THE NETHERLANDS

In recent years the Netherlands has become one of Europe’s leading magnets for international students. The reasons are clear: a huge choice of English-taught programmes, comparatively affordable tuition, a strong economy and a convenient location in the heart of Europe. People come here for a practical education that quickly leads to a job, rather than for centuries-old traditions like those in Britain. On top of that, almost the entire population speaks English, so the language barrier is minimal even on the street.

What people usually come to study

For school pupils. Unlike the United Kingdom or Switzerland, the Netherlands is not a country of mass boarding schools. It has just one genuine international boarding school — Eerde International Boarding School. It is located in the town of Ommen in the east of the country and occupies a 17th-century manor estate. The school admits pupils from the age of 12, with around 150 children from 20 countries studying there at any one time.  You can choose full boarding (the child lives on campus permanently), weekly boarding (going home for the weekend) or day school.  A year of tuition with accommodation costs around 21,700 euros plus a registration fee. The study programmes are built around the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), which is recognised by all Dutch universities. The school has a strong emphasis on the arts: it has its own art gallery, a theatre studio and a music school.

For students. Far more international students come to the Netherlands for higher education. In the 2024/25 academic year there were 115,000 international students at Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences, 37,600 of them first-years.  The most popular fields are business, economics, IT, engineering and the social sciences. The share of international students is especially high on Master’s programmes: at the University of Twente, for example, 72% of Master’s students come from abroad. The Netherlands is also famed for its universities of applied sciences (hogescholen), which train practitioners for specific professions — from engineering to the arts. Employers abroad value these graduates for their readiness to get straight down to work.

How studying works

Secondary education. Local schools are infused with a spirit of pragmatism and freedom. You rarely see a strict uniform, everyone is on first-name terms, and teachers don’t lean on their authority. Instead of rote learning — projects and discussions. Teaching is in Dutch or English. Most of the country’s schools are state-run and free, but to enrol an international pupil without residence rights you need a study permit, which is not granted to everyone.

Higher education. There are two types of university here, very different from one another. Research universities (WO) provide fundamental knowledge; their Bachelor’s lasts three years and the Master’s one to two. Universities of applied sciences (HBO) focus on practice, where the Bachelor’s lasts four years. Both offer hundreds of programmes in English.

Studying in the Netherlands is known for its intensity. Students have to do a lot of independent work: reading, writing essays and doing group projects. In return, they emerge highly self-organised and with a modern way of thinking.

Visa requirements

Citizens of countries outside the EU who study for longer than 90 days need a temporary residence permit (MVV) and a residence permit. The process works like this: you are admitted to a university, which itself submits the documents to the Immigration Service (IND). You receive an MVV to enter and, on arrival, obtain a residence permit for the duration of your studies. Main requirements:

• A passport valid for at least the entire period of study
• Confirmation of enrolment
• Proof of finances: around 13,200 euros a year for living costs
• Health insurance
• Sometimes — a certificate of no criminal record

Consular fee when applying at the embassy: around 210–350 euros depending on the country.

One of the main advantages: a student visa allows free travel throughout the Schengen Area, and graduates have the right to stay for a year to look for work under a special programme.

Pros and cons

Pros.

• A huge choice of English-taught programmes — one of the widest in continental Europe
• Tuition costs noticeably less than in the USA or the United Kingdom 
• A high quality of life and 100% English proficiency among the locals 
• Degrees are valued worldwide, especially in business and engineering 
• A convenient location in the heart of Europe 
• A welcoming immigration policy — a full year to look for work after your studies

Cons.

• An acute housing shortage, especially in major cities 
• The weather — rainy and windy, not for everyone 
• Bureaucracy in obtaining permits is still a factor 
• The education system gives a broad outlook, but some complain about a lack of depth
• A high risk of being expelled for poor academic performance