Entry Requirements for Dutch Universities

The first and important thing you need to know is that every university has its specific requirement and this vary between universities.

Admission requirements for studies at university in the Netherlands: Dutch, English, and grades. Learn more about university of Amsterdam, leiden university, universities in Netherlands, dutch university application deadline and how to apply to dutch universities on Collegelearners.

Dutch University Application Deadline

The safe and multicultural environment with affordable study costs provided by the Netherlands makes this country an incredibly attractive destination for your studies abroad.

The Netherlands is one of the first countries to offer international study programmes taught entirely in English. It is also known for the innovative and very straight forward teaching style, which attracts tens of thousands of international students worldwide each year.

Admission Requirements for Dutch Colleges

Basic requirement for admission into Bachelor’s degree is a secondary school diploma. The level and equivalence of different diplomas is established by individual institutions. For specific popular subjects as well as disciplines, number of places and quotas are restricted. Additional admission requirements are present for study programmes of certain disciplines such as arts.

Students who have not yet attained eligibility for a programme of their specific choice have the option of going in for a preparatory year. Conditional letters of acceptance are provided by Dutch higher educational institutions and immigration law permits students to study in this country for one year before the start of the course. Preparatory courses can be pursued during this period so that students can pass exams of these institutions. Following this, the conditional letter of acceptance can be turned into a definite one.

Basic Criteria for the Undergraduate Degrees

Following are some of the basic requirements for the admission in undergraduate degree programme in Holland include:

Secondary/High School Diploma or Certificate showing lit of subjects and hours per subject for Bachelor’s programmes
English Language Proficiency Tests: IELTS/ TOEFL results for non-native speakers of the English language. Many universities also accept other language proficiency tests such as Cambridge Advanced English (CAE). Required scores equal 55 for paper based or 213 for computer based TOEFL. For IELTS test, a minimum score of at least 6 is needed.
Scores of the Dutch language test NT2 which is required for enrolment into Dutch programmes. The linguistic requirements for individual courses are provided in the database of the international study programmes.

Courses Offered at Dutch Universities

Universities of applied sciences offer Bachelor’s degrees in numerous disciplines including economics, health, fine arts, agriculture and more. Apart from this, there are a various programmes within each discipline that can vary in content from one institution to another. The programme provides students with important skills and competencies for jobs in particular fields. Practical experience is provided within these courses through internships. Students can enrol in a master’s degree following education at undergraduate levels.

Admission Procedure for Dutch Universities

There are no entrance exam requirements for most of the universities in the Netherlands. The admission procedure commences when students apply to the university’s international office with their supporting documents. Prior to application, students should check the qualifying requirements as well as application deadlines established by the universities.

Instructions for application are provided on the application pages of the university website. Students can see the documents required and prepare them to initiate the admission process. There are currently two modes of application at Dutch universities:

Through the first method, universities ask candidates to apply through the website by means of online application modules. Examples of such universities in the Netherlands include Leiden University and Groningen.

Some Universities use “Studielink”. This is a web based enrolment system for universities in Holland. Students who want to enrol at Dutch higher educational institutions have to register on this enrolment system. Examples of universities which use Studielink include Inholland University and the Hague University.

Universities can also request the student to register via Studielink first and then also apply through the university website. Following registration on Studielink or the university website, students get the confirmation email declaring that the application procedure has commenced.

Admission Calendar

Most Dutch universities have enrolment sessions twice a year in the Fall semester (September) and Spring semester(February). Application deadlines are set by the universities in the Netherlands for those students who require enrolment in degree programmes. Deadlines are rigid and students must wait for the next intake period if they miss a deadline. Universities assess the application of students as well as the documents they have submitted and decide on whether the admission will be given or not. Some students are also required to pass an intake assessment.

International Students in Dutch Bachelor’s Degree Programmes

International students opt for Bachelor’s degree in Dutch universities and colleges because they are oriented towards gaining access to the bets professional, academic and practical courses for further career advancement. Many international students visit the Netherlands for higher studies. Dutch higher educational institutions receives thousands of international students from all over the globe, according to Study in Holland.

Numerous documents have to be arranged for the admission if your are foreign students including insurance and financial papers along with visa and residence permit for international students. Due to this reason, non EU students have to commence applications 2 to 3 months earlier as compared to EU students.

International Students Admission Requirements

Documents such as the CV(resume), reference letter(s) and letter of introduction along with information about candidate’s background and motivation for studying in the Netherlands are also required. Xerox of these documents should be translated into English as well as France, German and Spanish. These should have been certified by the school or a notary.

Leiden University

If you want to study in the Netherlands and you want to begin your application, you need to know the requirements of the universities in the Netherlands so you can meet this requirements thereby becoming eligible for admission. This article would discuss this requirements and the deadlines of admissions application submission.

The first and important thing you need to know is that every university has its specific requirement and this vary between universities. Also, admission requirements depend on the programme you want to study and various programs have varying requirements.

Therefore, to be admitted to a higher education programme, you first need to contact the institution that offers the programme. They can tell you exactly which admission requirements apply to the programme of your choice.

However, there are general basic requirements that universities require. So not to leave you in the dark, this article would discuss the general requirements you need to get admitted into a university in the Netherlands.

General Entry Requirements

Decide what kind of program(s) and university to apply to.
Thoroughly read up on the application process to that program/university.
Get all their documents prepared.

In general, higher education institutions in Europe request students to have a level of command of the language of instruction equivalent to a B1/B2 level according to the European language passport scale. Please check with your institution if you need to have a higher level of command.

Should I Attend University In The Netherlands?

The Netherlands offers a high-quality education and a diverse range of programs in English at the Bachelor’s level (and even more at the Master’s level!). You’ll find it easy to navigate the Netherlands even if you don’t speak Dutch—95% of locals speak English! The Netherlands’ educational system attracts students from around the world, creating a multicultural and international environment. And all of this for an affordable cost of 6,000–15,000 EUR/year for non-EU students! (Pro tip: Google has an exchange rate calculator for you.)

Furthermore, the Netherlands is a great place to live, with beautiful outdoor destinations and rich traditions. It’s a very safe country and is consistently ranked as one of the happiest nations in the world. And it’s centrally located, making travel to other parts of Europe easy and inexpensive.

Upon graduating, you’ll find that the Netherlands, boasting the 18th largest economy in the world, offers a plethora of professional opportunities. International graduates can apply for an orientation or search year, a residence permit to apply for a job or start a business within three years of graduating. You can read more about quality of life in the Netherlands here .

Types Of Universities

The Netherlands has two different types of universities: universities of applied sciences and research universities. There’s almost no overlap in the types of degrees offered at each one.

Universities Of Applied Sciences

At these universities, the education is more professionally-oriented, concrete, and hands-on. It’s focused on the “how” of the subject. Degrees are usually four years long and include a placement year—essentially a year-long paid internship that actually counts as part of your studies. For example, a student studying Marketing might work in market research with a local company for a year, gaining experience and professional connections in the process.

Research Universities

In contrast, research universities focus on the “why” of a subject. They’re more theoretical and emphasize critical analysis. Degrees typically take three years to complete and don’t usually include a placement year.

Some research universities also have university colleges. University colleges, which were first established in 1997 in the Netherlands, are smaller programs inspired by Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in the United States. They provide a small-scale, international learning environment with English instruction. University colleges place an emphasis on holistic education and community building. You can learn more about the nine Dutch university colleges here .

Differences Between American And Dutch Education Systems

Length Of Degree

Unlike American Bachelor’s degrees, which usually take four years to complete, the length of a degree in the Netherlands depends on what and where you’re studying. Again, generally speaking, a degree at a university of applied sciences will take four years to complete because of the additional internship year, while a degree at a research university will take three years. This doesn’t mean that with the latter you won’t have the opportunity to complete an internship! Many research universities provide the opportunity to study abroad or pursue an internship related to your studies in your final year.

Academic Terms

Dutch universities start the academic year in late August or early September and finish it at the end of June or in July, with a two week break for Christmas. The year is broken up into two semesters or four periods.

Choosing A Major

In the Netherlands, you’ll apply directly to the program that most interests you. The one exception would be at university colleges, where you’ll receive a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences but will be able to choose a major within the program.

Classes Outside Of Your Major

Similarly to many countries in Europe, in the Netherlands, almost all of your classes will be directly related to your major. In your second year of studies, you may be able to specialize more within your major or complete a minor, but it’s uncommon to study anything completely unrelated to your focus of study.

Double Majoring

The Netherlands does offer some Double/Joint/Dual Degree programs, which vary depending on the university. Some even involve completing part of your degree at another international university, such as the four-year double degree program between University of Groningen and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Additionally, while they’re not exactly double degrees, the Netherlands has a number of interdisciplinary programs, such as the Media, Art, Design, and Architecture program at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam or Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics at University of Amsterdam.

Tuition And Living Costs

Dutch universities are significantly less expensive than American universities. Annual tuition fees start at approximately €1,900 for EU students and €6,000 for non-EU students—generally significantly less than fees in the UK or US. Additionally, the cost of living in the Netherlands will likely be lower than in the US. Of course, this depends on the city in which you’re studying. Amsterdam will be significantly more expensive than Rotterdam, for example. Note that tuition costs at university colleges tend to be a bit higher than at universities of applied sciences or research universities. To offset these costs, students may choose to work while studying. With a work permit provided by an employer, you can work up to 16 hours per week during the school year and full-time during the summer.

Scholarships

Universities in the Netherlands offer few scholarships, and it is close to impossible to receive a full scholarship. Most scholarships will cover only a percentage of tuition and sometimes only for one year. Institutions do offer a handful of scholarships for international students, among them the Holland Scholarship. The Holland Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of 5,000 EUR awarded to international students from outside the European Economic Area. Other scholarships tend to be specific to international students from particular regions, such as the MENA Scholarship Programme (for students from the Middle East and North Africa).

Be sure to check out the universities that interest you to see the scholarships they offer and whether they require additional application elements to be eligible for the scholarships.

Differed Entry

Unlike in the US and UK, Dutch universities generally do not allow you to defer your admission until the following year. However, if you’re accepted to a non-numerus fixus program and decide to take a gap year, you can be certain you’d be accepted the next year as well.

Graduate Degrees

In the US, students interested in completing a graduate degree may take a few years off to work prior to applying. This is less common in the Netherlands, where students often go directly into graduate studies upon completing their undergraduate degree. Employers in the Netherlands tend to focus more on your postgraduate degree than your undergraduate degree.

Student Life

Student life in the US often revolves around the campus itself—sports events, extracurricular activities, student productions … In contrast, in the Netherlands, most student life will take place off-campus.

Students are more integrated into the city in which they live. However, universities do have a network of associations that bring students together for academic and sports events, and cities also have student associations that aren’t tied to any particular institution. Dutch people pride themselves on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, so don’t worry—you won’t be just studying all weekend!

Accomodations

In the Netherlands, students are less likely to live on campus. Instead, students live in student housing throughout the city, usually sharing a place with a few other people. Study in Holland provides great tips for searching for housing. Note that university colleges often do offer on-campus housing for part or all of the degree program.