University of Groningen: Tuition, English Programs & How to Apply (2027/28)

The University of Groningen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) is one of the best-value research universities in the Netherlands for non-EU students: for 2027/28 most of its bachelor's programs charge non-EU students €14,400 per year, and it offers a very large range of English-taught programs. You apply through Studielink, and the main deadline for international applicants is 1 May 2027.

Below you will find the official 2027/28 fees, the programs you can study in English, deadlines, entry and English requirements, scholarships and an honest look at the downsides.

Why Groningen is good value for non-EU students

Groningen is a public research university founded in 1614. Dutch research universities charge non-EU students an institutional fee that each university sets itself, and Groningen's bachelor's fee is at the lower end among the large research universities in the country. You get a full research-university degree in English for a price that is lower than many master's programs elsewhere in the Netherlands.

• Huge English-taught choice: from Art History and International Relations to Artificial Intelligence, Econometrics and Biomedical Engineering.
• Two intakes for some programs: Data Science and Society, Global Politics and Sustainability and Liberal Arts and Sciences can also start on 1 February.
• Fast decisions for early applicants: the Early Bird route promises a decision within 15 working days if you apply before 28 February 2027.
• A second campus: Campus Fryslân is in Leeuwarden, also part of the university.

University of Groningen tuition fees for 2027/28

Non-EU students pay the institutional fee. The amounts below come from the university's official fee tables for full-time study. EU/EEA students pay the statutory fee instead, which is €2,771 for 2027/28.

For master's programs, the 2027/28 non-EU fee is €20,500 for Arts, Philosophy and Religion; €22,800 for Economics & Business, Law, Spatial Sciences, Behavioural & Social Sciences and Campus Fryslân; and €24,900 for Science & Engineering and research master's. Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma also pay an application fee once per academic year; the amount is sent with the payment instructions after you apply.

English-taught programs at Groningen

Our tracker lists 37 English-taught bachelor's and 172 English-taught master's programs. Bachelor's programs last 3 years; master's programs last 1–2 years.

Bachelor's examples

• Arts and humanities: American Studies, Art History, History, Media Studies, International Relations and International Organization
• Economics and business: Econometrics and Operations Research, Economics and Business Economics, International Business
• Science and engineering: Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Astronomy, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering
• Campus Fryslân: Data Science and Society, Global Politics and Sustainability

Master's examples

The master's catalogue is very broad, for example Mechanical Engineering in Science & Engineering, plus programs in economics, law, spatial sciences and the humanities. Browse the full list on the official English-taught master's page. Compare it with other universities in our English-taught programs in the Netherlands guide.

Admission requirements

Bachelor's

You need a secondary-school diploma comparable to the Dutch VWO diploma, plus program-specific subjects (for example mathematics for science and economics programs). The faculty admissions office assesses your diploma. Required documents include your diploma and transcripts with translations, an English test, your passport and, for some programs, a motivation letter or CV. International Business and Psychology are fixed-quota programs with a selection procedure.

Master's

You need a relevant academic bachelor's degree; each program's Admissions Board decides. The general 2027/28 English rule is IELTS Academic 6.5 (minimum 6.0 per section), TOEFL iBT 90, Cambridge C1/C2 180, PTE 66 or LanguageCert 70. IELTS Online and One Skill Retake are not accepted, and some programs ask for more. A pre-master may be offered if your background is not strong enough.

Deadlines for the 2027/28 intake

Some master's close earlier: several Psychology tracks on 1 March, Marine Biology on 15 March, the Research Master in Behavioural and Social Sciences and Legal Research on 1 April, and Water Technology on 15 April 2027.

Scholarships at Groningen

• Program and partner scholarships: for example, the MSc Computing Science page lists an industry scholarship of €5,000 per year for 25 students.
• Erasmus Mundus programs: some joint master's offer scholarships with early deadlines (Euroculture 10 January, NOHA 15 December).
• NL Scholarship: a one-off €5,000 for non-EEA first-year students at participating institutions; check whether your Groningen program is on the list.

Scholarships are competitive and cover only part of the cost. Plan your budget without them. More options are in our scholarships in the Netherlands guide.

Living in Groningen

Groningen is a student city in the north of the Netherlands, and Campus Fryslân students live in Leeuwarden. Study in NL says students spend on average €1,000–€1,500 a month and an average room costs about €550, depending on the city. There is a national housing shortage: arrange housing before you travel, ask the university's housing office first, and never pay for a room you have not seen or pay brokerage fees.

With a student residence permit you may work up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August, once your employer has a work permit (TWV) for you. After graduating, you can apply for a one-year orientation year permit to look for work in the Netherlands. Read more in our work after graduation guide.

Honest pros and cons

How to apply to the University of Groningen

1. 1

   Choose your program

   Check the program page for subject requirements, English scores and the exact deadline.

2. 2

   Prepare documents

   Diploma, transcripts with sworn translations if needed, passport, English test, CV and motivation letter. See our documents and legalization guide.

3. 3

   Apply in Studielink

   Register for the program in Studielink. You then get instructions to upload documents and pay the application fee.

4. 4

   Apply early

   Submit before 28 February 2027 to use the Early Bird route for eligible bachelor's programs.

5. 5

   Accept your offer and pay

   Once admitted, provide proof of funds so the university can apply to the IND for your residence permit.

6. 6

   Get your visa

   After IND approval, collect your MVV at the Dutch mission named in your letter. Follow our Netherlands student visa guide.

Want reminders before 15 January and 1 May? Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath and compare Groningen with other Dutch options on the Netherlands country hub.