With almost all of its universities ranked within the world's top 250, studying in the Netherlands is an attractive prospect. Students here benefit from its truly international culture and high quality of life – the UN ranks it as the world's fifth-happiest country. What's more, many of its degree courses are taught in English. So, given all of this, you may be wondering how much they cost. If so, we can help, with our straightforward guide to Netherlands tuition fees.
How much are international tuition fees for undergraduate degrees in the Netherlands?
International tuition fees in the Netherlands are generally divided into two categories: EU and non-EU. This means that students from most European countries – those which are members of bodies such as the European Union or the European Free Trade Association – are typically charged differently to those from other countries.
Often, this means that non-EU students face considerably higher tuition fees. While fees for 2024/25 are capped at EUR 2,530 for full-time EU students – a rate known as the statutory fee – there are no restrictions on what can be charged to others. As such, fees vary widely between institutions and courses.
These rates are collectively named institutional fees, and in general, they will fall somewhere inside the range of EUR 4,000 to EUR 17,000 per year. Of course, to be sure of how much you will be expected to pay, you should check directly with your intended university.
Below are some examples of non-EU or institutional international fees at three Dutch universities, running from the higher- to lower-ranked.
| University | International undergraduate tuition fees (2024-25) |
| Delft University of Technology | EUR 16,705 |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | EUR 4,330-24,640 (mostly EUR 9,580-13,510) |
| University of Twente | EUR 9,625 or 12,875 (depending on the programme) |
How much are international tuition fees for postgraduate degrees in the Netherlands?
As with undergraduate degrees, postgraduate fees differ for EU and non-EU students. Once more, EU students can benefit from the government's statutory fee cap of EUR 2,530 per year, while non-EU students are charged at an institutional rate decided by their university.
Most master's degrees in the Netherlands have institutional fees within the range of EUR 8,000 to EUR 20,000 per year, but there are always exceptions. Again, it is best to check with universities directly to find out what you may be expected to pay.
Below are some examples of non-EU or institutional international postgraduate fees at three Dutch universities.
| University | International postgraduate tuition fees (2024-25) |
| Delft University of Technology | EUR 21,515 |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | EUR 5,150-27,390 (mostly EUR 12,130-17,960) |
| University of Twente | EUR 14,250 or 17,000 (depending on the programme) |
What do tuition fees cover?
Tuition fees in the Netherlands pay for the content and delivery of your courses by qualified instructors, and your access to services provided by your university, such as libraries and administrative support. They do not pay for things such as accommodation or general living costs.
For advice about budgeting for your studies in the country, read our guide to the cost of living in the Netherlands.
What else should I know?
Financial support is available
There are always possible ways of reducing the cost of studying in the Netherlands. A range of scholarships and bursaries are provided to international students in the country each year, including ones offered by the government, universities and private organisations.
The NL Scholarship, for example, is the country's flagship international scholarship. It offers EUR 5,000 to students from outside the European Economic Area in the first year of their studies. If you are a non-European student applying for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the Netherlands, you are eligible.
If you are from a European Economic Area country (or Switzerland), and are under 30, you are entitled to apply for a tuition fees loan from the government. This covers the cost of your tuition, and is paid back with interest after you graduate. From 2024, the interest rate will be 2.56 per cent, but it may change in future.
Explore more funding options with our list of Netherlands scholarships.
Fees can rise each year
Fees for both EU and non-EU students can rise in advance of every academic year, and they often do. This should be made clear at a reasonable time to allow prospective students to plan ahead, but you should always look closely at what universities say about the matter.
In some cases, they may give more than one year's notice about planned changes. The University of Twente, for instance, advises that international undergraduate fees for 2025-26 will undergo "the annual regular increase of EUR 125".
Application fees may be charged
Individual universities sometimes charge international students an application fee. Typically, this can be around EUR 75 to EUR 100, and is sometimes refunded once you enrol. However, each university has its own policy on such fees, so you should go to them for confirmation of what to expect.
Part-time learning can have different tuition fees
Courses studied part-time are sometimes charged at a different rate to those studied full-time. In the case of the statutory rate paid by EU students, this is set at EUR 2,156 for the 2024-25 academic year. While this is lower than the full-time fee, studying part-time may still be more expensive once the duration of your studies is taken into account.
Universities may also set fees at a different rate for part-time non-EU students, but this is not guaranteed. Check with them directly to find out if it is the case.
You will pay the same fees in each year you study
Although tuition fees tend to rise each year, this only affects new students. The charge for the first year of your course will be the same as that for each year that follows. If you go on to start a new course, your fees will again be charged at the latest rate.
Now that you've had an introduction to Netherlands tuition fees, you may want to know more about attending university in the country. In that case, take our advice on how to apply to study in the Netherlands and applying for a student visa. Alternatively, you can begin exploring courses in the Netherlands now – whatever your study level.
Disclaimer: While we’ve done all we can to ensure the accuracy of the information in this article, it should only be used as a guideline. Costs vary and can change at any time, so be sure to verify fee structures with any university you are interested in attending.
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