Universities in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is known for its quality research education in various fields for both domestic and international candidates. The universities in this country are in the top 200 world university rankings, and the country occupies 5th place internationally in higher education. The country's education system helps candidates augment knowledge through an organized system of upbringing and quality. The tuition for higher education, especially in the country's public universities, is low compared to other countries in Europe, which is an added benefit for international students.

The degrees offered combine theoretical and practical knowledge, which helps candidates fit into the workforce as soon as they have completed their education. Most of the courses are taught in English, which attracts international students. The country has over 90,000 international students, most of them from EU/EEA countries. The country's most popular fields of study include economics, engineering, and social sciences.

Higher Education System in the Netherlands

The higher education system in the Netherlands is offered through three different types of institutions, which are-

Government-funded institutions
Institutions by Legal Entities
Private Sector Institutions

Around 36 professional institutions funded by the government and 14 public universities in the country offer programs in different fields of study. Most public universities have a history that dates back to even the 14th century, with programs that have been adapted to fit the current educational needs of candidates. The Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science decides the fee structure of government-funded institutions and is often a standard rate distinguished by the candidate's nationality.

The institutions funded by legal entities are partially funded by the government and provide bachelor’s, master’s, and research-level degrees to candidates. Students can apply for student funds and loans if admitted to such universities since the universities will be allowed to fix the fees by themselves.

Fully private institutions, like every other private university, offer programs with a high tuition fee. Most of the country's business schools are part of the private sector. These schools offer bachelor’s, master’s, and research-level programs to domestic and international candidates. The fee structure will vary according to the candidate's nationality.

Documents and Eligibility Requirements for Universities

The documents and eligibility requirements for different universities vary from one another. Sometimes, the requirements can also change from program to program based on the university the candidate is applying to. A few of the general documents that candidates will have to submit as part of the application process include-

Passport
Educational Transcripts
Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose/Resume
Proof of English Proficiency, if required
Proof of Dutch Proficiency, if required

Top Universities in the Netherlands

While the country has plenty of universities that offer courses in different fields of study, a few of these universities stand out in their quality of education. These universities are-

Delft University of Technology

This university is located in Delft and is one of the largest universities in the Netherlands. It was established in 1842 and has a population of over 26,000 students and over 3,600 academic staff. Since it is a technical university, most programs are in the natural sciences or life sciences. They offer bachelor’s, master’s, and research-level degrees in Dutch and English to domestic and international candidates. They have 16 bachelor’s programs and over 40 master’s programs in fields like nanobiology, computer science, aerospace engineering, etc., with the bachelor’s programs having a duration of 3 years and the master’s program having a duration of 2 years.

They offer two types of doctoral programs: Ph.D. and PDEng. The former lasts four years, while the latter lasts two years. Ph.D. is provided to candidates in association with the university and is more focused on theory, whereas PDEng is provided in the professional field.

Erasmus University of Rotterdam

This university was established in 1813 and is a public research university with a population of about 30,000 students and over 2,700 academic staff. They have seven faculties focused on the four areas of medicine, management, law, and culture. They offer undergraduate, graduate, and research programs, along with post-experience programs. The student-to-faculty ratio in the university is 11:1, and they offer candidates a few scholarship options. The university's international student population accounts for about 20% of the university's overall student population.

They offer programs in philosophy, social and behavioral sciences, history, culture, communication, and management. Their different schools are based on health, wealth, governance, and culture.

Eindhoven University of Technology

Established in 1956, this university has a student population of around 11,000 students and over 3,200 academic staff. It is a public technical university that provides bachelor’s and master’s programs in both Dutch and English to both domestic and international candidates. They provide bachelor’s programs in physics, mathematics, architecture, automotive technology, data science, etc. They also provide engineering programs at an undergraduate and graduate level in chemical engineering, industrial engineering, software engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.

The master’s programs they provide include artificial intelligence, data science, entrepreneurship, embedded systems, human-technology interaction, etc. They also offer research opportunities to candidates in artificial intelligence, energy, engineering health, data science, high-tech systems, integrated physics, etc. The university also provides PDEng courses at the research level, which has a duration of 2 years and targets engineering postgraduates.

Leiden University

This university was established in 1575 and is a public research university with a student population of 30,000 students and over 1,300 academic staff. They have seven faculties with over 50 departments dealing with different fields of study. They offer undergraduate, graduate, and research programs in Criminology, Astronomy, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Political Science, Psychology, etc. The bachelor’s programs offer three years, whereas the master’s programs have two years.

This university offers research programs in departments such as archaeology, humanities, medicine, law, social and behavioral sciences, and sciences. The duration of a research program is three years in all.

Tilburg University

Tilburg University was established in 1927 with a population of around 20,000 students and over 1,900 academic staff. This university focuses on social and behavioral sciences, economics, and law, though it offers courses in other disciplines. They offer bachelor’s programs and master’s programs along with professional learning courses (post-master programs) in subjects like Big Data, Tax Assurance, Accountancy, etc. The bachelor’s programs they offer have a duration of 3 years, and their master’s programs have a duration of 2 years, with the programs being offered in both English and Dutch.

The research program at Tilburg University focuses on topics like sustainability and society, labor market, security, culture and religion, health and well-being, etc. The duration of the research program, including the presentation of defense, is three years in all.

Utrecht University

This public university was established in 1636 and is one of the oldest universities in the country, with a student population of over 30,000 students and over 3,600 academic staff. The university offers bachelor’s programs, master’s programs, and professional education, along with opportunities for research in different fields of study. They offer courses in earth and sustainability, behavioral studies and society, health and life sciences, law, economics and governance, science and religion, and philosophy.

The Ph.D. programs offered at the university take 3 to 4 years to complete, and the availability of Ph.D. positions varies from year to year. Candidates can apply for vacant positions by consulting the official website and submitting research proposals.

Vrije University

This is a private university that receives public funding and was established in the year 1880. The university has a population of around 30,000 students and around 3,000 academic staff. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs along with other minor programs. They offer courses in subjects like artificial intelligence, business analytics, communication science, criminology, computer science, etc. All the programs are offered as full-time courses. While the bachelor’s programs have a duration of 3 years, the master’s programs have a duration of 1 to 2 years.

The research programs offered at the university focus mainly on themes like health and well-being, Sustainability, and the Digital World. The programs at the research level last 3 to 4 years in total.

Wageningen University

This public university was established in 1876 as an agricultural college and eventually became a public research university in 1918. The university has a population of over 12,000 students. They offer undergraduate, graduate, and research-level programs to domestic and international candidates in animal sciences, environmental sciences, tourism, etc. The bachelor’s programs have a duration of 3 years, whereas the master’s programs have a duration of 2 years in all.

Research programs in this university last four years, with the first three months dedicated to a Training and Supervision Plan. The plan is formulated by the candidate and the supervisor to suit the candidate's project idea.

University of Amsterdam

This public university was established in 1632 and has a student population of over 30,000 and over 2,500 academic staff. The university has seven faculties, all dealing with academic areas like humanities, social sciences, science, law, medicine, dentistry, etc. They offer bachelor’s, master’s, and research-level programs for both domestic and international candidates. They also offer MBAs, Executive Master’s, and other summer and winter courses.

Ph.D. programs are offered in economics and business, humanities, law, sciences, social sciences, communication science, psychology, and child development and education. The duration of doctoral programs is estimated to be three years, but it can be extended based on the candidate's progress on the thesis.

The Hague University

This university was established in 1987 and focuses on applied sciences. The university has a student population of over 26,000 and over 2,300 academic staff. They have four campuses, the main one located near the Laakhaven Canal. They offer undergraduate, graduate, and research programs in subjects like European studies, international business, food technology, sports studies, security management studies, and user experience design. They also offer associate degrees in facility management and finance and control.

They offer research programs in cyber security, digital operations, finance, global and inclusive learning, global governance, and other related fields. The research-level programs can last three years or more, depending on the candidate's performance.