What Is It Like to Study in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands occupies only a tiny spot on the world map, yet it is an advanced country in Western Europe that cannot be ignored. It is not only economically strong, but also has an exceptionally high-quality education system. There are not many schools, but the ones that do exist are outstanding. Almost all of the 14 research universities rank in the global top 200. So why have more and more Chinese students chosen to study in the Netherlands in recent years?

1. High internationalization and strong teaching quality

The primary purpose of studying abroad is to take your academic performance to the next level, so of course you should choose a country with a high standard of education. The Netherlands' higher education system ranks just behind those of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, and is one of the most valuable higher education systems in the world. The Netherlands has a small number of public research universities, and Delft University of Technology and the University of Amsterdam were ranked 57th and 61st, respectively, in the 2021 QS World University Rankings.

A degree earned in the Netherlands is recognized worldwide. International students in the Netherlands come from 190 different countries, and Dutch universities strictly control the proportion of students from each country to ensure international diversity without letting students from any one country cluster together. In addition, the Netherlands is very open and inclusive, allowing everyone to exchange ideas equally and speak freely.

2. Tuition is relatively low compared with Europe and the United States

The Dutch government has introduced a series of subsidy policies, so university tuition in the Netherlands is relatively affordable. If you study in the Netherlands, annual living expenses plus tuition usually come to around RMB 100,000 to RMB 180,000. Dutch universities also offer scholarships. If you meet the relevant requirements, your tuition can be reduced further. To help ease students' financial burden, schools can also assist with work permits, allowing students to take part-time jobs and earn money for up to 10 hours a week (there is no limit during winter and summer breaks). In addition, studying in the Netherlands does not require financial sponsorship, which saves a significant amount of money. You only need to transfer your living expenses to the Dutch university you will attend.

3. English is widely spoken, and many programs are taught entirely in English

Although Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, English is spoken by 95% of the population. Almost everyone can speak English, and Dutch people generally have a very high level of proficiency. Degree programs for international students at Dutch universities are usually international programs, and Dutch universities offer more than 600 international programs in different majors. These programs are all taught in English, so there is no need to worry too much about language barriers.

However, Dutch universities are not the kind of schools that are easy to enter but hard to graduate from. Graduation requirements are extremely strict, and there are many cases where students fail to complete their studies and do not receive a degree. So if you want to study in the Netherlands, you must be willing to put in enough effort. And once you get into university, you still cannot slack off.