Study in Netherlands: Top Universities, Courses, and Career Opportunities

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Blogs Study in Netherlands Blogs October 6, 2024

Introduction

Students in higher education find the Netherlands to be an excellent destination for study due to the high level of investment in their education system and its global reputation. Study in the Netherlands is a popular choice, with international students representing 160 distinct countries. Additionally, the Netherlands is a more affordable study destination compared to the U.S. and U.K., with low tuition fees and manageable living costs. If you’re looking for the Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students, the Netherlands is a top option

Why Study In the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is a culture rich competitive economy which strives for its exceptional quality of education. This blog comprehensively discusses the reasons why you should study in the Netherlands. It also discusses the top universities for your desired course.

Low Cost of Living:

One of the notable features of universities in the Netherlands is the low cost of courses. The tuition fee is relatively lower in the Netherlands as compared to other foreign destinations. Also, the cost of living i.e. renting, food, maintenance and other expenses are also affordable in the Netherlands, making it a preferred destination for higher studies.

Diversity and Multicultural Society:

The Netherlands is among the densely populated countries, this dense population also adds to the diversity in the country. Dutch society is open to foreign students as well as settlers.

World class reputation

Dutch universities hold worldwide reputation due to its quality of education and the world class experience that it provides to its students. The infrastructural development as well as institutional set up of the Netherlands is well honoured and recognised.

Contemporary Courses

The carefully designed courses to fit the contemporary needs convince you to study in the Netherlands, doesn’t it? I am sure it does. You get to study practical elements embedded in your curriculum that will prepare you for the industry and benefit from excellent industry partnerships of Dutch universities with local and international companies allowing you to find internship opportunities related to your domain.

Friendly and welcoming Country

The Netherlands offers a friendly and welcoming spirit to its foreign students. The country is highly open to in-migrations and international students. The country also allows the students to live comfortable and peaceful lives.

Internships and Work Opportunities

The Netherlands is a great place to find work. This friendly and culturally rich country is also a competitive economy which has a significant GDP contribution. It provides an end number of internships and job opportunities to its international students. Students can work along with studies by applying for a work permit.

Tech and startup hub

The Netherlands is on its way to become a tech and startup hub in a few years. There is a lot of scope in these sectors in the Netherlands. The government now supports businesses and startups to flourish and have significant contributions to the GDP of the country.

Dutch culture and lifestyle

Study in Netherlands and experience Dutch culture, which emphasizes maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The Dutch typically work 16 hours a week, achieving higher productivity and leading more peaceful lives. They also rank among the healthiest populations in the world. With a great culture, strong work-life balance, and friendly nature, the Dutch create a positive impact in their daily lives.

Confidence building and personality development

Being part of a top-ranking university and studying in the Netherlands, experiencing different enlightening experiences, getting exposed to cultural diversity and networking, you gain a lot of confidence and also improve your communication skills. This ultimately leads to overall personality development and growth.

Popular courses in Netherlands

Courses	Tuition Fee (INR)
Econometrics and data science	18-20L
Animation	8-10L
Big data engineering	10-14 L
Water science engineering	10-14 L
Medical physiology	17-18L
Economics	10-14 L
Law	16-20L
MBA	10-20L
Industrial and applied mathematics	12-15L
European policy	9-10L
Conflict resolution and governance	13-16L
Identity and integration	11-13L
Medical informatics	12-14L

Top Colleges in Netherlands

University of Amsterdam

Courses Offered (100+)	MBA/PGDM Msc Bachelors program Diploma courses
Tuition Fee	INR 14-20 L
Exams accepted	IELTS, PTE, GRE and GMAT

Delft University of Technology

Courses Offered	Msc M.Arch M.tech B.E/ B.Tech
Popular fields	Architecture Mechanical Engineering Civil Engineering
Tuition Fee	INR 17-20 L
Exams accepted	TOEFL, IELTS, GRE

Wageningen University & Research

Courses Offered (50+)

Popular fields

Finance
Mechanical engineering
Computer science
Psychology
Chemical engineering
Business administration and management
Economics

Tuition Fee

INR 17-19 L

Exams accepted

IELTS, TOEFL

Leiden University

Courses Offered

Film and Photographic Studies
Museum studies
History
Applied archeology
European Union Studies
Others

M.Sc

War and peace studies
Political Science
Visual ethnography
Others

Tuition Fee

INR 18L

Exams accepted

IELTS, TOEFL

University of Groningen

Courses Offered	BA Bsc MA Msc MBA/PGDM Law
Faculties/Department	Economics and Business Religion culture and society Medical science Philosophy Spatial Science Arts Behavioural and social science Science and engineering Law
Tuition Fee	INR 7-18L
Exams accepted	IELTS, TOEFL

Utrecht University

Courses Offered	MBA LLM Msc BA Bsc
Faculty	Faculty of Geosciences Faculty of Humanities Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Tuition Fee	INR 15-21L
Exams accepted	IELTS, TOEFL

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Courses Offered	MBA LLM Msc BA Bsc
Schools, institutes under the university	Erasmus School of Economics Erasmus School of Law Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management Erasmus University College Erasmus School of Philosophy International Institute of Social Studies Erasmus MC Rotterdam School of Management
Tuition Fee	MA- INR 3-17L MSc.- INR 10-20L MBA- INR 15-40L
Exams accepted	IELTS, TOEFL

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Courses Offered	MBA Msc BA Bsc
Tuition Fee	INR 11-21L
Exams accepted	IELTS, TOEFL

Conclusion

The Netherlands is a good choice for completing your higher education and working for a successful career in future. Not only are the educational institutions and education system worth experiencing but also the culture and lifestyle of Dutch people is an equally attractive element.

FAQs

How much does it cost to study in the Netherlands?

Cost of studying in the Netherlands is comparatively lower, tuition fee starting from as low as 4 lakhs for MA courses to a starting 7 lakhs for Msc courses.

Is the Netherlands good for Indian students?

In the QS World University Rankings 2024, 8 universities in the Netherlands rank within the top 200, showcasing the country’s commitment to academic excellence. Additionally, the Netherlands is a hub for international students, with over 90,000 students from 160 countries, ensuring a diverse and inclusive environment.

Overview

Students in higher education find the Dutch to be excellent hosts because of their high investment level in their education system. There are 160 distinct countries represented among the international students in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a cheaper destination for studying than the U.S. and U.K. It is important that students’ tuition fees are low and living costs are affordable, so if you are searching for the Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students, then the Netherlands is your place.

Studying in the Netherlands offers you a place that ranks among the ten safest and happiest universities around the world. In 2019, the Netherlands ranked 17th among all economies as measured by GDP per capita; condense that into one tiny country, and you have a place with a very high income per capita. As a result, the Dutch believe that a good education cannot be completed without adequate job experience, which is why they structure their programs to meet the needs of specific industries. It is a great country to study, providing high-quality education in Europe if you are looking for the best places to study abroad. Students from abroad can study English in the Netherlands because the environment and people are very friendly, and English is the language of instruction in many of the programs. Faculty members at universities are friendly and approachable.

Several atheists live in the Netherlands, emphasizing the fact that Dutch people are extremely open-minded. Consequently, they are a community that does not have a religious bias in general and is therefore much more welcoming than countries where the majority religion is strong and the views are orthodox.

The Netherlands is host to many of the world’s largest multinational companies, such as Philips, Heineken, KLM, Shell, ING, and Unilever. Among the Netherlands’ strengths are agriculture, water management, art & design, trade, and clean energy. With high-speed trains, the Netherlands can be reached in less than 6 hours by London, Paris, or Berlin. Continue reading to discover more about study abroad intakes and determine whether studying in a Dutch program will enable you to meet your professional goals.

Education System

The Netherlands is a popular choice for international students who want to study abroad. Education in the Netherlands is renowned worldwide for meeting all international standards. It can be very helpful to have a diploma from a Dutch university in terms of starting one’s own business or establishing a successful career in any country. Over 1,500 English-language courses and nearly 2100 international study programs are offered at Dutch universities, and most of the population speaks some level of English, so you won’t have to learn Dutch fluently to study there.

The Dutch higher education system has a three-cycle degree structure, which includes bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. Higher education in the Netherlands is based on a binary system, which allows for two types of education:

The third type of higher education, which is a smaller branch of higher education, is provided by institutions of international education that specialize in serving international students, great for students looking for the best courses to study abroad. The professional doctorate in engineering (PDEng) is available at some research universities.

Popular Courses in the Netherlands

In the following table, you will find a summary of the most in-demand courses and their duration and fees in the Netherlands.

Courses	Duration	Fees
Econometrics and Data Science	24 Months	20,473 Euro/Year
Animation	12 Months	8, 198 Euro/Year
Big Data Engineering	24 Months	14,500 Euro/Year
Water Science Engineering	18 Months	14,682 Euro/Year
Medical Physiology	24 Months	18,900 Euro/Year
Health Sciences	12 Months	14, 500 Euro/Year
Economics	12 Months	14, 762 Euro/Year
Law	12 Months	17, 087 Euro/Year
MBA (Management Consultancy)	12 Months	14, 762 Euro/Year
Industrial and Applied Mathematics	18 Months	16, 200 Euro/Year
Language, Literature, and Education	12 Months	16, 060 Euro/Year
East European Studies	12 Months	12,000 Euro/Year
Conflict Resolution and Governance	12 Months	16, 060 Euro/Year
European Policy	12 Months	10,000 Euro/Year
Identity and Integration	12 Months	14,000 Euro/Year
Medical Informatics	24 Months	14976 Euro/ Year

Popular Universities in Netherlands

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Admission Process

It varies from university to university what the admission requirements are. While some universities will require students to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree, others may exempt students from it. There are also a few universities that allow students with TOEFL CPT, TOEIC TOEFL PBT, TOEFL ITP, as well as Cambridge English (169-172). Detailed information about the general eligibility requirements to study in the Netherlands follows.

Bachelor’s Degree

● A minimum of 55% in senior secondary school
● IELTS Academic – Minimum 6.5
● TOEFL iBT – Minimum 90 overall

Master’s Program

● Nearly 70% in a bachelor’s degree
● If required, a work history
● GRE/GMAT
● IELTS – Overall 6.0-7.0 minimum
● TOEFL iBT – Must score between 90 and 100 overall, with a preferred score of 21 in an individual section

Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Program

Cost Of Attendance

Dutch tuition fees are much lower than those of other European studies abroad destinations, that is why it is one of the most affordable places to study abroad. Study abroad programs costs vary depending on whether students are EU citizens or non-EU citizens. Netherlands universities are known for their emphasis on practical education methodology, and they charge around 1800-4000 EUR per year for EU students, compared to 6000-20000 EUR per year for non-EU students. The tuition cost for a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the Netherlands varies from 19400 EUR to 52,000 EUR respectively per year. Higher tuition costs are usually associated with study abroad programs like medical, business administration, and law courses.

You can discover the most affordable universities in the Netherlands from the list below. You can also reach out to overseas consultants like Gateway International to get the best University.
There are several costs involved in studying abroad in The Netherlands, including tuition fees, accommodation, food and travel costs, and insurance pricing. University applications are accepted twice a year in The Netherlands. The two study abroad intakes are winter intake and autumn intake. Winter Intake starts in February, and the deadline is November- December. During Winter intake, most universities don’t allow applications. Autumn intake starts in June-July and lasts till September, and this is the main intake time. The majority of universities accept applications during Autumn study abroad intakes. The exact deadline should be confirmed with the University.

Best Student Cities

Annually, about 90,000 international students study in the Netherlands. As per the student’s ratings, the best student cities in the Netherlands are Nijmegen, The Hague, Tilburg, Eindhoven, Delft, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Leiden, Amsterdam, and Groningen. Gateway International, a Study abroad consultant in India will help you to know more about the best city for your course.

How to apply for a student visa to study abroad programs?

A valid passport is the first step. One needs a residence permit if they intend to stay longer than 90 days in the Netherlands.

A long-stay visa, known as the MVV, is also required for a temporary stay in the country. An MVV is nothing more than a stamp that will be attached to a visa. It may be possible to be exempt from MVV visa requirements in some cases.

A student’s educational institution will apply for their MVV and residence permit all at the same time.

IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) must decide within 60 days whether to grant a residence permit. After the IND grants the student’s visa, the educational institutions will get the information from the Dutch Embassy to collect the MVV on behalf of the student.

Students will have to submit legalized documents to get the MVV.

The MVV must be collected within three months. For this, the student should set up an online appointment with the Embassy in their home country or ask the study abroad counselor from Gateway International for help in this process.

The student must hold a valid passport for at least six months on the day he or she receives the MVV.

He can travel to the Netherlands once he collects his MVV.

Within 90 days after issuance, visitors are allowed entry into the Netherlands. The MVV sticker shows how long a visitor can stay in the Netherlands.

One can travel within the Schengen region with MVV. Aspiring students must consult with the overseas education consultant of Gateway International in order to learn more about how to obtain an MVV.

Top Scholarships

A number of study abroad scholarships for international students are available in the Netherlands. Over half of every 100 foreign students who study in the Netherlands obtain a scholarship. In addition to the regional and country-based categories, scholarships are available in categories that range in value from low to high. There are also different numbers of scholarships available. Besides, the Government and universities always offer a variety of attractive scholarship programs with relatively easy requirements for international students. In order to get a clear step-by-step process of how to apply for scholarships to study abroad, then you must speak with Gateway International, an overseas education consultants in Kota.

The following types of high-value study abroad scholarships may be of interest to you:

Holland Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and has a value of up to 5,000 Euros per year. Scholarships are limited each year. The Netherlands offers only about 768 scholarships for qualified students who want to study there.

Orange Tulip Scholarship

The value is 10,000 Euro/year. The deadline for OTS scholarships is every year on the 1st of April. Students should be sure to update the information continuously in order to avoid missing the deadline.

University Twente Scholarship

An outstanding academic record is required for the University Twente Scholarship. The value of the scholarship is 3,000 to 22,000 Euros/year. You must have already completed an English language test and have met the required scores in order to qualify for this scholarship.

Amsterdam Merit Scholarship

A merit scholarship for excellent international undergraduate students is offered by the University of Amsterdam, valued at 6000 Euros/year for the best students. Students pursuing economics and business, psychology, and social and behavioral sciences programs can apply for these scholarships in the Netherlands.

Work Opportunities

The Netherlands is a great place to work while you study.Your employer will need to apply for a work permit for you if you wish to work alongside your studies. The organization in charge of issuing work permits is UWV or Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen. A work permit is not necessary if you are enrolled at a Dutch host institution and have to attend an internship as part of your program. An internship agreement must be signed between your host institution and your employer.

To work in the Netherlands, one must also obtain a Bürgerservicenummer (BSN). It can be obtained from the City Hall when you apply for a residence permit (normally during your first week of orientation at the University). It is important to know that you must take out Dutch health insurance once you have a job. Not having health insurance could land you in hefty fines. Unless you have a permit, you are not permitted to work paid employment.

You can then begin working with certain work conditions to be followed:

As soon as the IND discovers an infringement, they will contact the educational institution you are enrolled in. An official fine will be imposed on the employer for the violation.

How to find a job in the Netherlands

● Look for opportunities on websites, among friends, colleagues, and shops around you. You never know what your lucky break will be until you try, so you should look for all the available opportunities.
● If you don’t know the Dutch language yet, use Google Translate to search in Dutch so that you will be more likely to find what you are looking for. Demonstrate your motivation – Dutch people tend to appreciate people who are motivated and passionate.
● Whatever you plan on doing, show it! You might want to learn a new language or learn some skills that are crucial for your job. It is not scary to learn Dutch. Languages sound strange and are really difficult to learn at first, but once you become acclimated to the surrounding environment, it won’t be that difficult to come up with some basic Dutch phrases.
● Improve time management – Of course, you can’t get it right, but you can do your best. Keep a diary and organize everything. Then you can be sure you will not forget anything and will always be on top of your game.

Taking part in an internship in the Netherlands

It is very common for university students to find internships through their University. There is almost always a specific desk at universities where you can get access to internship opportunities.

Your student visa will allow you to do an internship in the Netherlands as a part of your study program.

An employment permit does not have to be obtained by the employer. On request, an internship agreement must be provided to the Labour Inspectorate by the employer.

There will be no tax on your pay as long as it only compensates for expenses. These expenses can include travel costs and food costs.

Self-employment in the Netherlands

In addition to your study, it is possible to work without a TWV in the Netherlands as a self-employed person.

Keeping up with the requirements of your residence permit is important.

Your company must be registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel). It is your responsibility to pay taxes. You may need to take out Dutch public health insurance.

Getting a job after a degree

The employability of Dutch alumni is high. Nuffic (the national organization responsible for education in the Netherlands) has set up a special career portal that offers information on all career opportunities, about business culture, salaries, and practical guidance on a career in Holland.

Agriculture is currently home to over 660000 workers, so good news for students majoring in Food Science and Technology, Environmental Studies, Power and Energy Engineering, and Agriculture. Similar opportunities exist within this field for students with skills in Marketing, Management, and Engineering.

The government also puts a high priority on investing in creative industries. Architecture, graphic design, game design, and fashion are among the many industries where students are qualified to find employment.

In the creative sector, there are currently 172,000 employees, of whom 66% are self-employed. Transferrable problem-solving skills and material-based skills are well in demand with an emphasis on Civil Engineering.