Today, many students prefer to study in countries where the tuition fees is low and affordable. If you want to study in countries like the UK, US and Austria, then you should be prepared to pay very high tuition fees. So if you cannot afford to study in places like the UK, US and Australia where the tuition fees is very high, decide now to pursue your studies in a country where the tuition fees is low and affordable. Yes, tuition fees in Dutch universities are low compared to what you have in the US, Australia etc. So today, our focus will be in low tuition universities in Netherlands for international students. We shall also look at the cost of living, admission /visa requirements and many other things.
The Netherlands is a country located in northwestern Europe. It is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII. Canalside mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city’s 17th-century “Golden Age.”
Cost of living in Netherlands for students
Cost of living can be said to be the amount an individual needs to take care of his/her living expenses like feeding, accommodation, transportation, recreation, buying of books etc. In Netherlands, the cost of living is estimated at 700 euro to 1000 euro per month to cover these expenses. Let’s look at the breakdown.
Housing
An average room in Netherlands will cost somewhere between 300 euro to 600 euro per month depending on the location. Housing in Amsterdam is usually more expensive than other cities. So if you have an average student income, expect that one-third of it will go to housing.
Food
Food is another thing that will take another third of your income. Fortunately, most higher education institutions offer hot meals at reasonable prices. Many cities have pubs (eetcafés) where you can get a good meal at a good price. But the cheapest way to eat is to prepare your own meals. Some average prices are: a cup of coffee/tea in a café: €2, a cheese sandwich: €3, dinner in a typical student restaurant: €10. Many supermarkets in Netherlands offer a variety of brands. It’s important that you compare the prices to find the cheapest options.
Other expenses
The remaining part of your expenses will go towards leisure, transportation, travel and other expenses. You can get around the town easily on a bicycle. This is not only typically Dutch but also a cheap means of transportation. Bus tickets cost around €2 for a single fare in the city. You can consider buying a discount card for train tickets, which gives you 40% reduction in off-peak times.
Read also: Study on Low Tuition in Denmark: Application Process, Cost of Living and Tuition
Work and study
If you are from EU/EEA or Switzerland, you can work without any restrictions in Netherlands. However, for international students, there are some restrictions if you want to take a job beside your studies. You need a permit and you can only work for a maximum of 16 hours a week or, instead, you can work full-time during the summer months of June, July and August. You are allowed to work and do an internship at the same time.
Admission requirements for study in Netherlands
Since different universities have different admission requirements its important that you contact the university to find out the requirements that applies to you. Click here for more information about admission requirements.
How to apply for admission
Applying for admission into Dutch universities is not hard at all. All you need do is contact the university via their webpage, choose a course, go through the requirements and start online application. Ensure that you have required documents ready as you may be asked to upload them during the application process.
Let’s now look at some low tuition universities in Netherlands for international students
List of Low Tuition Universities in Netherlands
| University | Average Tuition Fees For International students per year |
| University of Amsterdam | €12,000 |
| University of Maastricht | €8000 to €13,000 |
| Utrecht University | €6000 to €11,000 |
| Delft University of Technology | €8,464 to €13,226 |
| Eindhoven University of Technology | €6,700 to €15,000 |
| Leiden University | €10,000 to €13,500 |
| Saxon University the Netherlands | €7,800 to €11,000 |
| University of Tilburg | €7000 to €14,000 |
| University of Twente | €5,828 to €10,333 |
So this is the list of low tuition universities in Netherlands. If the fees are still too high for you, please consider studying in other countries like Turkey, Czech Republic, Estonia, Russia etc where the tuition fees is lower than these ones, usually in the range of 4000 euro to 6000 euro per year.
