Offering a wide variety of education in various disciplines, the Netherlands is known for high-quality education at affordable tuition fees compared to countries such as the UK and the US. A study shows that more international students are interested in studying in the Netherlands, and the numbers won't be waning anytime soon. For those considering a netherlands study abroad, it's an excellent choice.
A total of 329,000 students from 162 countries pursue degree programs at the universities of research and applied sciences in the Netherlands. According to an analysis by the Dutch organisation for internationalization in education, Nuffic, it is evident that the Netherlands is quite popular among international students looking to study abroad, especially for masters in netherlands for international students.
Things You Need to Know Before Studying in the Netherlands
Are you planning to study in the Netherlands for your masters or study abroad in Holland? You must keep the following points in mind before applying to any university in the Netherlands:
Economic Outlook
According to research in 2019, the Netherlands' economy is ranked as the 17th largest economy globally. Its economy is known for stable industrial relations and a fairly low unemployment rate. The current GDP of the Netherlands is 1.01 trillion US dollars (approx.).
The Netherlands' economy is profoundly reliant on international trade. It is a core of natural gas, international trade and nuclear energy. Not just that, it is also home to many large companies like Airbus, Royal Dutch Shell, ING Group and many more.
Relations with India
At the starting of 2019, the King and Queen of the Netherlands visited India. Both countries had decided to further expand and diversify the relationship between them. The Netherlands was the third-largest investor in India during the financial year of 2018-2019. Not just that, the country is also India's fifth-largest trading partner in the European Union. Thus, we can say that both countries share a good relationship, making the Netherlands a great option for Indian students looking to study abroad. Study in netherlands for indian students is an excellent choice given the strong ties between the countries.
Career Prospects
If you are planning to study in the Netherlands, you must be aware of the career prospects in the country. The employment rate in the country is assumed to rise, and there will be a rise in job opportunities as well as businesses in the coming years. Therefore, economic growth is supposed to have a positive effect on the employment rate of the country. Some of the most popular career prospects in the Netherlands are agriculture, energy, finance, healthcare, transport & logistics, etc.
Education Prospects
The Netherlands provides you with an international and multicultural environment. The tuition fees in the netherlands for international students are comparatively affordable as well, about 6000-20000 Euros (INR 5 Lacs-18 Lacs) each year, making the netherlands masters cost quite reasonable. Furthermore, if you manage to have a job aside from your college hours, you can manage your expenses as well.
The Netherlands is world-popular for its technical, scientific, and engineering courses. There is a total of 13 Research Universities in the Netherlands, and 12 teach bachelor's degrees in the English language, in which they offer more than 2100 study programs in English. Five Dutch universities feature in the world's top 100 universities as per the latest QS Rankings: The University of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology, Utrecht University, Leiden University, and Erasmus University Rotterdam. These are some of the top netherlands universities for masters.
According to the latest Project Atlas by IIE, a total of 94,236 international students enrolled in the universities of the Netherlands, out of which, with 13.8% enrolments, India stands at the second position, making it a great choice for Indian students looking to study in Holland.
Universities in the Netherlands are state-funded and can be divided into two categories:
- Research Universities
- Universities of Applied Sciences.
Research universities focus mainly on research-related areas, and universities of applied sciences prepare students for jobs in a particular field.
The academic year in the Netherlands runs from September until May/June the following year. Some institutions or courses may have enrolments throughout the year as well.
Academic Requirements: A Copy of Passport/ID Card | High School Transcripts |Sufficient TOEFL/IELTS Scores| No SAT/ACT for A/IB level students from India | Extracurricular Activities Certificates | LORs |Essay/Personal Statement.[RS3]
Fun Facts
The Netherlands ranks as the world's sixth-happiest country, according to the 2020 World Happiness Report. The annual study ranks 156 countries, considering healthy life expectancy, freedom, trust, corruption and social support. According to the EF English Proficiency Index, the Dutch are fluent in English, narrowly beating Denmark and Sweden. Around 93% of the Netherlands' population can speak English fluently as a second language.
Local Cuisine
The cuisine of the Netherlands is much more than pancakes! Poffertjes, Hollandse nieuwe haring, Pannenkoeken, Sate, and a variety of other dishes are among the most popular local cuisines.
Famous Travel Destinations
Jordaan and Amsterdam's Canals, Keukenhof, Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), Anne Frank House (Amsterdam), and many others are among the most well-known travel destinations in the Netherlands.
Final Words
After completing their studies, international students who decide to stay in the Netherlands will have to obtain a work visa by getting employed in any sector. After completing their masters or PhD degree, they can apply for an orientation visa as well.
The process of getting a work visa is as follows:
- Orientation year (zoekjaar) permits for foreign graduates.
- Search year permit (zoekjaar) for graduates in the Netherlands.
- Work permit for entrepreneurs/self-employed in the Netherlands.
- GVVA or Single Permit.
- Highly Skilled Migrant Permit.
- EU Blue Card.
After residing in the Netherlands legally for 5 consecutive years, an international student can apply for permanent residency in the Netherlands.
Overall, if you are planning to study abroad, the Netherlands can be one of the best choices, whether you want to study in Amsterdam or at any of the top universities in the Netherlands for masters. There must be a reason why there are 329,000 international students in the Netherlands, a number that is increasing every year. With affordable Netherlands masters costs, high quality education, and great career prospects, studying in the Netherlands is an excellent option for international students.