Study in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide for an Online Programme in 2023

Study in Netherlands

If Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and speed skating go together in your mind, and you like mobility and open-minded people, then perhaps you were made for studying in the Netherlands.

Extra treats are the internationalised community, hearing English spoken as frequently as Dutch, great museums, and a colourful nightlife. Sure, the rainy weather might be a bit of a downer, but you won’t mind it when you have great company.

What can we say? There are few other study destinations better than the Netherlands. But it’s never a bad idea to give you more specific details, so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Why study in the Netherlands?

1. Affordable tuition fees

Dutch public universities have very affordable tuition fees if you're an European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) national. You won't usually pay more that 2,100 EUR per academic year, with various study programmes often being cheaper than that.

The story is a bit different for non-EU/EEA students, who pay anywhere between 6,000 and 20,000 EUR per year. That's still much more affordable when compared with tuition fees of over 50,000 EUR per year in the USA.

2. No language barriers

Over 90% of Dutch citizens speak English. Whether you want to visit a famous tourist attraction on your own, ask for directions, or buy something from a shop, you won't have any headache regarding language barriers.

The popularity of the English language also makes it very easy to socialise and connect with people, to take part in social and cultural events, or simply make friends and go out.

3. Work flexibility after graduation

In this case, work flexibility means two things: one, you can work in any number of fields after graduation and enjoy great salaries and employee benefits; and two, the Netherlands is one of the leading countries where the 4-day work week is a common option in all sectors of the economy.

4. A heaven for cycling enthusiasts

According to governmental statistics, there are over 23 million bikes in the Netherlands, more than the number of actual citizens (around 17 millions). Cycle lanes are literally everywhere, and many students and employees use them to commute on a daily basis.

It represents a great way to reduce air pollution and increase personal health and wellbeing.

5. The Netherlands is safe and enjoyable

The Netherlands is one of the safest and happiest countries in the world. This is hardly surprising when we look at the high standard of living, the educated citizens, and society as a whole.

Which universities to attend in the Netherlands?

With over 10 universities featured in the top 500 international higher education rankings, Netherlands is an exciting country to study in. Dutch universities attract their students with a casual approach to education and top English-taught degrees.

If you don’t know where to start looking for a Dutch university, here's a few international universities we recommend:

What is it like to study in the Netherlands?

Students in the Netherlands are encouraged to be very active. Professors are very approachable and avoid too much formalities. Also, the Netherlands has a big international students’ community which is very friendly and open to other newcomers. Dutch students are approachable and can be perfect party buddies.

On top of that, you can always use a bike to go to school, the distances are short, and there’s always some cultural activity going on.

What to study in the Netherlands?

Numerous English-taught programmes and native English-speaking teachers make studying in the Netherlands very appealing to international students. And there’s no other country that can beat the Netherlands at programmes related to Water Resource Management. By now, you already suspect that some of the most popular study options in this country are related to Engineering and Tech.

Here are some key subject areas you can study in the Netherlands:

Where to study in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands has ten major cities that attract both students and tourists, and are great urban hubs. Dutch cities are often lively, environmental-friendly, and maintain a cultural vibe.

Some of the best student cities that you can choose from are:

How to apply

The Dutch higher education system is based on the Bologna process. There is an official country website providing information about studying in the Netherlands, and you can visit the educational institutions' websites for more information. Enrolment applications should be submitted via Studielink.nl.

Generally, your starting point should be the website of the educational institution. Here you can find all the information about the content of the programme and also how to enrol. Usually, this will guide you to Studielink for the enrolment application. In Studielink, you should follow the next steps:

Create a Studielink account
Submit an enrolment application in Studielink
Choose your payment method in Studielink to pay the tuition fee
After you have submitted an enrolment application, your educational institution will contact you about the required documents which you need to upload before the deadline expires.

Each degree and university have their own application requirements, so pay attention and carefully check the list of documents. For questions about or help with your enrolment, you can contact the student services of your prospective university.

Usually, the documents required are:

A copy of passport or ID card
A passport photo
A personal statement in English
Copies of secondary school diplomas, certificates and/or grade lists in English, French, German or Dutch
Transcript of records
Proof of English/Dutch language proficiency

Some universities may require extra documents, such as:

CV or resume (including two referees)
Motivation letter
Sample of academic written work

Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for a Dutch university

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-MBA, pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in the Netherlands, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures; some schools will require Dutch, while others will require strong English skills. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

The language certificates you will need to provide, depending on the language in which you wish to study, are:

For Dutch: Dutch TUL or Dutch NT2-II diploma
For English: TOEFL, IELTS, or C1 Advanced, PTE Academic

Sometimes, if you don’t hold a language certificate, you can take a language test at the university and find out if your level is good enough.

This option is only available at some universities, so always check with the institution!

Living in Netherlands

Let's take a closer look at the average tuition and living expenses in the Netherlands:

Tuition fees in in the Netherlands

As part of the EU, the Netherlands practices different tuition fees for EU/EEA students and non-EU/EEA students. Tuition fees for EU students are between 700 and 2,100 EUR/year, while for non-EU students they start at 6,000 and can reach 20,000 EUR/year. Private universities are even more expensive.

Still, you should be mindful that the cost of studies is influenced by the type of degree and by the subject area. For example, Master’s programmes are typically more expensive than Bachelor’s programmes, and can reach even 30,000 EUR/year.

Accommodation, housing, food and other expenses

The Netherlands is not the cheapest country in the EU, but the living costs here are not that high either. On average, you need a budget of 800–1,200 EUR/month. Here are some figures that will give you an overall idea about what you can expect in terms of Dutch living costs:

Meal at an affordable restaurant: 15 EUR
Beer: 4 EUR
Monthly shopping cart (food and groceries): 150–180 EUR
Monthly transportation pass: 85 EUR
Monthly rent: 300–1,000 EUR (depending on the type of accommodation)
Utilities: 100–230 EUR/month

About Netherlands

Interesting facts about the Netherlands

Everybody knows that the Netherlands is the country of tulips and windmills. But did you know that Netherlands is not only big on tulips, but on all flower bulbs? About 80% of the world’s flower bulbs come from the Netherlands.

On a more serious note, Netherlands has a very rich cultural history, as it was the home of painters like Hieronymus Bosch, or Jan Steen, but also of the famous sixteen century scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam.

For those of you who still call the Netherlands Holland, you’re in for a surprise: Holland is actually a region of the Netherlands. This means that not all Dutch people come from Holland, but all Hollanders come from the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is also a monarchy since… forever. Interestingly enough, today’s ruling monarch, King Willem-Alexander, is the first male monarch the country has had in 123 years.

Some other interesting facts that might also influence your stay in the Netherlands that you should know about are:

The Netherlands has the highest English-proficiency in the world, with about 94% of the Dutch people being fluent in English;
The people to surface ratio here is the highest in Europe. To put it in figures, the density is about 500 people/square kilometre;
There are more bikes than Dutch people in the Netherlands, so mind the bike traffic!
Another eco-friendly aspect about the Netherlands is that the Dutch government wants to ban the sales of gas and diesel-powered cars by 2025;
About 22% of the people in Netherlands are not Dutch, but foreign residents, so you’re up for a very multicultural society;
The Dutch are first in Europe when it comes to the most nutritious food offer, so the calories won’t be an issue to worry about;
Amsterdam has over 100 bridges, so you might need a map just to learn how to get around from bridge to bridge (to another bridge).

Universities, colleges and schools in Netherlands

's-Hertogenbosch

HAS green academy (2 Distance Learning courses)

Amsterdam

United International Business Schools (24 Distance Learning courses)
University of Amsterdam (21 Distance Learning courses)
IE University (1 Distance Learning course)
Winc Academy (7 Distance Learning courses)
Utrecht Summer School (1 Distance Learning course)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (28 Distance Learning courses)
European Leadership University (1 Distance Learning course)
Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) (3 Distance Learning courses)
Amsterdam International College (AIU College) (2 Distance Learning courses)

Arnhem

ArtEZ University of the Arts (1 Distance Learning course)

Buren

Business School Netherlands (2 Distance Learning courses)

Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) (130 Distance Learning courses)
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (22 Distance Learning courses)

Den Haag

The Hague University of Applied Sciences (8 Distance Learning courses)
International Business School, The Hague Netherlands (1 Distance Learning course)
The International ARLT Foundation (2 Distance Learning courses)

Eindhoven

IMF Academy (17 Distance Learning courses)
Studyportals (1 Distance Learning course)
ESTIEM (European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management) (1 Distance Learning course)

Enschede

University of Twente (UT) (1 Distance Learning course)
Twente Pathway College (1 Distance Learning course)

Groningen

University of Groningen (3 Distance Learning courses)
New Energy Business School (1 Distance Learning course)

Leeuwarden

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (1 Distance Learning course)

Leiden

Webster Leiden Campus (1 Distance Learning course)
Leiden University (2 Distance Learning courses)

Utrecht

Utrecht University (33 Distance Learning courses)
Elevate Academy (3 Distance Learning courses)

Wageningen

Wageningen University and Research (41 Distance Learning courses)

Study a master programme from the comfort of your own home. The Studyportals platform offers the largest overview of online and blended study opportunities from all over the world. You now have the possibility to follow your dream study programme at one of the best universities in the world without having to relocate.

Distance education is the perfect solution for professionals looking to further their career. It offers the possibility for additional qualification while keeping the current job. With flexible schedule and resources available online, distance study programmes can be the key to your career development and a job promotion.

Online study is also a money saver, as the student does not have to spend money on moving or on a possibly expensive day to day life in a new country. So if you are in search for the best education, but do not want to relocate, give up your current life style or disrupt the comfort of your family, distance learning is the solution for you.

Looking at a growing demand for these study opportunities, combined with a lack of transparency in this quickly growing and exciting study mode, we decided to open up our portals and to also offer you information about these education options offered globally.

Please note, that for the time being this section does not yet include any on campus programmes offered in these parts of the world.

Learn below about the different countries and choose your online study from a growing selection of online studies offered by accredited institutions.

Distance Learning

Distance learning is a mode of study that allows the student to study most or all of a course without attending at a campus-based institution. The distance can refer to both material and interaction. Distance learning provides access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.

The programmes often include a computer-based training system and tools to produce a virtual classroom. The tuition fees for distance learning vary from institution to programme to country. It is certain that the student saves expenses related to accommodation and transportation, because you can maintain the current living expenses. Distance learning is also a great solution for people that already have a job, and still want or need further education.