THE NETHERLANDS

In recent years the Netherlands has become one of Europe’s biggest draws for international students, and the reasons are clear: a vast choice of English-taught programmes, comparatively affordable tuition, a strong economy and a central location in the heart of Europe. Students come here for a practical education that leads quickly to a job, rather than for the centuries-old traditions of Britain. Almost everyone speaks English too, 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 boarding schools. It has just one true international boarding school — Eerde International Boarding School. Set in the town of Ommen in the east of the country, it occupies a 17th-century manor estate. The school takes 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), weekly boarding (going home at weekends) or day school.  A year of tuition with accommodation costs around 21,700 euros plus a registration fee. The programmes are built around the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), which every Dutch university recognises. The arts are a particular strength: the school has its own art gallery, a theatre studio and a music school.

For students. Far more international students come 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 in their first year.  The most popular fields are business, economics, IT, engineering and the social sciences. The international share is especially high on Master’s programmes: at the University of Twente, for instance, 72% of Master’s students come from abroad. The Netherlands is also renowned for its universities of applied sciences (hogescholen), which train people 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. Dutch schools are infused with pragmatism and freedom. You rarely see a strict uniform, everyone is on first-name terms, and teachers do not lean on their authority. In place of rote learning come projects and discussion. Teaching is in Dutch or English. Most 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 very different types of university. 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, and there the Bachelor’s lasts four years. Both offer hundreds of programmes in English.

Studying in the Netherlands is known for its intensity. Students do a great deal of independent work: reading, essays and group projects. In return, they come away highly self-organised and with a modern outlook.

Visa requirements

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

• A passport valid for at least your whole 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

The consular fee when applying at the embassy is around 210–350 euros, depending on the country.

One key advantage: a student visa lets you travel freely throughout the Schengen Area, and graduates may stay for a year to look for work under a special scheme.

Pros and cons

Pros.

• A vast 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 near-universal English 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 find work after you graduate

Cons.

• An acute housing shortage, especially in the big cities 
• The weather — rainy and windy, not for everyone 
• Bureaucracy in obtaining permits is still a factor 
• The system gives a broad outlook, but some say it lacks depth
• A high risk of being expelled for poor results