Study in the Netherlands

Admissions, entry and visa requirements

There are two systems for applying to university in the Netherlands – directly to the institution or through Studielink, an online centralized application procedure. Which one you need depends on the university and the course to which you are applying. You may even be required to use a combination of the two, so check carefully with the institution.

Certain oversubscribed courses in the Netherlands are deemed numerous fixus. To get onto one of these courses, you will need to be successful in a lottery – again, talk to the institution.

Fees vary depending on whether or not you are from an EU nation. If you are, the average annual fee is €2,296 (US$3,050), and if not, you can expect to pay €9,733 (US$12,850). Tuition will be in Dutch or English – be prepared to prove you can speak the relevant one.

As with any nation in the European Union, the visa process differs according to whether or not you are a citizen of another nation in the EU (or Switzerland).

EU nationals

•    No visa required
•    You will need to register as an inhabitant with your local city council, proving that you are a have a place to live. You will also need to present your passport and birth certificate.
•    You must purchase health insurance. This is required by law.
•    It is also advisable, though not compulsory, to register with the Dutch immigration authorities, for which you’ll need to prove you’ve enrolled, sign a document to say you have sufficient financial means, and show you’ve purchased health insurance.
•    Bulgarians and Romanians are also advised to apply for a residence permit (see below), and will need work permits. You can either apply for a standard work permit, as if you were a non-EU student, or for one which allows you to work without restriction, for which your employer must prove there are no EU or Swiss citizens capable of doing the same job (no such restriction exists for the former permit).

Non EU nationals

•    Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a provisional residence permit, known as an MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf). The Nuffic website has the relevant information. Your host institution will probably make the actual application for you, but you will need to supply all the necessary documents, which must be in Dutch, English, French or German, or officially translated into one of these languages. As well as basic documentation showing you’re actually on a course, you will need to prove you have €794.69 (US$1,045) a month to support yourself.
•    Chinese students enrolling on English language courses must also apply for the Nuffic Certificate, which can be done online through the Nuffic Certificate Online Application System, in order to get their MVV.
•    You will need to apply for a residence permit. Your institution will apply for this on your behalf, which should occur within five days of your arrival in the country. Your permit will be valid for a maximum of 12 months, after which you must renew. Some, but not all, institutions will do this for you, so make sure you check which one applies.
•    You must also register with the local Aliens Police (Vreemdelingendienst) with three days of arriving, to whom you must prove that you have somewhere to live and that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay.
•    You should also register with your local municipality.
•    Purchasing health insurance is mandatory.
•    If you want to work while you study you will need to apply for a work permit, which will allow you to work for ten hours a week during term time, and full time during holidays. Your employer will apply for this.

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