Pioneering benefits science and education – it is the only way to discover new things. Holland is the birth place of many Nobel Prize winners in the fields of physics, chemistry, economics and medicine. But it is also a free port for international scientists. The famous Nobel Laureates Marie Curie and Andre Geim came here to conduct research.
Six Reasons to study in the Netherlands
- 1. Dutch universities offer programmes in English
- 2. Internationally recognized degrees
- 3. Innovation education system
- 4. Multicultural environment
- 5. Affordable study costs
- 6. Holland – the gateway to Europe
Your daily expenses include food, public transport, books, clothes, and cinema tickets. But you also need to take into account the costs for housing and insurance. Experience has shown that students living and studying in Holland for one year spend between €800 and €1,100 a month.
- Housing: If you have an average student income – from a scholarship for example – you will find that one-third of it will go towards housing. An average room in Holland costs somewhere between €300 to €600 a month. The costs depend on the city where you study, what is included in the rent and the arrangements made by the institution. Housing in Amsterdam for example is more expensive than in smaller towns.
You can find more information about accommodation in our section on Housing. - Food: Food is estimated to take another third of your income. Fortunately, most higher education institutions offer hot meals at reasonable prices. Many cities have pubs (eetcafés) where you can get a good meal at a good price. But the cheapest way to eat is to do your own cooking.
Some average prices: a cup of coffee/tea in a café: €2, a cheese sandwich: €3, dinner in a typical student restaurant: €10. Most supermarkets offer a variety of brands. It is worth comparing the prices to find the cheapest option. - Other expenses: The remaining third of your income will go towards leisure, books, travel and other expenses. Bus tickets cost around €2 for a single fare in the city. You can consider buying a discount card for train tickets, which gives you 40% reduction in off-peak times. Visit the website of the Dutch railways for more information. Cinema tickets cost about €11.50 but most cinemas give student discounts.
- Student discounts: Many bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas give student discounts. Most of these ask for proof in the form of a student card from your institution. You should check in advance if a student discount is available. Especially for international students, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can provide some interesting discounts and offers on travel, shopping, museums and more, worldwide. Find out more on the ISIC website.
Residence permit for study (VVR): If you wish to stay in the Netherlands to study at a university or at a university of applied sciences for more than 90 days, you will need a residence permit (vvr). The sponsor submits an application for a residence permit on behalf of a student. The educational institution is your recognised sponsor.Conditions: If you wish to study in the Netherlands for more than 3 months, you must meet the following conditions: • You have (provisionally) been accepted as a student to a full-time higher education course/programme at a recognised university, a recognised university college, or a recognised university of applied sciences. • You have sufficient long-term means of support during your stay in the Netherlands. • You have a valid travel document (for example a passport) • You are not a risk to public order or national security • You are willing to undergo a tuberculosis test upon arrival in the Netherlands. Certain nationalities are exempt from this requirement. • You have not previously stayed in the Netherlands illegally. • You have not given false information or have withheld important information to support any previous applications. Checklist: To apply for the residence permit your sponsor needs certain documents. Please check with your sponsor as to which documents (additionally) are needed. You will in any event need a copy of your travel document (for example a passport) containing the identification/ personal details, including copies of pages containing travel stamps. Application procedure : It is the educational institution that submits your application. At the educational establishment they will inform you as to the procedures to be followed.Costs: The application for the residence permit costs money. The fees are paid on your behalf by your educational institution upon submitting the application. Please check with your educational institution as how to pay the fees to the educational institution itself. The fees will not be refunded if your application is refused. The costs for legalising documents differ for each country. For a specification of the costs, please contact the authorities in your country of origin. Note: A residence permit (vvr) for study purposes is issued for the duration of your study programme plus 3 months for the administrative completion of the programme, and, if applicable, the preparatory year. The maximum period of the validity of the residence permit is 5 years. Before the end date of your residence permit, your recognised sponsor may apply for an extension of your stay for the duration of your study programme. To continue your studies in the Netherlands you are expected to maintain sufficient progress toward a degree. You should earn at least 50% of the credits required per academic year. The educational institution checks this at the end of each academic year. If you do not meet this standard, the residence permit may be withdrawn. These information were obtained from the Study in Holland website.
A Dutch diploma gives you endless possibilities to build up a successful future. The way of teaching, the education system and your experiences will provide a great climate for developing skills and knowledge you couldn’t get anywhere else. Whether you want to continue your studies or work in Holland (or abroad) after graduation, there are many options.
Check out this page for more information https://www.studyinholland.nl/after-your-studies