In the Netherlands, three types of higher education are available: research-oriented education, higher professional education and international education. A new degree structure for higher education was officially introduced in 2002 (Declaration of Bologna). Under the new system, universities award bachelor’s degrees after three years of study and master’s degrees after one or two additional years of study. A major final requirement for the master’s degree is a thesis based on the student’s own research. Though universities will, as before, primarily offer research-oriented programmes and universities of professional education will continue to focus on higher professional education, both types of institution are now authorised to offer both types of higher education. International Education has remained a separate type of higher education, and is provided by institutes of International Education. 

Dutch universities that offer international courses and programmes

There are 14 universities in the Netherlands (“universiteiten”). They offer research-oriented programmes and award degrees at the masters’s level, as well as the country highest academic degree, the “doctoraal”, comparable to a PhD. The universities do not all have programmes of education and research in the same disciplines. Some of  the universities offer education in a broad range of fields: natural science, health, economics, law, social sciences,behaviour and society, and language and culture. These are the universities of Leiden, Groningen, Utrecht, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Tilburg, Rotterdam and both universities of Amsterdam. The universities of Delft, Twente and Eindhoven specialize mainly in engineering and Wageningen University specializes in agriculture.   

Why study in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands, is an internationally oriented and innovative country located in the heart of Europe.

In the Netherlands you will find an international environment, quality and diversity in education and research.

Over 1,150 programmes taught in English

The Netherlands was the first non-English-speaking country to offer courses taught in English. The Dutch higher education institutions together offer about 1,150 international study programmes which are entirely taught in English. This makes the Netherlands the front-runner in Continental Europe.

 International study programmes and courses

International study environment

The Dutch education system is interactive and focuses on teamwork, which makes it easy to meet other international students. By studying in the Netherlands you will develop an open mind and increase your international orientation.

A more detailed and up-to-date overview of international courses is also available at the  Study in the Netherlands

 Scholarships for international students for studying in the Netherlands