The Netherlands is a rising destination for students from around the world especially in the area of engineering, but why is this? Hotcourses editor Muyiwa Oluranti gives us a little insight into studying engineering in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a country with a population of about 16 million people, and a vast diversity in culture and traditions right at the very centre of Europe.

The Netherlands is popularly referred to as Holland and even though it is the same country, there is some difference in the origins of the names. While Netherlands is the whole country as a Kingdom, Holland refers to two provinces out of the 12 provinces which make up the kingdom.

Dutch is the national language, and Holland was the first non-English speaking country in Europe to offer academic programmes taught in English. Therefore Nigerians looking to study Engineering in the Netherlands should be able to find a course.

Engineering in the Netherlands

Engineering courses in Dutch universities are at an advanced level, and are practically oriented for students seeking specialised knowledge in different engineering career paths. The Times Higher Education Supplement has ranked 10 universities in Holland among the top 200 in the world.

There are about 23 universities and colleges in Holland offering courses in engineering and technology. One of such universities is the Utrecht University which was ranked at number 48 in the top 100 universities of the world by the Shanghai University world rankings for 2011. Leiden University also in the Netherlands was placed at number 65, stressing the high quality of education on offer at these universities.

Engineering courses on offer at most of these universities include; Biomedical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

Entry Criteria 

Admission into Universities in the Netherlands varies and therefore prospective students will have to contact their institution of choice for what may be required, however the main requirements for admission to a bachelor’s program is a secondary school diploma. A Foreign student’s qualification is required to be an equivalent to the minimum diploma required.

For students seeking Post graduate studies at master’s level entry criteria is; at least a relevant bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Note that in some instances a student might be required to show proof of English, therefore qualifications in either IELTS (6.5 minimum, with at least 6 in writing) or TOEFL (minimum score of 93) are commonly accepted. For students who present Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English a minimum of Grade B is acceptable, while for Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, at least a C grade.

Duration

For undergraduate applicants, the duration of most Engineering courses is usually, between 4 -5 years depending on the course taken. While for applicants seeking admission to gain a masters degree, course duration last for between 1- 2years.

For PhD Students, gaining a degree should take between 3-4 years for Full time students.

Scholarships

Scholarships for international students vary amongst institutions, and would usually be in the range from rebates of fees to outright tuition scholarships. It is best intending applicants inquire about this whilst making their applications, however for Nigerian applicants; here are some scholarships to which they are eligible regardless of course concern.

View more information on studying in Holland.

View information on Dutch Student Visas.