{"id":24287,"date":"2026-08-29T05:11:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T01:41:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/blog\/cheapest-universities-in-the-netherlands\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T05:11:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T01:41:51","slug":"cheapest-universities-in-the-netherlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/blog\/cheapest-universities-in-the-netherlands\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheapest Universities in the Netherlands for International Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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 <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">cheapest universities in the Netherlands<\/span> and what the student residence permit involves, so you can start a realistic plan for <a href=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/immigration-to-the-netherlands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">immigration to the Netherlands<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Why study in the Netherlands?<\/h2>\n<p>Dutch universities give you access to <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">some of the oldest and best-regarded institutions in Europe<\/span> at tuition levels that remain manageable. Factors such as<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the research facilities at these institutions<\/li>\n<li>the networking and employment opportunities after graduation<\/li>\n<li>the option to move from a study permit to a work permit and, in time, to permanent residence in Europe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>are why affordable Dutch universities are a first choice for many international students. Alongside the cheapest options, you can also read about the <a href=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/blog\/best-universities-in-the-netherlands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best universities in the Netherlands<\/a> on the Aval Visa site.<\/p>\n<h2>The cheapest universities in the Netherlands<\/h2>\n<p>Here are the more affordable Dutch institutions, so you can weigh ranking, facilities and cost against each other.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23595 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-1-scaled-1.webp\" alt=\"Affordable universities in the Netherlands\" width=\"1200\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-1-scaled-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-1-scaled-1-300x103.webp 300w, https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-1-scaled-1-1024x352.webp 1024w, https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-1-scaled-1-768x264.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Utrecht University<\/h3>\n<p>Founded in the seventeenth century and ranked around 66th in the world, Utrecht is one of <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">the oldest and most respected universities in the Netherlands<\/span>. It admits students at all three levels:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>bachelor&#8217;s<\/li>\n<li>master&#8217;s<\/li>\n<li>doctoral<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Utrecht is strongest in <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">life sciences, geosciences, social sciences and the natural sciences<\/span>, and it hosts some of Europe&#8217;s longest-running research groups in those fields.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff; background-color: #993366;\">Utrecht University website: www.uu.nl\/en<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Eindhoven University of Technology<\/h3>\n<p>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 <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">technology, mechanical engineering, data science, computer science and IT<\/span>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"test\">The university has close ties with companies such as Philips and ASML, and it places a large number of students in internships, which makes it a strong choice for networking and for finding work after graduation.<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"background-color: #993366; color: #ffffff;\">Eindhoven University of Technology website: www.tue.nl\/en<\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Tilburg University<\/h3>\n<p>Ranked around 347th in the world, Tilburg is one of Europe&#8217;s better centres for the humanities and social sciences. Founded in 1927, it concentrates on <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">social sciences, humanities and economics<\/span> and is known for interdisciplinary research.<\/p>\n<p>Tuition for bachelor&#8217;s and master&#8217;s programmes runs between EUR 8,000 and EUR 17,000 a year.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #993366; color: #ffffff;\">Tilburg University website: www.tilburguniversity.edu<\/span><\/p>\n<h3> Radboud University<\/h3>\n<p>Founded in 1923, Radboud is one of the more affordable Dutch universities. Ranked around 279th globally, it is strong in <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">medical sciences, biology, philosophy, theology, linguistics and theoretical physics<\/span>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Also worth reading: our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/blog\/study-medicine-in-the-netherlands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">studying medicine in the Netherlands<\/a> on the Aval Visa site.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Radboud sits at the lower end of the Dutch range for bachelor&#8217;s tuition, while master&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #993366; color: #ffffff;\">Radboud University website: www.ru.nl\/en<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Hanze University of Applied Sciences<\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Hanze is strongest in <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">the arts, business and management, social sciences, communication, languages and law<\/span>, and its tuition for bachelor&#8217;s and master&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #993366; color: #ffffff;\">Hanze University of Applied Sciences website: www.hanze.nl\/en<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Saxion University of Applied Sciences<\/h3>\n<p>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:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>economics, management and business<\/li>\n<li>media<\/li>\n<li>design and the arts<\/li>\n<li>engineering<\/li>\n<li>health sciences<\/li>\n<li>law<\/li>\n<li>urban design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tuition runs between EUR 8,000 and EUR 12,000 a year, and most programmes are project-based and built around practical work.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #993366; color: #ffffff;\">Saxion University of Applied Sciences website: www.saxion.edu<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/blog\/cost-of-studying-in-netherlands\/\">the cost of studying in the Netherlands<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Applying for a Netherlands student visa<\/h2>\n<p>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 <span style=\"background-color: #d0f0c0;\">an MVV entry visa together with a student residence permit<\/span>. 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.<\/p>\n<p>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:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23597 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-2-scaled-1.webp\" alt=\"Affordable universities in the Netherlands\" width=\"1200\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-2-scaled-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-2-scaled-1-300x109.webp 300w, https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-2-scaled-1-1024x371.webp 1024w, https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cheapest-university-in-Netherlands-2-scaled-1-768x278.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"test\">A student residence permit usually takes between 4 and 12 weeks, so start the process around six months before your programme begins.<\/div>\n<h2>Getting a Netherlands student visa with Aval Visa<\/h2>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/netherlands-student-visa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Netherlands student visa<\/a>, university admission, document preparation, drafting letters and booking appointments, the <a href=\"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aval Visa<\/a> team can help. We work with you from choosing a university through admission to the visa decision.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>How much tuition do non-EU students pay in the Netherlands?<\/strong> Students from outside the EU typically pay between EUR 7,000 and EUR 12,000 a year for a bachelor&#8217;s degree, and between EUR 11,000 and EUR 16,000 for a master&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Which Dutch cities are cheapest for students?<\/strong> Nijmegen, Enschede, Groningen, Tilburg, Arnhem and Maastricht are among the more affordable student cities in the Netherlands.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do Dutch universities charge an application fee?<\/strong> Some do. Where it applies, the application fee ranges from EUR 50 to EUR 100, and a number of universities charge nothing at all.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A guide to the cheapest universities in the Netherlands for international students, with tuition ranges in EUR, subject strengths, rankings and what the Dutch student residence permit involves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":23593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalvisa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}