Destination GuideStudy in Netherlands
The English-speaking gateway to Europe. Famous for its research universities, open work culture, and high English proficiency (95%).
Cost of Attendance (COA)
Breakdown of estimated annual expenses (EUR). Warning: Housing costs are rising due to the national shortage.
University Scholarships
Dutch scholarships are typically "one-off" grants to help reduce tuition, rather than full-ride awards.
NL Scholarship
Formerly the "Holland Scholarship." Financed by the Ministry of Education for non-EEA students.
Justus & Louise van Effen
The most prestigious award at TU Delft. Covers full tuition and living expenses for MSc students.
Maastricht High Potential
Targeted at talented students from outside the EU. Covers tuition plus a monthly stipend.
The Roadmap to Netherlands
From the entry visa (MVV) to the "Orientation Year" (Zoekjaar). Beware the strict "MoMi" study progress rule.
The TEV Procedure
Your university applies for you. You must transfer the Living Expenses (€13,570) to the university's bank account. The IND approves your entry visa (MVV) in ~2-4 weeks.
BSN & Residence Card
Upon arrival, you must register at the town hall to get your BSN (Citizen Service Number). This number is required to open a bank account, get insurance, and receive a salary.
MoMi (Monitoring)
The 50% Rule: You must obtain at least 50% of the required ECTS credits every academic year. If you fail, the university is legally required to report you to the IND, and your visa is revoked.
Orientation Year (Zoekjaar)
After graduation, you can apply for the "Orientation Year" visa. This gives you 12 months to find a job. During this year, you have free access to the labor market (no sponsorship needed).
Top 3 Universities
The Netherlands has 13 research universities, all ranked in the Global Top 250. These three are the absolute elite.
TU Delft
Delft, South HollandRanked #47 Globally (QS 2025). The oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands, famous for Aerospace and Architecture.
Univ. of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, NHRanked #53 Globally. It is the intellectual hub of the country, dominating rankings in Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication.
Erasmus University
Rotterdam, SHHome to the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). The premier choice for Finance, Economics, and MBA students in Europe.