Netherlands

Why the Netherlands?

The Netherlands has been a centre of international trade since the 17th century, open to new ideas and people of all nationalities. Students of more than 100 nationalities live and study here. There are around 131,000 international students out of a total of 342,000.

The Netherlands is a wonderful place to study. A high standard of living combined with reasonable prices, a large number of universities, an open, free-thinking society, and a wealth of music and art attract students from around the world. The Netherlands has more than 1,000 museums; it's the country that gave the world such famous artists as Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Vermeer.  

The Netherlands was the first European country to offer higher education not only in the local language but also in English. So not knowing Dutch is no barrier to studying in the Netherlands. Students can choose from 2,000 English-taught programmes, the largest selection in Europe after the UK.

The Dutch education system is one of the most progressive in the world. It's built on student independence, open discussion and practical experience. Many programmes include internships, research work, group projects, and other ways of gaining theoretical and practical knowledge.

Dutch universities, whose walls have witnessed many scientific discoveries, are known for their academic traditions. A modern scientific and technical base enables cutting-edge research and creates every condition for successful academic work. Higher education in the Netherlands meets strict global standards and has an excellent reputation. There are two types of higher-education institutions: classic research universities (universiteiten) and universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).

Another important factor is the accessibility of education for EU students.