Universities & Courses in Netherlands

Your guide to finding the best universities and courses in Netherlands tailored to your academic and career goals.

How to Search

Start with the Study in NL website (the Dutch government's study website) and each university's own pages.

Where to Search

Places to look.

Study in NL Studyfinder: Search for programmes on the Dutch government's study website.
University programme pages: Entry rules, deadlines and fees for each programme.

Narrow Your List

Check these for each programme:

How Nuffic (the Dutch office that compares foreign degrees) rates your degree.
The English score the programme asks for.
The tuition fee and the money proof together.

Tips

Check if the programme has numerus fixus (only a fixed number of places).

Check the deadline for non-EU students.

Check the fee for your start year.

Check the entry requirements

Types of Universities

Two main types offer degrees to international students.

Research universities (WO)

These programmes are built on research. Many graduates work in jobs that are not research.

Key Characteristics:

About 240,000 students study at Dutch research universities.

Best For:

Students who want academic, research-based study.

Examples:

TU DelftTU/eErasmus University RotterdamLeiden UniversityMaastricht UniversityUniversity of AmsterdamUniversity of GroningenUtrecht University

Universities of applied sciences (HBO)

Programmes focused on using knowledge in practice.

Key Characteristics:

About 446,000 students study at Dutch universities of applied sciences.
Internships are an important part of study.

Best For:

Students who want practical, job-focused study.

Examples:

Amsterdam University of Applied SciencesFontys University of Applied SciencesHanze University of Applied Sciences GroningenThe Hague University of Applied Sciences

Example Programmes

Examples of programmes you can study.

Technology and Science

Master's (MSc) Computer Science (TU Delft)

Master's (MSc) Mechanical Engineering (Eindhoven University of Technology, TU/e)

Artificial Intelligence master's (Utrecht University)

Computer Science master's (UvA and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Engineering and science master's usually take 2 years.

Economics and Business

Econometrics master's (UvA)

International Economics master's (MSc) (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Economics and Business master's (University of Groningen)

Many one-year master's.

Health

Global Health master's (Maastricht University)

Interdisciplinary Research in Health Dynamics (University of Groningen)

Social Sciences and Law

International Relations, EU Studies (Leiden University)

International Children's Rights (Leiden University)

Dutch Degrees

Research universities (called WO in Dutch) teach through research. Universities of applied sciences (called HBO) teach job skills. Both give bachelor's and master's degrees. Study time is counted in credits. A full year is 60 credits.

Bachelor's

3 years (research university) or 4 years (applied sciences)

Common Examples

Program Structure

thesis

Almost all research university bachelor's end with a thesis.

credits

180 credits (research university) or 240 credits (applied sciences)

internships

Internships are an important part of applied sciences programmes.

specialization

Some programmes let you pick a main subject (major) and a smaller extra subject (minor).

Research bachelor's prepare you for a master's or work. Applied sciences bachelor's prepare you for a job in a field.

Master's

1 to 3 years

Common Examples

Program Structure

thesis

credits

60 to 180 credits

research

Research master's train you for scientific research.

specialization

Engineering, maths, science and agriculture master's take 2 years.

A master's takes at least one year (60 credits).

PhD

4 years

Common Examples

Program Structure

defense

research

At a research university.

coursework

supervision

Doctoral research at a research university.

Grades

Grades go from 1 to 10. You need at least 6 to pass. Most grades are between 6 and 8.

Scale: 1 to 10

Universities Indian and Pakistani Students Often Choose

Facts about each university.

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Delft | Research university

Specializations

Engineering
Computer Science

Highlights

Master's fee for students from outside the EU: EUR 26,479 a year in 2027-28.
16 full scholarships for regular MSc programmes from the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence foundation.

University of Amsterdam (UvA)

Amsterdam | Research university

Specializations

Economics
Science
Law

Highlights

Fees differ by faculty. For example, an Economics master's costs EUR 24,500 a year in 2027-28.

Leiden University

Leiden | Research university

Specializations

International Relations
Law

Highlights

Deadline for students from outside the EU, for a September start: 1 April.
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) for students from outside the EEA (the EU and a few more European countries).