Bordered by the North Sea and the countries of Belgium and Germany, the Netherlands is one of the most popular countries in Europe, particularly because of its capital city Amsterdam. With all the canals interspersed within the country, the geography of the Netherlands is known for its waterways which are used for irrigation and water removal, aside from touristy travels.
Holland, as the country is also popularly and historically called, is also a country of good quality education, with universities being hosts to various scholarships in the Netherlands. The good amount of English courses makes the Netherlands a popular destination for international students.
Living Costs in the Netherlands for International Students
For international students, an annual living cost of around €12000 to €29000 shall be expected. This amount already consists of the tuition fee and other academic expenses which amounts to a minimum fee of €13500. Assuming solo accommodation of around €3600 to €7200 annually, €4000 annual living expenses including food and clothing, and €500 for phone expenses, an international student, may they be from an EU/EEA (European Economic Area) country or not, can comfortably live with that amount. Students should take advantage of student discounts using their student cards.
Can International Students Work in the Netherlands?
Non-EU/EEA students looking to have a side job while studying are eligible for part-time work for a maximum of 16 hours per week. This can become full-time work during holidays, particularly the months of June, July, and August. Work permits are necessary and must be obtained from the employer before being hired.
Top Universities in the Netherlands
Various universities all around the Netherlands are very competitive when it comes to international rankings. Wageningen University & Research tops the higher education institutions when it comes to national rankings. Amsterdam universities such as the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are some of the renowned choices in the capital city. Students can also opt for other universities in Dutch major cities such as Leiden University, Utrecht University, and the Erasmus University Rotterdam,
Best Scholarships in the Netherlands
1. Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS)
The top university in Amsterdam provides various scholarships for international students, and one of these is the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship. Due to their objective of attracting excellent international students to the university, the UvA has established this scholarship program in the Netherlands for students interested in taking up master’s studies in the university.
Various eligibility requirements are implemented per faculty. For example, citizens of the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are not eligible to apply for the scholarship in the Graduate Schools of Science while only EU citizens are not eligible for the scholarship in the Amsterdam Business School. Different quantities of scholarships are also available per faculty, and this depends primarily on the amount allotted for that year.
Also, the scholarship works as a reimbursement; therefore, the student shall be responsible for covering the costs during their studies. Only the tuition fees will be covered by the scholarship as well as an amount contributing to the student’s living expenses. For reference, tuition fees paid by international students in the university range from €10000 to €15000 in institutional fees for master’s courses and an additional statutory fee of €1084 for full-time students.
2. Holland Scholarship
The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science has established a scholarship program in cooperation with the Netherlands’ research and science universities. If a student will be taking up a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one of the participating universities, they are eligible to apply.
The value of the scholarship varies per higher education institution, and different universities have different guidelines and eligibility. In general, this Netherlands scholarship has a total amount of €5000 which will be provided in the first year of the study, regardless if it is a bachelor’s or a master’s degree program. Maastricht University implements this scholarship with the cooperation of the government.
Twenty-four (24) full scholarships are provided by the university to international students from outside of the EU. The total amount of the scholarship is €29000 annually. This already includes the living expenses, health & liability insurance, visa costs, and tuition fees. The scholarship is available for either 13 months or 25 months for 1-year or 2-year master’s programs, respectively.
3. Wageningen University & Research Excellence Programme
For those looking for a full tuition scholarship in the Netherlands for their master’s studies, the Wageningen University & Research seeks to provide scholarships for international students outside of the EEA and Switzerland who may also be interested in pursuing doctoral studies in the university after obtaining a master’s degree. The university is also ranked high in the top universities in the world and is the top university in the Netherlands.
It is important to note that the scholarship is provided to students invited by the program only; no direct application is possible. Applicants interested in pursuing higher studies in the central Dutch municipality of Wageningen can expect to enjoy a 2-year tuition fee waiver, equivalent to the duration of the program. This is equivalent to an institutional fee of €17616 yearly. They will also be provided a one-time seminar allowance in Europe and allowance for the students joining the “Reach Your Potential Programme”. Applicants must ensure a high GPA and convincing recommendation letters to receive invitations to apply for the scholarship program.
4. Orange Tulip Scholarship
For students from Brazil, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Mexico, China, and Vietnam, they can choose to avail of the Orange Tulip Scholarship organized by the Netherlands Education Support Offices (NESO) in these countries. Some universities may have their own countries to support and may not include the abovementioned countries. Various participating universities have their respective guidelines.
In general, the Orange Tulip scholarship should not be mistaken as a full scholarship. For Radboud University, annual tuition fees will be reduced to €2168 only, similar to the rates of EU/EEA students. Average yearly tuition fees for international students go from €12500 to €16500. Miscellaneous costs such as residence permit costs, visa costs, and liability and health insurance will be included in this scholarship in the Netherlands.
5. Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships
The Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), the oldest technical university in the Netherlands, offers one of the best Netherlands scholarships: Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships. Named after the university’s alumnus Justus van Effen from the 1940s, the scholarship program aims to invite academically gifted international students to the university. An ideal applicant should have an excellent academic performance from a top university outside the Netherlands and must take a 2-year master’s program in TU Delft.
Only two (2) scholarships per faculty will be provided by the program. If chosen for the scholarship, the students will enjoy around €30000 of funding. This already includes the payment for the annual tuition fee for the master’s program as well as an allowance for the scholar’s living expenses in the Netherlands. Membership in the program’s scholarship club is also one of the benefits wherein they can participate in various workshops and seminars
