Tuition fees and grants

Tuition fees in the Netherlands are different for students coming from within the European Union than for those from outside the EU. European students pay about 1500 euros a year, whilst the fee for students from outside the EU differs from one institution to another, but is usually higher and may be as much as 5,000-10,000 euros. However this is still significantly less than studying at a university in the USA or UK. An overview of tuition fees for both categories of students is available on Studychoice.nl (you can find tuition fees listed under the basic facts section for each institution).

Grants/scholarships
The Dutch government has set up a special system of scholarships for international students wishing to enrol in higher education in the Netherlands. Dutch higher education is subsidised, which means tuition fees can be kept to a minimum - unlike in the USA and UK. Information about the scholarships on offer can be found on www.grantfinder.nl. General information about scholarships is available on the Nuffic website.

More information on grants and scholarships for international students:

• ScholarshipPortal.eu
• www.amsterdam.info/students/scholarships
• www.eurogates.nl/en_dutch_university_grants_scholarships_holland  
• www.getscholarship.net
• scholarship-positions.com

You can also ask other students about scholarships and grants; visit the international student forum at www.internationalstudents.nl/scholarshipsgrants-for-studying-in-the-netherlands. This site also offers fun tips and trivia about the Netherlands.

The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) offer special grants to employees of organisations in a number of developing countries. Their objective is to increase the number of skilled workers in these countries as part of efforts towards capacity building and poverty reduction. For more information, visit the Nuffic site. 

Refugee students
Refugees with sufficient educational qualifications who would like to continue their studies in the Netherlands can turn to the UAF Foundation for Refugee Students. For over 60 years now, this Dutch foundation has been guiding and supporting refugees and asylum-seekers interested in attending secondary school, university, or intermediate or higher professional education. The UAF is currently providing guidance to 2660 students from 77 countries. Its services include advice and information, study counselling, career mediation, financial support and special projects. See www.uaf.nl.