Your Complete Guide to Studying in the Netherlands:
More Than Just Tulips and Windmills
The Netherlands is a small but powerful country in Western Europe that is well-known as a fantastic site for overseas students to study. It has a unique and enriching educational experience because it is known for its creative teaching methods, a wide selection of English-taught programs, and a very international and welcoming environment. But for students who are not from the EU or EEA, the cost of living and going to school can be a huge concern. This is where scholarships are incredibly helpful.
This detailed guide will help you find your way through the always changing world of scholarships for studying in the Netherlands. It will tell you about crucial funding sources, useful techniques for applying, and other useful information that will help you reach your academic goals in this active European country in 2025 and beyond.
Why Should You Go to School in the Netherlands?
Before we talk about the several ways to pay for school, let us look at why the Netherlands is such an excellent place to learn:
The Dutch education system is noted for its high academic standards and unique manner of teaching that concentrates on solving issues. This interactive and student-centered method helps kids learn how to think critically, collaborate together, and implement what they learn in real life.
A lot of programs in English: The Netherlands has the most programs in continental Europe that are taught in English. This makes it easy for international students who do not speak Dutch to get around. 95% of Dutch people speak English, which makes it easy to live and fit in.
International Environment: There are students from over 190 nations at Dutch universities, which makes them quite diverse. In this multicultural setting, you can meet individuals from all over the world, share ideas, and see things from a really global point of view.
The Netherlands is a world leader in research, technology, and new ideas. It is a place where new ideas and research come together. Students can use cutting-edge facilities and perform vital research in many fields, such as the arts and humanities, engineering, and the life sciences.
High Quality of Life: The Netherlands is one of the safest and happiest places to live in the world. It boasts fantastic public transport, a strong focus on being green, and a welcoming culture.
Career Prospects: The Netherlands has a strong economy and a rising job market in industries like technology, logistics, and the arts. This makes it a great place to hunt for work after school. The one-year “orientation year” visa helps graduates hunt for work when they finish school.
Learning About Dutch Scholarships
In general, students from outside the EU/EEA pay more for tuition than students from inside the EU/EEA. But they are still generally less expensive than in the US or UK. Still, a lot of international students need scholarships to help them pay for school.
In the Netherlands, there are usually a few distinct kinds of scholarships:
Partial scholarships pay for some of the tuition or grant a specific amount to help with living costs. Many are only partial, so students have to pay for the rest of their education themselves.
Full scholarships are not as frequent, but they cover all or most of your tuition and living expenses.
Merit-Based Scholarships: These are given to kids who have done particularly well in school.
Need-Based Scholarships: These are not as frequent for students from other countries at the national level, but some awards for specific universities may look at how much money you need.
Scholarships for Certain Subjects: These are for students who desire to study certain subjects, including STEM or certain humanities degrees.
Country-Specific Scholarships: These are for students from certain countries and are often connected to bilateral agreements or development projects.
How to Get Big Scholarships
It takes a lot of work, careful planning, and a smart approach to apply to get a scholarship. Some of the most popular sites in the Netherlands to acquire scholarships for students from other countries are:
1. Programs run by the government or the nation
A lot of people want these scholarships since they help pay for a lot of things.
The Holland Scholarship (NL Scholarship):
The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, along with a few Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences, pay for the NL Scholarship. It used to be named the Holland Scholarship. This is for international students who desire to acquire a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the Netherlands but are not from the European Economic Area (EEA). In the first year of studies, it normally pays you €5,000 in one payment.
What you need for 2025/2026:
You have to be a citizen of a country that is not in the EEA.
To get a full-time Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, you need to apply to a Dutch higher education institution that is taking part.
You need to meet the school’s exact requirements for admission.
You can not get a degree from a school in the Netherlands.
Colleges and universities often have extra academic requirements, and they prefer students who do well in school and are very driven.
How to Apply:
You apply directly to the Dutch university where you want to go to school.
Some colleges have separate applications for the NL Scholarship and their normal program, while others have the NL Scholarship application as part of their regular program application.
The most common deadlines for the 2025/2026 academic year are February 1, 2025, or June 1, 2025. However, individual schools have different deadlines. The best way to find out the actual deadline is to check the website of the school you wish to go to.
You will usually need to compose a strong letter of inspiration that explains why you are a good fit for the scholarship and how you meet its standards.
The Erasmus+ Program:
Erasmus+ is a program run by the European Union that grants scholarships to students from both EU and non-EU countries who desire to study in Europe through exchange programs or combined Master’s degrees. Not only is it a Dutch scholarship. If your home institution has an exchange program with a Dutch university or if you apply for an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) that involves a Dutch university, you could be able to receive one. Most of the time, EMJMDs are completely backed.
Eligibility: It depends a lot on the program. You apply directly to the consortium of universities that offer the joint degree for EMJMDs.
How to Apply: Go to the Erasmus+ website and search for Master’s programs. Then, follow the instructions for each consortia.
2. Scholarships for Certain Colleges
Many Dutch colleges provide their own scholarships to attract the best international students. There is a wide range in the amount of these scholarships, from partial tuition fee waivers to full scholarships that cover both living and tuition costs.
How to Look for Them:
This is the best spot to find information about universities. The University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, TU Delft, and Utrecht University are some of the schools you might like to go to. Look for the “International Students,” “Admissions,” “Fees & Funding,” or “Scholarships” sections on their websites.
Details about certain programs: Some scholarships are exclusively accessible for certain degree programs, faculties, or research areas. Always read the course specifics before you sign up.
International Office: Call the International Office of the university right away. They can tell you everything you need to know about scholarships that are available and how to apply for them.
Some typical sorts of college scholarships are:
Excellence/Merit Scholarships: These are given to students who do very well in school. For example, the University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship – LExS, the TU Delft Excellence Scholarships, and the Utrecht Excellence Scholarships. These are really popular.
Some faculties or departments offer out scholarships for select faculty members. These scholarships mainly focus on certain research areas or academic domains.
Some universities only provide scholarships to students from specified countries or regions.
Here are some well-known university scholarship programs:
1.University of Amsterdam (UvA) Merit Prize: This is a very selective award for Master’s students from outside the EU/EEA who are exceptionally good. The amount varies by faculty and might be anywhere from €2,000 to €25,000. The deadlines go from the middle of January until May.
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is for master’s students from outside the EEA who do particularly well. It can pay €10,000, €15,000, or the whole tuition price minus the fee that must be paid. The deadlines are normally in October 2024 for the February 2025 intake and in February 2025 for the September 2025 intake.
The TU Delft Excellence Scholarships (Justus & Louise van Effen, Faculty Scholarships) are for highly smart overseas MSc students. These can be full scholarships that cover both living and school costs. The deadlines for the September 2025 intake are usually in December 2024 or January or February 2025.
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) is a competitive program for highly talented Master’s students from outside the EEA. It can pay for tuition or tuition and the cost of a residency permit (which makes it a full scholarship). February 1, 2025, is the deadline for most things.
The University of Groningen grants out a number of scholarships, including the NL Scholarship and the Eric Bleumink Fund for outstanding Master’s students from developing countries. Most deadlines are at the beginning of 2025.
2.Maastricht University Scholarships: This university gives out a lot of scholarships to international students, like the fully funded Maastricht University High Potential Scholarship Program and grants for certain faculties.
How to Apply: Most of the time, you have to apply to the university first to get into the program you want to be in. You can apply for the scholarship after you have been accepted. You can accomplish this by filling out a different form or by showing your interest on the application to get in. It is always very vital to have a strong motivation letter and good grades.
3. 3. 3. 3. Organisations and foundations from other places
There are a lot of private foundations and independent entities that give out scholarships, such as Nuffic (the Dutch agency that helps make education more worldwide).
3.The Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS)
The OTS program is run by Nuffic and its Nuffic Education Support Offices (NESOs) in several countries. The Dutch government, businesses, and universities grant these scholarships to smart students from certain countries, including India, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, China, and Mexico. The university and the sponsor decide how much money the scholarship is worth. It normally pays for 25% to 100% of the cost of tuition.
You must be a citizen of a country that is eligible and have applied to or been accepted to a Dutch university that is taking part.
How to Apply: You can apply for OTS at the Neso office in your home country. You usually have to apply to a Dutch university and acquire a letter confirming you were admitted. Different regions and schools have different deadlines, although they usually happen between February and May for the next school year.
Please note that the Orange Tulip Scholarship program is no longer available in some places. However, some Nuffic-supported programs or individual universities may offer similar scholarships for certain nations. Always visit the official Nuffic website or your local Neso office for the most up-to-date information.
StuNed Scholarship: For Indonesian students:
This is a program that gives Indonesian students money to study for a Master’s degree or take short courses in the Netherlands. The idea is to make it easier for people in Indonesia to get jobs. The Indonesian government usually helps pay for it, like LPDP.
Indonesians who are usually mid-career professionals under a certain age, have a good academic record, and can show that they want to assist Indonesia grow are eligible.
How to Apply: For most programs, you need to fill out an online application through the LPDP system (for joint programs) and/or Nuffic’s Delta system. The Study in NL website is a useful place to check for the most up-to-date information because application rounds can alter from year to year.
Other Trusts and Foundations:
Several smaller Dutch and foreign organisations offer scholarships that depend on certain criteria, such as the field of study, nationality, research topic, or social activity. You need to do a lot of study on these.
Search engines for scholarships: Use sites like Study in NL’s scholarship finder, Scholars4dev, and university websites to identify these special opportunities.
Important Things to Know When You Apply for Scholarships
Many people in the Netherlands are trying to get scholarships. To give yourself the best opportunity, do the following:
Do a lot of research and start early. It can take a long time to apply for scholarships. Look into topics at least a year before you want to start school. Make a full spreadsheet for each scholarship including the dates, requirements, and progress of your application.
Academic Excellence is Key: Most scholarships, especially those based on merit, require a good academic record. Aim high and be ready to put in your official transcripts.
Compose a compelling motivation letter or essay:
This is how you sound when you are not in school. Explain clearly why you wish to pursue your chosen program in the Netherlands and why you are the best candidate for this grant.
Talk about how your education will help you attain your academic and career goals and how you plan to make a difference, such as in your native country or in your field.
Do not simply tell, show: Give examples of what you have done, what you have learnt, and what you have accomplished.
Make it your own: For each scholarship, write a letter that talks about what they want to achieve or believe.
Be Clear and to the Point: Follow the word limits and make sure your writing is clear, orderly, and free of grammar issues.
Get Strong Letters of Recommendation:
Choose referees, like professors or employers, who know you well and can testify about your character, academic skills, work ethic, and leadership potential.
Give them your CV, motivation letter, information on the scholarship, and enough time to write a letter that is well thought out and helpful.
Make careful to highlight your leadership, community service, or specific professional experience in your CV and essays if the award is based on these things.
Language Requirements: Most of the time, you need to take the IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT examinations to prove that you can speak English well enough to study in English. Getting a score greater than the minimum can improve your application, therefore try to do that. Some scholarships may additionally want proof that you can speak Dutch if you are applying for a program that is taught in Dutch.
Be organised: Scan all of your papers, give them clear labels, and have them ready to upload. If your application is not complete, it will probably be turned down.
Do not put all your eggs in one basket; apply for more than one scholarship. To have a better chance, apply for every scholarship you can.
Carefully proofread: A small mistake could generate a terrible impression. If you can, have someone else proofread your papers for you.
Things to Think About Before You Go to the Netherlands
Cost of Living (2025 update): As of early 2025, the average monthly cost of living in the Netherlands for overseas students is now between €1,100 and €1,500. Depending on where you are, this can change a lot. Amsterdam and other big cities, for instance, cost more.
Depending on the type of accommodation you desire (shared apartment, studio, or 1BHK unit), rent can be anywhere from €600 to €1,800 per month. Prices for university housing are often lower, between €500 and €1000.
For groceries, food costs between €250 and €400 a month.
Transportation: €50 to €150 a month for renting bikes and using public transportation.
If they are not included in the rent, utilities and the internet will cost between €150 and €250 a month.
Personal expenses each month: €100 to €200 or more.
Requirements for a Dutch Student Visa (2025 update):
Your university will normally apply for your student visa (MVV and/or residence permit) for you as your official sponsor.
You need to prove that you have adequate money to pay for your school and living expenses. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) notes that the “study norm” is now between €1,217.96 and €1,225 per month, or between €14,615.52 and €14,700 per year, in addition to your tuition costs.
Before they apply for your visa or residency permit, the school normally puts this money in their bank account. Once you are there, they will give you a monthly allowance to your own Dutch bank account.
You can utilise letters from scholarships that explicitly specify how much and for how long they will cover you as proof of your financial resources. This means you do not have to put down as much money yourself.
Partial vs. Full Funding: Be honest with yourself about the many kinds of scholarships that are available. There are options that are completely sponsored, but they are quite competitive. A partial scholarship can still help you a lot with your money troubles.
International students from countries that are not in the EU or EEA can work part-time during the academic year (up to 16 hours a week) and full-time over the summer (June, July, and August). An employer has to get you a work permit; you can not do it yourself. This can help you make more money, but you should not rely on it as your primary source of income.
Conclusion
Studying in the Netherlands is a terrific way to learn in an open, creative, and very international environment. It is hard to pay for things, but there are a lot of scholarships for international students who want to study abroad. If you carefully look into your alternatives, write a quality application that shows off your academic achievements and personal desire, and stick to rigorous deadlines, you will have a much better chance of earning the money you need to start your Dutch academic experience in 2025 and beyond. Start your voyage today, keep going, and get ready for a terrific learning experience in the midst of Europe!
