Students who want to study in Europe but cannot rely on a scholarship or research funding still have good options, provided they choose the right institution. This guide sets out the cheapest universities in the Netherlands and what the student residence permit involves, so you can start a realistic plan for immigration to the Netherlands.
Why study in the Netherlands?
Dutch universities give you access to some of the oldest and best-regarded institutions in Europe at tuition levels that remain manageable. Factors such as
- the research facilities at these institutions
- the networking and employment opportunities after graduation
- the option to move from a study permit to a work permit and, in time, to permanent residence in Europe
are why affordable Dutch universities are a first choice for many international students. Alongside the cheapest options, you can also read about the best universities in the Netherlands on the Aval Visa site.
The cheapest universities in the Netherlands
Here are the more affordable Dutch institutions, so you can weigh ranking, facilities and cost against each other.
Utrecht University
Founded in the seventeenth century and ranked around 66th in the world, Utrecht is one of the oldest and most respected universities in the Netherlands. It admits students at all three levels:
- bachelor’s
- master’s
- doctoral
Tuition starts at roughly EUR 8,000 a year and rises depending on the subject and how much laboratory and practical teaching it involves. Practical and lab-based programmes cost more than theory-based ones.
Utrecht is strongest in life sciences, geosciences, social sciences and the natural sciences, and it hosts some of Europe’s longest-running research groups in those fields.
Utrecht University website: www.uu.nl/en
Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven is the leading technical university in the Netherlands and, ranked around 140th globally, another affordable option. Although it is known as an engineering school, its strengths run through technology, mechanical engineering, data science, computer science and IT.
Tilburg University
Ranked around 347th in the world, Tilburg is one of Europe’s better centres for the humanities and social sciences. Founded in 1927, it concentrates on social sciences, humanities and economics and is known for interdisciplinary research.
Tuition for bachelor’s and master’s programmes runs between EUR 8,000 and EUR 17,000 a year.
Tilburg University website: www.tilburguniversity.edu
Radboud University
Founded in 1923, Radboud is one of the more affordable Dutch universities. Ranked around 279th globally, it is strong in medical sciences, biology, philosophy, theology, linguistics and theoretical physics.
Also worth reading: our guide to studying medicine in the Netherlands on the Aval Visa site.
Radboud sits at the lower end of the Dutch range for bachelor’s tuition, while master’s programmes run up to about EUR 18,000 a year. Alongside the fees, it has a modern library and advanced research facilities, which is reflected in its ranking and in the volume of work its researchers publish in leading journals.
Radboud University website: www.ru.nl/en
Hanze University of Applied Sciences
Ranked around 2129th worldwide, Hanze is one of the more affordable institutions in the Netherlands and in Europe. It took its current form in 1986 and is based in the student city of Groningen.
Hanze is strongest in the arts, business and management, social sciences, communication, languages and law, and its tuition for bachelor’s and master’s programmes is modest by Dutch standards. Fees range from EUR 7,000 to EUR 15,000 a year, and it is a well-known centre for applied subjects.
Hanze University of Applied Sciences website: www.hanze.nl/en
Saxion University of Applied Sciences
The last entry on this list of the cheapest universities in the Netherlands is Saxion, whose roots go back to the nineteenth century. Its main schools cover:
- economics, management and business
- media
- design and the arts
- engineering
- health sciences
- law
- urban design
Tuition runs between EUR 8,000 and EUR 12,000 a year, and most programmes are project-based and built around practical work.
Saxion University of Applied Sciences website: www.saxion.edu
Read more: the cost of studying in the Netherlands
Applying for a Netherlands student visa
Students from outside the EU need a residence permit to study at any Dutch university, including the cheapest ones. For a stay of more than 90 days that means an MVV entry visa together with a student residence permit. During the permit, a student can bring a spouse and children, and after graduating can apply for a work permit and build towards permanent residence.
Once you have been admitted, your university normally applies to the Dutch immigration service (IND) as your recognised sponsor. You then book an appointment at the Dutch embassy for biometrics and collect the MVV, with the checklist below:
Getting a Netherlands student visa with Aval Visa
Studying at one of the cheapest universities in the Netherlands lets you take a degree in Europe without extreme financial pressure, and gives you a foothold if you later want to settle. For the Netherlands student visa, university admission, document preparation, drafting letters and booking appointments, the Aval Visa team can help. We work with you from choosing a university through admission to the visa decision.
Frequently asked questions
- How much tuition do non-EU students pay in the Netherlands? Students from outside the EU typically pay between EUR 7,000 and EUR 12,000 a year for a bachelor’s degree, and between EUR 11,000 and EUR 16,000 for a master’s.
- Which Dutch cities are cheapest for students? Nijmegen, Enschede, Groningen, Tilburg, Arnhem and Maastricht are among the more affordable student cities in the Netherlands.
- Do Dutch universities charge an application fee? Some do. Where it applies, the application fee ranges from EUR 50 to EUR 100, and a number of universities charge nothing at all.
