Cost of Studying in the Netherlands for Non-EU Students (2026/27)

Studying in the Netherlands as a non-EU student typically costs a tuition fee of about €9,000–€30,000 a year plus €1,000–€1,500 a month for living costs, according to Study in NL. Before your visa, you must also prove €1,130.77 per month for 12 months to the IND (2026 norm).

The cheapest realistic options are English-taught bachelor's programs at universities of applied sciences, some under €10,000 a year. Here is a full breakdown with official figures and the academic year they apply to.

Tuition fees: statutory vs institutional

Dutch universities charge two kinds of fee. The statutory fee, €2,694 for 2026/27, applies only to students from EEA countries, Switzerland or Suriname who have not already obtained a similar Dutch degree. Everyone else pays an institutional fee set by each university, often different per program.

Study in NL says average non-EU fees range from €9,000 to €20,000 for bachelor's programs and from €12,000 to €30,000 for master's programs. Medicine, dentistry and some business schools cost more.

Lowest non-EU fees we found at public institutions

Fees at universities of applied sciences cover 4-year bachelor's programs, so multiply by four when you compare with a 3-year research-university bachelor's.

Research university fees

2027/28 fees already published at universities of applied sciences

Many universities of applied sciences had not yet published 2027/28 non-EU fees when we checked. Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Heerlen has: €10,500 a year in its low rate group (for example International Business), €12,630 in the high group (for example Computer Science and European Studies) and €14,340 for Hotel and Hospitality Management. Breda University of Applied Sciences lists €13,680 for bachelor's and €17,750 for master's programs in 2027/28.

Are private institutions cheaper?

Usually not. Private institutions set their own fees and some are among the most expensive options. Tio Business School lists €24,950 a year for bachelor's, and Nyenrode Business University €25,000 for the first bachelor's year. Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences charges non-EU students €11,800 a year for its BBA plus €600 for materials, and visa students pay a package fee upfront. Public universities of applied sciences are generally the better-value route.

Living costs per month

Study in NL publishes this monthly overview based on Nibud 2024 data. Rent varies most: a room usually costs between €450 and €1,000 a month depending on the city.

If you only study, you need private or home-country insurance instead of Dutch public insurance. Once you take a job, Dutch public health insurance is mandatory.

Proof of funds for the visa

For the residence permit you must show €1,130.77 per month for 12 months, the IND study norm for hbo and university students valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026. That is €13,569.24 for one year. The amount changes every 1 January. Many universities ask you to transfer it to their account along with tuition; Wageningen, for instance, invoices admitted non-EU MSc students about €74,522 covering first-year tuition, 12.5 months of living costs, insurance and the permit.

What you may have to prepay before your visa

Because your university applies for your permit, it often asks for money before it applies. Examples from official 2026/27 pages show how large the first payment can be:

A deposit that is refunded after arrival is not lost money, but you still need it in cash months before you travel. If your family plans to send money in stages, ask the university whether that works with its deadlines.

One-off costs to budget for

• Application fee: €75–€100 at some institutions (e.g. €100 at VU Amsterdam, Utrecht, Radboud); none at HAN.
• IND residence permit: €254, paid by the university and usually charged back to you.
• Optional IDW diploma evaluation: €148.83.
• English test: set by the test provider in your country.
• Document legalisation and sworn translations: set by your authorities and translators.
• MVV travel: if you must collect the MVV in another country, as Afghan applicants do.
• Housing deposit and first month's rent.

Housing: the cost that surprises most students

Rent is the biggest monthly cost and the hardest to control. Study in NL warns that there is a housing shortage and advises you to start looking as soon as possible and to arrange housing before you arrive. A room typically costs €450–€1,000 a month, so the €561 average can be far from what you pay in a big city.

• Ask your university's housing office first; some reserve rooms for international students.
• Never sign a contract or pay for a room you have not seen; an online viewing is acceptable.
• Do not pay brokerage fees.
• Budget for a deposit and the first month's rent on top of your visa funds.

Extra costs for applicants from Afghanistan

Afghan students face some costs others do not. Because the Dutch embassy in Kabul is closed, you must travel to the mission named in your IND letter, usually in India, Iran, Pakistan or the UAE, and stay there while the MVV sticker is issued (up to 10 working days at most missions). Afghan nationals must also take a TB test after arrival. Some institutions are stricter about payment: Wittenborg requires applicants from Afghanistan to pay the full invoice upfront, with no instalments.

Example first-year budget

Using only the official figures above, a non-EU student at Saxion in 2026/27 would need €9,360 tuition plus the IND living-cost norm of €13,569.24, so about €22,930 before one-off costs. At TU Delft in 2027/28, a master's student would need €26,479 tuition plus 12 months of living costs at the norm in force that year. These are minimums for the visa, not a comfortable budget in cities with high rents.

How to reduce your costs

• Compare universities of applied sciences outside the Randstad, such as Enschede, Zwolle, Arnhem or Vlissingen.
• Apply for the €5,000 NL Scholarship and university scholarships early; see scholarships in the Netherlands for international students.
• Check fee groups: HAN, Twente and Zuyd charge different rates by program.
• Work part-time up to 16 hours a week (with a TWV) or full-time in June–August; see work and stay after graduation.
• Use your university's housing office and avoid paying brokerage fees.

Be honest with yourself: working part-time will not cover Dutch tuition. Plan the full first year's money before you apply. More context in our pros and cons of studying in the Netherlands, the complete Netherlands study guide, and you can track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.