Applying for a Dutch student visa

Before you apply for a Dutch higher education course, international students should always contact the institution directly. They will set out exactly which admission requirements apply to your chosen course.

As with most other countries, you'll need a secondary-school diploma or equivalent qualification at this level to qualify.

Sometimes institutions will also set their own additional requirements, especially if the number of places is limited or if competition is fierce. You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification before you can take a master's course.

Entry visas

To enter Netherlands for study purposes, nationals from most countries will require a visa. Requirements vary according to your nationality and how long you want to stay in the Netherlands. You should always apply for your entry visa well in advance. Once established in the country, you may also need an additional residence permit and a work permit.

For a three-month stay or less, you'll need a short-stay visa (sometimes called a Schengen visa). If you intend to stay in Netherlands for longer than 90 days, then you'll need to apply for a provisional residence permit (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf). Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Vatican City, Monaco or South Korea are exempt from this.

Find out more by filling in Nuffic's useful student visa wizard: Go to the student visa wizard

English language requirements

If you intend to study in Netherlands, then you'll either need to be fluent in Dutch or have a thorough grasp of the English language. You'll be expected to be able to write, read and communicate at degree level.

If English isn't your first language, then you'll have to pass an English language test such as IELTS (minimum score of 6) or TOEFL (minimum score of 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test).