Dutch University Admissions Guide
How students from India and Pakistan apply to Dutch universities: entry rules, English tests, papers, deadlines and the application steps.
Netherlands University Applications
- Language Proficiency
- IELTS or TOEFL report
- Documents
- Motivation letter and CV
First make an account on Studielink, the Dutch website where you apply. Then finish your application on your university's own website.
Your Path to a Dutch University
Applications go through Studielink and the university's own website.
Choose programmes
Find programmes in Studyfinder on Study in NL (the Dutch government's study website) and on university websites.
Choose programmes
Find programmes in Studyfinder on Study in NL (the Dutch government's study website) and on university websites.
Check entry rules
Your diploma, your marks and your English score.
Check entry rules
Your diploma, your marks and your English score.
Prepare papers
Transcripts, diploma, English test, motivation letter and CV.
Prepare papers
Transcripts, diploma, English test, motivation letter and CV.
Apply
Make a Studielink account, then apply on the university's website. Some universities ask you to pay an application fee. Check yours.
Apply
Make a Studielink account, then apply on the university's website. Some universities ask you to pay an application fee. Check yours.
Wait for the decision
Utrecht University tries to answer within 20 working days. TU Delft's master's in Computer Science sends its answer in mid-March.
Wait for the decision
Utrecht University tries to answer within 20 working days. TU Delft's master's in Computer Science sends its answer in mid-March.
Accept and start the visa
Your university then applies to the IND (the Dutch immigration office) for you.
Accept and start the visa
Your university then applies to the IND (the Dutch immigration office) for you.
Key Application Deadlines
- Courses with a fixed number of places (numerus fixus): 15 January.
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), master's in Computer Science: 15 January.
- Leiden University, Utrecht University and Erasmus University Rotterdam, for students from outside the EU/EEA (the European Union and a few more European countries; India and Pakistan are outside it): 1 April.
- Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Mechanical Engineering: 1 May.
- Maastricht University (Global Health master's), for students from outside the EU/EEA: 1 May 2027.
Studielink opened on 1 October 2026 for courses that start in 2027-28. Apply before your deadline.
Comprehensive Admissions Guide
Explore every aspect of the Netherlands university application process through our detailed guides on eligibility, documents, and submission procedures.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even qualified applicants can face rejection due to application errors. Be aware of these common mistakes to increase your chances.
Only finishing Studielink
Studielink is step one. You must also finish the application on the university's own website.
Missing papers
Incomplete applications are not processed. Upload everything before the deadline.
Old English test
TU Delft and Utrecht University do not accept an IELTS or TOEFL English test that is more than 2 years old.
Using the deadline for EU students
Students from outside the EU have an earlier deadline. At Utrecht University it is 1 April, not 1 June.
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