How To Get Quality Tertiary Education in Holland | Universities in Holland

If you want to get a tertiary education in Holland, opt for quality against its counterparts. Universities in Holland are forces to reckon with in affordable tuition and living expenses.

Here, we have put down the ways you can tag the education you undergo ‘Quality’, especially in Holland.

Read on to find out how this is achievable.

Going down this article, you will see for yourself all that is required to study in Holland including the tuition fee, cost of living, admission requirements, how to apply, and lots more.

About Holland

Holland is the generic name commonly used to refer to the Netherlands. It also shares borders with France, Berlin, and the United Kingdom.

Regardless of the education level you seek, Holland is one of the European countries where you can get that without having to rob a bank.

Consistently ranked among the best universities in the world, many international students have continuously trooped into the country to make same their study destination.

Holland has recorded over ninety-thousand international students. It is said that most of the student in the country are from different countries.

How To Get Quality Tertiary Education in Holland

Tuition fee

The tuition fee for universities in Holland is far cheaper than what you would find in most English speaking European countries.

For EU students on part-time studies, the tuition fee is set around one thousand, seven hundred and six Euros, while full-time EU students pay a tuition fee of one thousand, nine hundred and fifty Euros per year.

If you are a non-EU student studying in Holland, the tuition fee for universities in Holland per annum is between six thousand to fifteen thousand euros for undergraduate students and eight thousand to twenty thousand Euros for postgraduate students.

Furthermore, you get to pay an application fee of fifty to one hundred Euros depending on the university and course/program you are applying for.

Cost of living

This is another area where you are at an advantage as a student in Holland. The cost of living is relatively low.

From experience, most students in Holland spend approximately eight hundred to one thousand and one hundred Euro on a monthly basis.

As a student, the cost of living comprises of cost of housing, food, books, transportation, cinema, clothes, and other necessities.

Another factor that determines the cost of living in Holland is your city of residence. For instance, a student who stays in large cities like Amsterdam gets to pay more housing costs as compared to those who stay in smaller cities.

However, with a proof of your student identity card, you can earn some really cool discounts from restaurants, bars, cinemas, and museums, etc.

These discounts go a long way in reducing the cost of living.

The basic cost may include:

  1. Housing: three hundred to six hundred Euros per month (depending on the area).
  2. Food: two to ten Euros per meal.
  3. Transport: The bus ticket costs just two Euros.

Admission Requirement

Admission requirements for studying in Holland solely depends on the particular institution you intend to apply to. The requirement also varies for undergraduate programs and postgraduate programs.

Most universities in Holland will require you to present a secondary school diploma or any other relevant qualifications before you can be admitted for an undergraduate program (Bachelor).

If you intend to run a master’s program in Holland, you will need to provide an undergraduate degree diploma (Bachelor’s). Knowing this will help you know how to get quality tertiary education in Holland.

Language Requirement

English is the language of instruction in most universities in Holland. Therefore, you must have a good command of spoken and written English.

The test design to prove English proficiency includes: TOEFL, where a student must have a minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) and IELTS, where students must score a minimum of six. Other English tests may be required as specified by individual institutions.

How to Apply for Admission

Most universities in Holland will not conduct a separate entrance test for new students besides the documents they are required to have.

Generally, the application starts by submitting relevant documents to the international office in your home country, after which some institutions will require you to register for your program via studies link tool (others will require application directly through the school’s website).

The next step will require you to use your login details from the studies link tool to access the school application portal and apply for admission. Upon submission of the application and relevant documents, the school will notify you of acceptance if you have met all the requirements.

Required Application Documents

  • Secondary (High) school leaving certificate along with a list of subject for undergraduate programs
  • Bachelor degree certificate along with a list of subjects for a master’s program
  • Result of relevant English tests (TOEFL, IELTS), this applies to students from non-native English speaking countries.
  • Result of Dutch language test NT2, this only applies to students who intend to study a program in Dutch.
  • Other relevant documents include reference letter, Curriculum Vitae, letter of introduction with background information about the applicant and reasons for the decision to study in Holland.

Intake Period/Deadlines

The intake period for new enrollment into universities in Holland are fixed by the institutions. Generally, enrollment takes place in February (spring semester) and September (fall semester).

The intake period covers the time you would need to apply for the admission and process the required documents until when academic activities kick-off.

Most institutions will start enrollment for non-EU students two to three months before enrolling in EU students. This is to provide the non-EU students enough time to complete the application process and get settled in the country.

If for any reason you miss a deadline or intake period, you will have to wait for the next intake period (semester) before you apply.

Having seen how to get quality tertiary education in Holland, carefully study the List of Universities in the Netherlands we have compiled to help you make the right choice.

List of Universities in the Netherlands

Below is a list of top universities where you can get quality tertiary education in Holland, Netherland as an international student.

Do well to go through each of these Holland universities to know more about their tuition fees and other necessary information.

  • Delft University of Technology, Delft (South Holland).
  • Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam in South Holland.
  • Leiden University, Leiden in South Holland.
  • Maastricht University, Maastricht in Limburg.
  • Nyenrode Business University
  • Breukelen (Utrecht).
  • Open University Heerlen (Limburg).
  • Radboud University, Nijmegen in Gelderland.
  • Tilburg University, Tilburg in North Brabant.
  • University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam in North Holland.
  • University of Groningen, Groningen.
  • University of Twente,Enschede in Overijssel.
  • Utrecht University, Utrecht (Utrecht).
  • VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam in North Holland.
  • Wageningen University and Research Centre Breda, North Brabant.
  • Universities of Applied Sciences.
  • Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam in North Holland.
  • ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Zwolle, Overijssel.
  • Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda, North Brabant.
  • Business School Netherlands Buren, Gelderland.
  • Business School Notenboom.
  • Codarts, University for the Arts, Rotterdam, South Holland.
  • Design Academy Eindhoven, Eindhoven (North Brabant).
  • Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (North Holland).
  • HAS Den Bosch University of Applied Sciences, Hertogenbosch (North Brabant).
  • Utrecht School of the Arts, Hilversum (North-Holland).
  • HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen (Zeeland).
  • Hotelschool The Hague Den Haag (South Holland).
  • NHL University of Applied Sciences.
  • Rotterdam University, Rotterdam (South Holland).
  • TIO University of Applied Sciences.
  • University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leiden (South Holland).
  • Royal Academy of Art, The Hague Den Haag (South Holland).
  • Webster University – Leiden Campus Leiden (South Holland).
  • Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, Apeldoorn in Gelderland.

Delft University of Technology, Delft (South Holland).

The Delft University of Technology also known as TU Delft is the largest and oldest Dutch public technological university, located in Delft, Netherlands.

It counts as one of the best universities for engineering and technology worldwide, typically seen within the top 20.

Official website

Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam in South Holland.

This is one of the universities where you can get quality tertiary education in Holland. Erasmus University Rotterdam is a public university located in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES); Postgraduate School Molecular Medicine (MM); Medical Genetics Centre South-West Netherlands (MGC).

Official website

Leiden University, Leiden in South Holland.

Leiden University is a public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. Founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years’ War, it is the oldest university in the Netherlands.

Official website

Maastricht University, Maastricht in Limburg.

Maastricht University is a public university in Maastricht, Netherlands. Founded in 1976, it is the second youngest of the thirteen Dutch universities.

It is an honors liberal arts college: University College Maastricht and a Maastricht Science Programme in the same liberal arts tradition.

Official website


Nyenrode Business University

Nyenrode Business Universiteit, formerly spelled as Nijenrode, is a Dutch elite business university and one of four private universities in the Netherlands.

Founded in 1946, it is located on a large estate in the town of Breukelen, between Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Official website

Open University Heerlen (Limburg).

The Open University of the Netherlands is a Dutch institution for distance learning at the university level.

It is an independent government-funded university and uses a variety of methods, including written materials, the Internet, and occasional evening seminars or day sessions.

Official website


Radboud University, Nijmegen in Gelderland.

Radboud University Nijmegen is a public university focusing strongly on research in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Established on 17 October 1923, the RU has seven faculties and enrols over 19,900 students.

Official website

The University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam in North Holland.

The University of Amsterdam is a public university in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The UvA is one of two large, publicly funded research universities in the city, the other being the VU University Amsterdam.

Official website

University of Groningen, Groningen.

The University of Groningen is a public research university in the city of Groningen in the Netherlands.

The university was founded in 1614. Since its inception, more than 200,000 students have graduated.

Official website

University of Twente, Enschede in Overijssel.

The University of Twente is a public research university in Enschede, the Netherlands.

It offers degrees in the fields of social sciences, exact sciences and is highly specialized in engineering.

Official website

VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam in North Holland.

The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a university in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1880, often ranking among the world’s top 100 universities.

It is an internationally renowned university located in the vibrant city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Official website

Wageningen University and Research Centre Breda, North Brabant.

Wageningen University & Research is a Dutch public university in Wageningen, Netherlands. It comprises Wageningen University and the former agricultural research institutes of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture.

Official website


ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Zwolle, Overijssel.

The ArtEZ University of Arts is an art academy that provides art study programs. ArtEZ combines several art institutes and art disciplines with branches in Arnhem, Enschede, and Zwolle.

Official website

Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda, North Brabant.

Avans University of Applied Sciences is a high-ranked Dutch vocational university. It is located in three cities: Breda,’s-Hertogenbosch, and Tilburg.

The school has 30,000 students studying 40 courses in 18 institutes.

Official website

Business School Netherlands Buren, Gelderland

Business School Netherlands Buren, Gelderland is a school business students in the Netherlands.

Official website


Codarts, University for the Arts, Rotterdam, South Holland

Codarts University for the Arts is a Dutch vocational university in Rotterdam that teaches music, dance, and circus. It was established in its present location in 2000.

Official website


Design Academy Eindhoven, Eindhoven (North Brabant).

Design Academy Eindhoven is an interdisciplinary educational institute for art, architecture, and design in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

The work of its faculty and alumni have brought it international recognition.

Official website

SEE ALSO: 24 Maastricht University Holland High Potential Scholarships for International Students 2023


Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (North Holland).

The Gerrit Rietveld Academie is a Dutch fine arts and design academy in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Official website

HAS Den Bosch University of Applied Sciences, Hertogenbosch (North Brabant).

HAS University of Applied Sciences is an independent university of applied sciences, specializing in food, agriculture, horticulture, nature, and environment.

It is in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the regional capital of North Brabant and Venlo, Limburg.

Official website


Utrecht School of the Arts, Hilversum

The HKU University of the Arts Utrecht is a performing art and visual arts educational institution in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Official website

HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen (Zeeland)

The HZ University of Applied Sciences is a vocational university in the Dutch province of Zeeland and has buildings in Vlissingen, Roosendaal, and Middelburg.

It has been the only University of Applied Sciences in Zeeland for a long time.

Official website


Hotelschool The Hague Den Haag (South Holland)

Hotelschool The Hague is a single sector University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. accreditatie aan de opleiding HBO-bachelor Business Administration in Hotel Management van de Hotelschool Den Haag.

Official website

Rotterdam University, Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam is a public university located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The university is named after Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, a 15th-century humanist and theologian.

Official website


TIO University of Applied Sciences

The Tio University of Applied Sciences is a private organization, founded by the business community in the nineteen sixties. Tio has establishments in Amsterdam.

Official website


University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leiden

The University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Dutch: Hogeschool Leiden, is a vocational university in the western Netherlands, in the city of Leiden.

It has approximately 12000 students, mainly studying towards associate and bachelor’s degrees. The school also offers master’s degrees in nursing.

Official website


Royal Academy of Art, The Hague Den Haag

This is one university where you can get quality tertiary education in Holland. The Royal Academy of Art is a leading and highly renowned art academy in The Hague.

Succeeding the Haagsche Teeken-Academie, the academy was founded on 29 September 1682, making it the oldest in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the world.

Official website

Webster University – Leiden Campus Leiden

Webster University Leiden is an American university with campuses worldwide, including the Netherlands. Webster University provides both undergraduate and graduate education.

Official website

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