How to Apply to Universities in Netherlands (2027): Step by Step

Bachelor's

1. Check that your prior education is recognised as giving access to Dutch higher education, and confirm the language of instruction, Dutch or English, for your chosen programme.
2. Check whether the programme uses numerus fixus (a capped, selective number of places, deadline 15 January) or open admission (deadline 1 May); non-EU/EEA applicants are commonly advised, or required by some universities, to apply earlier, often by 1 April.
3. Register in Studielink, the national application portal, and complete the university's own application, uploading your diploma, transcript and an English or Dutch test certificate.
4. Pay any application fee the university charges; this commonly runs around EUR 100 for applicants with an international diploma, though several universities charge none.
5. Complete any matching, selection or numerus fixus activities your programme requires before the ranking or admission decision.
6. Once admitted, your university, as your recognised sponsor, applies for your residence permit for study if you are a non-EU/EEA national; arrange housing and health insurance in parallel.
7. Pay your tuition fee and enrol before the academic year starts, most commonly in September, with a smaller number of programmes starting in February.

Master's

1. Confirm your bachelor's degree, or equivalent, is recognised for the programme and meets its own subject prerequisites.
2. Check the specific programme's own deadline, since Dutch universities set master's deadlines per programme rather than one shared date; deadlines commonly run from around December to June.
3. Register in Studielink and complete the university's own application with your degree certificate, transcript, English test result, and any required CV, motivation letter or references.
4. Pay any application or handling fee the university charges.
5. Once admitted, your university applies for your residence permit for study if you are a non-EU/EEA national.
6. Arrange housing, health insurance and proof of funds, then pay tuition and enrol.

PhD

1. Find a supervisor and agree a research proposal directly with a faculty, or apply to an advertised, funded PhD vacancy; the Netherlands has no single national PhD application system.
2. Confirm your master's degree, or equivalent, meets the university's doctoral admission requirements.
3. Check whether the position is funded; most Dutch PhD candidates are employed by the university rather than paying tuition.
4. Apply directly to the vacancy or graduate school, following its own deadline and required documents.
5. Once offered a position, apply for a residence permit for scientific research, or as a highly skilled migrant, if you are a non-EU/EEA national.