Dutch universities charge tuition fees for higher education programmes. Depending on their country of origin, students will pay somewhere between € 2,000 and € 20,000 for one study year. They can also expect to spend € 10,350 on accommodation, food and health insurance. To reduce expenses when studying in the Netherlands, students can apply for a scholarship or find a part-time job.
Tuition fees for Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in 2016-2017
Government-funded Dutch universities have two types of tuition fees, statutory and institutional.
Statutory fees are a fixed amount set by the Dutch government for all universities. Most students from the Netherlands and other EU/EEA countries must pay this type of fee for Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. For 2016-2017, the statutory fee is set at € 1,984 per year.
Institutional fees are set by the university itself and are applicable to students from outside of the EU/EEA. The amount depends on specialisations and other conditions. On average, the institutional fee for 2016-2017 is between € 6,000 and € 20,000 per year.
Private university tuition fees are comparable to government-funded university fees. Preparatory courses are usually the same amount for both EU and non-EU students.
| Tuition fee per year, in euro | For EU students | For non-EU students |
| Preparatory courses (1–12 months) | 6,000 — 12,000 | 6,000 — 12,000 |
| Bachelor’s programmes (3–4 years) | 1,984 | 6,000 — 10,000 |
| Master’s programmes (1–2 years) | 1,984 | 7,000 — 20,000 |
| Tuition fee for MBA programmes can reach € 40,000 — € 50,000 | ||
Please note that tuition fees usually don’t include the cost of study books, uniforms, internships, or other additional expenses. Depending on the programme, these extra fees range from € 500 to € 2,000 per year.
See a detailed breakdown of tuition fees at Dutch universities in the Eurogates database.
— Bachelor’s programmes
— Master’s programmes
Living expenses in the Netherlands
According to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), student needs € 10,350 per year (€ 862.50 per month) to cover living expenses including accommodation, food, health insurance, and transport costs in the Netherlands. International students who require a visa must have this amount in their bank account in order to start the Entry and Residence Procedure (TEV).
This sum does not cover spending money for trips around Europe, going out to eat at restaurants, or other social activities (movies, drinks, museums, etc.).
Financial requirements
To receive a student visa, candidates must prove they have sufficient finances to live in the Netherlands for at least one year (€ 10,350). In most cases, they must transfer this sum to the university’s bank account prior to completing their visa application. Students will get access to these finances when they arrive in the country.
Students must also pay the tuition fee for the first study year before it begins. Deadlines for making the payment depend on the university. Some institutions allow payment to be made several weeks before courses begin while others require the payment to be made before applying for the student visa. Details regarding the tuition fee payment, including deadlines, can be found on each university’s website.
Reducing expenses
High-quality higher education is expensive. However, studying in the Netherlands is quite affordable compared to other countries like the UK or US. For example, tuition fees start at € 15,000 in the UK, three times more expensive than in the Netherlands. Living costs in the UK are also higher. Student needs to have at least € 1,380 per month to apply for a visa (versus € 862.50 in the Netherlands).
Students coming to the Netherlands may want to reduce their study and living costs by applying for a scholarship and/or finding a part-time job.
Comments (28) Comment the article
My name is sandeep singh I had completed graduation in arts and after than and recently completed diploma in civil engineering and know I want to study in holland in master degree in tourism and management course.i want to know about total cost of study excluding living cost there and procedure of how to apply?
Hi Sandeep,
Here is the link to the selection of programmes in Tourism:
http://www.eurogates.nl/programs/#!/degree=applied_master,academic_master&search=tourism. You can see the prices per programme.
I am an African student also studying in Africa as a bachelor education holder but I want to study master programmes so will I be able to get sponsership on that study?
Look here for a programme and select a programme with a note "grants are available".
http://www.eurogates.nl/programs/#!/fos=education°ree=academic_master
I am an EU citizen but I studied in Africa. Will my African results be accepted?
You need to send your documents to a university and international office evaluates your documents.
I am Tanzania. I studed undergraduate and post graduate diploma in Tanzania. but I want to study masters program so will I be able to get schorship on that study in holand
Hi Wilson,
Please select a programme here: www.eurogates.nl/programs/
How to find a scholarship for study in Holland, please read here: http://www.eurogates.nl/en_scholarships_grants_Holland/
Hello, My son was born in the Netherlands, but he studied the primary and secondary school in Tanzania. Could he be given special consideration if he pursues studying at any university in the Netherlands in the future . He really wants to study undergraduate studies in the country where he was born. Please help!.
Hi Gati,
Your son can apply for any study programme at Holland. Please find here requirements: http://www.eurogates.nl/can-i-study-in-holland/
Dear Concerned I am postgraduate in Business Administration HR and Bachelor in Economics and LLB also. Being Government officer in NADRA Pakistan wants to obtain doctoral degree via fully funded scholarship because I belong to poor family and unable to bear expenses of u r country for education. Please help and guide me.
Hi Abdul Majeed,
Please read here information about financing of doctoral studies in Holland: http://www.eurogates.nl/phd-programmes-in-netherlands/
I am Nepalese and Now I am pursuing undergraduate bachelor degree in South Korea. Is it possible that I can be transfer from South Korea to Nether land. Is there any scholarship available? I want to continue my bachelor degree in Nether land.
Hi, here are Bachelor programmes: http://www.eurogates.nl/programs/#!/degree=applied_bachelor,academic_bachelor
I'm a post graduate in English literature and bachelor in education.What courses or degrees can you suggest me in Holland and what will be the tuition fee.?I Have already arranged for accommodation with a friend.
Here are programmes related with English literature: http://www.eurogates.nl/programs/master/radboud-university-nijmegen/?search=language
I am ajibola from Nigeria i study library and information studies and i wish to do my masters in any program.how do i go about that. here is my email aoluseje@yahoo.com mail me to me what to do.
Hi Ajibola,
Here are Master programmes in Information fields: http://www.eurogates.nl/programs/master/?search=Information
hello ! i have a question! I am 18 years old. I am from ukraine(non eu country) but i am living in greece ( eu country) for about 16,5 years old ! i recently finished shcool ! i have landed immigrant but i dont have greek passport yet ! shall i pay the non eu country fee or no ? PLEASE ANSWER ME !!
Hi! First of all it depends of universiry. If You have permanent residence permit in Greece without terms most of Universities will allow You to pay as EU sitizen. But I will repeat it depends on University.
Good luck.
I am a Chinese and a phd candidate in tu/e. And my partner is a bechelor student in maastricht university. my question is whether she can get any tuition fee reduction as the partner of a phd? waiting for your reply. thanks
Hi,Tony! We suppose that You need ask this question in Your University directly. Only they have ability to change titution fee.
Good Luck.
I'm from Bangladesh & completed B.Sc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with CGPA 2.92 out of 4. my IELTS score is just Band-6.
now, i just wanna get a list of universities for doing Masters in EEE related courses at the lowest tution fees..
would you plz help me find out a university....
plz! plz! plz!
Hi! We are sorry but here are requirements about TOEFL/IELTS for master studies http://www.eurogates.nl/en-TOEFL-IELTS-score-conversion/
I think You need to improve Your score before admission
Dear Madam/Sir,
I live in England and hold turkish citizenship. I am married to a EU citizen. I know some EU universities (e.g. swedish universities) would charge me the EU price since I am a spouse of an EU citizens. My question is whether this rule applies to Dutch universities as well?
Best regards
Hi! First of all You need to choose suitable programs for You here: http://www.eurogates.nl/programs/
Then You can ask directly about price for Your situation in universities You will choose.
Is work permit allowed to the international students studying in netherlands?
Hi! You can work 10 hours per week legally