Tuition fees in the Netherlands

The tuition fees charged by Dutch universities and other higher education institutions vary depending on a student’s situation and nationality. Here's what you need to know about tuition fees in the Netherlands. 

Tuition fees at Dutch universities

The cost of studying in the Netherlands is mostly covered by the government. However, students are required to pay nominal tuition fees (collegegeld) to the institution. 

These fees fall into two different categories: 

• Statutory tuition fees (wettelijk collegegeld)
• Institutional tuition fees (instellingscollegegeld)

Which types of tuition fee you pay depends on your personal situation. 

Statutory tuition fees

You pay statutory tuition fees if you meet these three conditions: 

• You are studying at a funded higher education institution.
• You have not yet obtained a bachelor's degree from a funded programme (if you are enrolling on a bachelor's degree course) or you have not yet obtained a master's degree from a funded programme (if you are enrolling on a master's degree course). 
• You have Dutch, EU, Swiss or Surinamese citizenship, or you have one of the following residence permits:
  • Type EU/EEA
  • Type family member EU/EEA
  • Type article 50 TEU
  • British nationality with residence permit 28, 29 or 40
  • Type II, III, IV or V
  • Type 1 with a European Blue Card
  • Type 1 with the indication "Research within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/801"
  • Type 1 which entitles you to student finance 

Exceptions for second programme of study

Even if you have already completed a funded bachelor's or master's degree programme, you might still qualify for statutory tuition fees in the following circumstances:

• If you start a second degree programme while still studying your first degree (for example, you switch to a new programme), and you continue this second degree programme uninterrupted. 
• If you previously obtained a bachelor's or master's degree, but are now starting a course in the field of health or education for the first time. 

Statutory tuition fees in 2025, 2026 and 2027

The statutory tuition fees for universities in the Netherlands are determined each year by the government, and the amount is the same for all educational institutions. 

The statutory tuition fees for the current and previous academic years are as follows: 

Academic year	Full-time study	Part-time or dual study
2023/4	€2.314	€1.377 to €2.314
2024/5	€2.530	€1.506 to €2.530
2025/6	€2.601	€2.216 to €2.601
2026/7	€2.695	€2.296 to €2.695

Note that certain courses (those offering intensive education) are permitted to charge higher tuition fees. The maximum allowable fee is five times the statutory tuition fee.

Halving statutory tuition fees

Up until 2024, it was possible for students to halve their statutory tuition fees for a maximum of one year in the year that they started higher education for the first time. For instance, in 2022/3 students could pay €1.105 instead of €2.209 for their first year of study. This option has been discontinued as of the academic year 2024/5. 

Institutional tuition fees

You pay institutional tuition fees if you do not meet the requirements to pay for statutory tuition fees. This might be the case, for instance, if you are starting your second degree, having already completed a funded course, or if you are a non-EU citizen and don't hold one of the residence permits mentioned above. 

How much are institutional tuition fees?

Universities and colleges are free to determine their institutional tuition fees themselves. The amount will vary per programme and per group of students. The institutional tuition fee can never be lower than the statutory tuition fee. 

To find out the exact amount, it’s advised to research costs directly with the institution of your choice.

Private school costs in the Netherlands

Private schools (particuliere scholen) such as business schools fall under the institutional tuition fees rules. They run bachelor and MBA programmes with tuition fees ranging from roughly €16.000 to €36.000 for a complete programme.

Student financing in the Netherlands

The Dutch government also has a student financing system (studiefinanciering) to assist students with paying for their study and living costs. What it comprises of exactly depends on what you study.

Student financing is available to Dutch students, but non-Dutch students are sometimes also eligible. Through student finance, you can get a tuition fee loan to cover (part of) your tuition fees. Find out more in our guide to student finance in the Netherlands.