your personal TWV has been approved, it is only valid for the job that was applied for. In other words, if you use your work permit for a different job, you would be working illegally in the Netherlands. If you want to know more about it, you can download the brochure of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment here .
Congratulations! If you have finished your studies in the Netherlands and want to stay working in the country of tulips, we have excellent news. After receiving your diploma and being a professional in every way, there will be hundreds of international recruitment agencies that will be interested in you. To find out more about the opportunities you have as a graduate of a Dutch university, you can visit the Holland Alumni website, an organization funded by the Dutch government that facilitates job search and connects graduates with employers and companies. At Go-Study-In, we want to help you fulfill your dream of studying in the Netherlands. For this reason, we invite you to fill out the following form and receive advice from our experts.
