There are two types of institutions that offer higher education in the Netherlands: government-funded and government-approved.

Studying at a government-funded institution will cost anywhere upwards from 1.771 euros a year, for EU / EEA / Swiss / Surinam-students. Students of all other nationalities generally pay higher fees.

The tuition fees at government-approved, but not funded, institutions can cost anywhere between 1.200 euros and upwards of 15.000 euros or more, depending on the length and level of the programme.

Studiefinanciering for non-Dutch nationals

If you are a non-Dutch national, legally residing in the Netherlands, you have a right to the studiefinanciering grant if you (or your parents or partner) are an EU / EEA / Swiss national and work(ed) in the Netherlands during at least 32 hours a month (either on a temporary contract, permanent contract, on call, free-lance or self-employed), or if you have a type I (temporary) or type II (permanent) residence permit, a type III (temporary) or type IV (permanent) residence permit for asylum seekers, or you or your parents (on your behalf) have already received a study allowance at an earlier point in time.

EU / EEA / Swiss nationals who do not qualify for studiefinanciering, can apply for a tuition fee loan, to be repaid upon completing their studies. It is called collegegeldkrediet (tuition fee loan) and is amounts to 142,75 euros a month, unless your tuition fee is higher than the standard tuition fee, in which case you can take out a higher loan. Visit IB Groep for more information on the grant and on the loan.

Studying in other countries

As Europe’s higher education market is unifying rapidly, European students are increasingly investigating their study options across national borders - while Europe is becoming more attractive for students from overseas too.

Unfortunately, most information resources still focus on the national level so that students are often not aware of what their options are. Bachelorsportal.eu, Mastersportal.eu, Study Portals.eu and PhDportal.eu fill this information vacuum for the different degrees and help students find and choose an equivalent study programme across Europe.

ScholarshipPortal.eu offers an overview of the financial support available from many different sources for those who want to study in Europe while ShortCoursesPortal.eu lists the options for short-term programmes in Europe, such as summer and winter schools.

Together, these portals are the European study choice platform, listing over 20.000 study options in 37 European countries and more than 1.000 scholarships - aiming towards stimulating student mobility and promoting European Higher education.

Also many Dutch universities have partner institutions in other EU countries, allowing their students to follow part of their course abroad. For more information on your options, visit Study in Holland.

This is the third part of the "International Schools & Higher Education" article written by Willemijn L. van Oppen-Stuyt, owner of Educaide, for The XPat Journal. Have a look at the current edition or subscribe here.

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