28 best universities in the Netherlands for foreign students

Studying in Netherlands is a great opportunity to obtain high quality higher education of world standard, locating in the heart of Europe.  Netherlands is distinguished by a unique university system that will allow highly qualified creative specialists with broad knowledge to graduate from the walls of educational institutions — that is why a large number of applicants from all over the world come to the country every year who want to gain valuable experience in Dutch education.

The universities in Netherlands are world-renowned for the high quality of teaching and research. Many degrees are taught in English, and more than 100,000 international students choose to study in the Netherlands every year. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, universities in the Netherlands are among the top 200 in the world.

The universities in Netherlands offer three main stages of education:

• Bachelor
• Master
• Doctor of science.

The studying is interactive, focused on teamwork and the exchange of ideas. In the classroom, students are encouraged to express their own opinions, respect other views and ask questions freely. The studying includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work and even projects with local employers. The educational groups are small — from 15 to 30 students — so the guys can get maximum support from their mentor and develop key social skills.

Many courses include an element of practical experience: depending on the course chosen, this may include work in a laboratory, studio or computer lab. Most universities have strong partnerships with business institutions and international organizations, so there are good opportunities to gain practical work experience.

There are two main and most popular types of educational institutions here: research universities and universities of applied sciences. Additionally, there are university colleges and institutes of international education. Universities themselves can be private and public. The type of university depends on whether the applicant wants to prepare for a specific profession or get a broader theoretical degree.

Research universities in the Netherlands offer theoretical academic education that teaches students skills that can be applied in various professions. Universities of this category teach at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels and provide a short preparatory program for students whose level is insufficient for direct admission.

Universities of applied sciences offer more professional education, known as higher professional education. This is a good choice if the applicant already knows what field of activity he is interested in.

Applied higher education institutions offer bachelor's and master's degree programs, which usually last a year longer than research university programs. Universities of this type also represent a two-year program leading to the degree of an independent professional junior specialist. Studying under this program is counted for admission to the bachelor's degree.

The Netherlands offers another form of higher education for more than 50 years: advanced educational courses in English as part of the so-called international education. These institutes offer courses focused on development, knowledge exchange in small cross-cultural groups, which are taught by teachers with extensive experience in developing countries.

Some Dutch universities have integrated colleges of higher education that offer both bachelor's degree programs that last three years, as well as classical programs. Unlike universities, the colleges offer education in the style of humanities. The programs include a wide range of courses in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Together with their supervisor, the students make up their own interdisciplinary curriculum.

• Bachelor

In the universities, the foreign students can enroll in bachelor's degree programs in a wide range of disciplines: economics, healthcare, fine arts, agriculture, economics, management, medicine, etc. The duration of obtaining a degree depends on which type of university a person is studying at — research or applied (3 and 4 years). Most undergraduate programs are built around the first year of study (propedeuse), followed by a major three-year phase. After receiving a bachelor's degree, the students can enroll in a master's degree or start working in a specialty.

• Master

The main purpose of the master's programs offered by universities is to expand knowledge and professional experience at the graduate level. The main focus is on further improving professional competence, clinical and analytical skills and preparation for managerial positions in a particular field. The following Master programs are offered for choice:

• Academic Master's degree, providing advanced studying in preparation for employment;
• Master's degree in Research, in which the student is engaged in scientific research;
• Master's degree programs for teacher preparation which will prepare for teaching at all levels of secondary education.
• Doctoral studies

The PhD of the Dutch University is highly regarded because of the high academic standards. The Netherlands has an excellent international ranking in terms of the number of publications per researcher (2nd place) and the impact of a research publication (4th place).

The best universities in the Netherlands offer students from the EU a more affordable education — they pay significantly lower than residents of other countries, about 2000 €/year. The students from non—EU countries pay from 6 000 to 15 000€ per year. The average annual tuition fee is relatively lower than in the UK, USA and Australia.

Additionally, the following costs must be taken into account:

• Accommodation – from 250 to 800€ per month
• Food, clothing, household services, public transport — 350-450€/month
• Insurance
• Medical services – 40-100 € per month
• Educational materials – 65-85€ per month
• Visa and permits — about 300€ (once)
• Personal expenses — 500€.

• University of Amsterdam
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences ONCAMPUS
• Webster University Leiden
• Holland International Study Center
• Erasmus University Rotterdam
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences
• University of Twente
• Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences
• VU University Amsterdam
• Delft University of Technology.

• Diploma requirements may vary, but Dutch universities will always ask foreign applicants for an IB diploma, an American diploma with 3-4 AP or A-Level — or one of many other national university preparation diplomas from countries around the world.
• Usually the universities in Netherlands do not require a certain grade point average.
• Usually there is no selection of students, submitting an application means automatic enrollment, but there are exceptions.
• Some programs may require certain subjects (for example, mathematics or physics) and additional entrance exams.
• Sometimes there are additional requirements (for example, knowledge of mathematics, letters of recommendation, certificates, standardized exams).

To access bachelor's degree programs at research universities, applicants must have a VWO diploma (Dutch School Diploma sample) or complete the first year (60 credits) of the Bachelor's degree program at the University of Applied Sciences. Foreign students can additionally enroll in special pre-university studying courses at the chosen educational institution or college.

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Accommodation in Netherlands per month

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