Study in Holland

Holland stands out for its great inventiveness, its problem-solving

attitude and its openness to the world. Studying in Holland offers
you the space to be a pioneer, be creative and get connected. The
more than 1,500 English-taught study programmes and courses
cover a broad range of fields. All programmes and courses lead to a bachelors, masters
or PhD degree, a diploma or certificate.

Why Study in Holland?

Pioneering
Holland has proven to be a true pioneer for discovering inventive solutions to everyday
problems. The way the Dutch created a large part of the country by reclaiming land from
the sea shows their pragmatic approach to living below sea level. We can also see this
approach when it comes to education. For a small country like Holland, an international
orientation is a must to be a successful competitor in our increasingly internationalised
world. Holland was also the first country on the European continent to offer courses
taught in English.
Creative
The important role of the Dutch in the international design industry is a reflection of their
creative drive. The creative sector in Holland is world famous for its innovative ideas and
ground-breaking Dutch design. It is perhaps because of the Dutch way of teaching that
creativity has acclaimed such an important role in Dutch society. Students are challenged
to solve problems with an out-of-the-box approach and work together in case studies to
gather and share knowledge.
Connected
Being a small country, Holland is open to the world and to surrounding countries.
Cooperating with other countries is key to being successful for the Dutch. The strong
connection between Dutch higher education institutions and the business world creates
possibilities of practical assignments and internships to prepare students for a career in
an international environment.

The education system

Holland has two main types of higher education institutions: research universities and
universities of applied sciences. Research universities focus on the independent practice
of research-oriented work in an academic or professional setting. Universities of applied
sciences offer professional programmes in the applied arts and sciences that prepare
students for specific careers. A third branch of higher education is provided by institutes
for international education, which offer advanced training courses originally designed for
people from developing countries whose jobs require highly specialised knowledge.

Research
Dutch scientists have a great reputation when compared to the rest of the world. Holland
takes a second place with the number of publications per researcher and a fourth place
on the citation impact scores*. The Times Higher Education Supplement even ranks
twelve universities in Holland among the top 200 in the world.

*a measurement reflecting the average number of references made to recent articles

published in science and social science journals.

PhD
PhD degrees are only offered by research universities. PhD candidates in Holland are
regarded as professional researchers rather than as students. The fact that the majority
of the PhD candidates is employed, strengthens their status as professional researcher.

Practical matters
Step by step: How to go about studying in Holland.
When you have made the decision to go study in Holland, you will need to prepare for
your stay. The stepbystep checklist at www.studyinholland.nl will help you determine
what to do when and where.
1: Find a study programme
Holland offers more than 1,500 study programmes and courses taught in English.
Examine the available study programmes on at www.studyfinder.nl.
2: Check the accreditation
Check whether the programme of your choice is accredited by the NVAO (Accreditation
Organization of The Netherlands and Flanders) or by another organisation. Accreditation
is an important indication of the quality of the programme.
3: Check the institution
By signing the Code of Conduct, the institutions offer students a guarantee of the quality
of their programmes, student recruitment, selection and counselling procedures. Visit
www.internationalstudy.nl to find out whether the institution of your choice appears on
the list of institutions that have signed the Code of Conduct.
4: Arrange funding
If you cannot rely on your own funds for studying, you can look for scholarships on
www.grantfinder.nl. You can also contact the Dutch Embassy in your home country or
your institutions international relations office.
5: Apply for the course
Contact the Dutch institution offering the programme of your choice for information
about admission requirements. Generally, the main requirement for admission to a
bachelors programme is a secondary-school diploma at the appropriate level . This level
is set by the institution. For admission to a masters degree programme, applicants must
have at least a bachelors degree or its equivalent. IELTS and TOEFL are commonly
accepted language tests. If you meet the requirements, follow the institutions procedure
for admission.
6: Follow the immigration regulations
Depending on your nationality, you might need an entry visa for the Netherlands. For
stays of up to 90 days, this entry visa is called a short stay visa or Schengen visa. For
stays longer than 90 days, you will need a provisional residence permit (Machtiging tot
Voorlopig Verblijf, MVV) and a (Verblijfsvergunning Regulier voor bepaalde tijd, VVR). Your
host institution must arrange an MVV on your behalf. To find out which procedure applies

to you and which documents you need, check the Student Visa Wizard at
www.studyinholland.nl/visa-wizard.

7: Find a place to live

Finding housing can be difficult, make sure you start looking as soon as possible. Dont
forget to ask your host institution for help in arranging a place for you to live. They
should be able to provide you with more information.
8: Make sure you are insured
All students in Holland are obliged to have health insurance. There are several options for
you to arrange this. Check the information and regulations about health insurances on
www.studyinholland.nl/practical-matters to find out how you can arrange your insurance.

After your studies

Once you have finished your studies in the Netherlands and have received a Dutch
diploma, you have many options. You may want to stay and continue studying here,
maybe leave for another country or find a job in Holland. Whichever option you choose,
make sure you stay connected to Holland by joining the Holland Alumni network through
www.hollandalumni.nl!

Facts and Figures:

inhabitants: 16,730,000
education expenditure as % of GDP: 5.9%
# of higher education institutions: 77*
# of students: 656,000
# of international students: 81,700
academic year: starts in September and ends in July

* have signed the Code of Conduct.

Get connected with Study in Holland!

Study in Holland is active on several online networks. Its YouTube channel provides a
good visual impression of what to expect from studying in the Netherlands, and the latest
news and updates are regularly posted on Twitter. By liking the Facebook page of Study
in Holland, you will be kept informed of the latest events and activities. Furthermore, you
can directly ask questions, discuss certain topics or simply share your ideas! Interact with
Study in Holland and enhance your Dutch experience!

Nuffic
Study in Holland is an initiative of Nuffic, the Netherlands organisation for international
cooperation in higher education. Nuffic's motto is Linking Knowledge Worldwide. It means
bringing people together, because it is knowledge that makes us unique as people.

Linking knowledge means linking people. What we love about knowledge is that you
cannot give it away. You can only share it with others. Nuffic informs students worldwide
about studying in Holland.