Universities in the Netherlands: how to apply and where to study

One of the popular "youth" questions now: is it difficult and/or how to enter the universities of the Netherlands? Answer: You can do it. There are more than 2100 programs of study in English in the universities of the Netherlands and approximately 10% of all students are foreigners. We will talk about the rules that are already in place in the country and explain whether they will apply to Ukrainians who have arrived in the country now.

Can you still apply this year?

Yes, if you try hard, you can still submit documents as part of this year's campaign: documents are accepted until 01.04–01.05. And in some universities - until June 1. That is, there is little time, but it is there. For applicants from Ukraine, the possibility of extending the campaign for admission to universities or even creating separate groups at universities is being considered. No decision has been made yet, but there is a request for it.

Are there exams?

As such, there are no exams, there is a competition of documents. You need a certificate of secondary education and a certificate of passing language exams (English - IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL not lower than 80). But there are universities that accept only those with a high GPA or at the end of the 1st year of a university in their country. Requirements in different universities may differ, it is better to look at the information directly on the websites of universities.

What documents are needed and are there any exams?

Often a translation of a high school diploma, a language exam certificate and a passport is sufficient. But some universities may ask for a motivation letter or an additional subject test. All tests are passed online, according to the results, the applicant is assigned a rating number. If it is lower than the number of study places in the specialty, there is a chance to get into the number of students. Sometimes the university can even expand the number of places for admission.

How much does it cost to study at the university?

Education in the Netherlands is quite expensive. Bachelor's degree for foreign students - from 8.000 to 10.000 euros per year. Master's degree - from 14.000 to 22.000 euros. For Dutch students, the cost of education is lower. Tuition fees do not include living expenses.

Is there a chance to study for free?

There is. There are scholarship or grant programs at individual universities, there are national scholarship programs and funds. The most famous programs Holland Scholarship и Orange Tulip School, as well as the fund's program Erasmus Mundus. Such a grant can fully cover the cost of tuition, or it can only partially pay for tuition.

Is it possible to study and work?

Students over 18 are allowed to work no more than 16 hours per week. Full-time work is allowed only during the summer holidays. Do not forget that both a scholarship and a side job are considered income for students, and in the Netherlands you need to pay income tax every year. But most often, the income from student part-time work is not large enough to pay additional taxes.

What about after graduation?

It is better for a foreign student to take care of where he will work, even before graduation, actively undergo interviews and, possibly, during internships, do everything so that the company offers a job. But this doesn't always work out. For those students who have graduated from university but have not yet found a job, there are several opportunities to stay and work in the Netherlands. To do this, you will need to obtain a certain residence permit. Let's take a look at several possibilities, which are available on our website, and all the nuances and regulations are on the website of the Migration Service (IND).

Zoekjaar (orientation year). After graduation, you have the right to stay in the country and look for a job of a highly qualified specialist during the year. The nuance is that you can request this orientation year within three years after graduation. That is, for example, you left the country, but did not find a job. Then you can apply for this residence permit even if you graduated one, two or three years ago. During this year, you can work anywhere and with anyone, but at the end of the orientation year, you must be employed in a company where you will work in your specialty. Moreover, there are certain requirements for what your salary should be. Details - on the IND website or our consultants.
Home-up. No translation is needed here - you need to start your own business after graduation, get the approval of a company that wants to accompany you at the stage of establishing a business or become your investor, and then you have the right to request a visa and residence permit in the Netherlands. And yes, the business idea should be interesting, new and promising. Details - on our website.
Knowledge migrant (highly qualified specialist). This is a very popular type of residence permit when you come to the Netherlands at the invitation of an employer. You can be puzzled by the search for it even during training. This status gives a lot of advantages to the owner. Details - here.
Partner residence permit. Here, too, everything is clear. If you have developed a relationship with someone during your studies and you are ready to legalize them (it is not necessary to marry), then a partner residence permit is your case. Details - we'll tell you too.

How else can you get into the university?

After a year of preparatory pre-university education (Foundation).
If there is not enough knowledge of the language, something is wrong with the documents, you need a year to adapt in the country, then you can apply for this program. A number of universities have it:

In addition, the year of preparatory education can be used to study the Dutch language: such programs are also available in universities. And then, at the end of the preparatory year, you will be able to apply for specialties where the training is in Dutch. And there are obviously many more of them, and the competition there is lower than in English-speaking specialties. That is, the program Foundation do not neglect if you want to study at a Dutch university.

Are there special programs for Ukrainians?

Not yet. But the government has already declared that such changes will take place. It is also possible that there will be some special grants for Ukrainian students.
But for those Ukrainian students who are already studying in the Netherlands, there are special aid funds at universities.

Which university to choose?

There are two types of universities in the Netherlands: applied sciences (HBO) and research universities (WO). The former are akin to specialized universities and are focused on the practical application of knowledge, the latter are more academic, after which they usually engage in science and receive scientific degrees.

Approximate equivalent of Ukrainian (as well as Belarusian and Russian) diplomas in relation to the Dutch ones can be found on the website of Nuffic, the agency for higher education in the Netherlands, and a schematic diagram of the structure of higher education in the Netherlands from Unipage is below.