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Bachelor's in the Netherlands for International Students: 3 or 4 Years, Entry Routes and the Cost of a Degree

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StudyU editorial team

A Dutch bachelor's comes in two forms: a three-year academic degree at a research university (180 ECTS) and a four-year professional degree at a university of applied sciences (240 ECTS) with built-in internships. Research universities require a diploma equivalent to the Dutch pre-university VWO; universities of applied sciences accept the HAVO level. Nuffic rates Russia's school-leaving certificate as "at least HAVO" and Kazakhstan's as HAVO, which means direct entry to an applied university but usually an extra year of university or a foundation programme before a research university. For non-EU students a year costs from $10,640 (€9,360) at an applied university to $22,627 (€19,906) at TU Delft and $24,780 (€21,800) for science at UvA in 2026/27, and a full degree costs roughly $42,000–69,000 in tuition alone.

Below: how the two degrees differ, four entry routes with their time and cost, how the first year works and what the degree leads to. For a country overview see study in the Netherlands; to compare institutions, see universities in the Netherlands.

Ornate neo-Renaissance brick building with a turret, with a square full of parked bicycles in front
The Academiegebouw (1909), the main building of the University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. Photo: Wutsje / source, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Two bachelor's degrees compared

Feature Academic bachelor's (WO) Professional bachelor's (HBO)
Where 14 research universities 36 government-funded universities of applied sciences and accredited private institutions
Length Usually 3 years, 180 ECTS 4 years, 240 ECTS; the first year is the propedeuse
Degree BA, BSc, LLB Professional degrees such as Bachelor of Engineering
Teaching Lectures, seminars, research methods, bachelor's thesis Company projects, internships, group work
Entry with a HAVO-level diploma Usually needs an extra year Often direct, based on grades and subjects
Non-EEA fee, 2026/27 $15,004–24,780 (€13,200–21,800) for most programmes $10,640–11,967 (€9,360–10,528) at Saxion and THUAS
Language Most bachelor's programmes are in Dutch; English ones exist but must be sought out Many English programmes in business, IT, engineering, tourism
Next step Direct entry to a master's in the same field Work, or a research master's often via a pre-master

The biggest trap is assuming every Dutch bachelor's is available in English. Universities of the Netherlands states that most research-university bachelor's programmes are taught in Dutch. At TU Delft only four are fully in English: Aerospace Engineering, the English track of Computer Science and Engineering, Earth, Climate and Technology, and Nanobiology.

Four routes from school or college

Route Time to degree Extra cost Best for
1. Applied university straight after school 4 years None Students who know their profession and want practice; tuition budget under $12,000 a year
2. One year of university at home, then a research university 1 + 3 years A year of study at home Students aiming at TU Delft, VU and other strong research universities
3. Foundation year in the Netherlands, then a research university 1 + 3 years $21,029–21,597 (€18,500–19,000) at Twente Pathway College plus a year of living costs Students who want early adaptation, if the target university recognises the programme
4. First year at an applied university (propedeuse), then a transfer 1 + 3 years One year of applied-university fees Undecided students; UvA and Groningen consider an HBO propedeuse diploma, but admission is not automatic

Route 1: an applied university directly

HAVO is the entry level for universities of applied sciences, so HAVO-rated certificates are usually assessed without an extra year. Each programme sets subject, grade and English requirements. StudyU has profiles of Saxion and Fontys.

Route 2: a year of university at home

Research universities compare your diploma with VWO. VU Amsterdam, for instance, requires Russian applicants to add at least one year of academic credits at a recognised university. TU Delft asks applicants from Russia, Ukraine, Japan and several other countries for at least 60 ECTS of a BSc or BEng in the same or a closely related field, with an average of 75% or higher. Choose first-year subjects that match the target programme — mathematics and physics for engineering, mathematics for economics.

Route 3: a foundation year

A Dutch foundation year closes the academic and language gap. Twente Pathway College costs $21,597 (€19,000) for the engineering stream and $21,029 (€18,500) for business and social sciences in September 2026, leading to University of Twente bachelor's programmes. Check recognition: TU Delft does not accept Holland ISC or OnCampus Amsterdam foundation years.

Route 4: transferring after the applied propedeuse

The first HBO year ends with a separate propedeuse diploma. UvA asks holders to check their eligibility on a dedicated page, and the University of Groningen states plainly that it does not give automatic admission: the programme looks at which first year you completed. The route suits students who want to start in the Netherlands at once and move to a research university later, but agree the transfer with the target programme before you enrol at the applied university.

After vocational college. Nuffic compares Russia's second-level secondary vocational diploma with HAVO for its general-education part, so the same logic applies.

How the degree works

  • Interactive teaching. Study in NL describes Dutch teaching as interactive and team-based: you are expected to form and voice your own opinion and question lecturers. Contributions to group work often count towards your grade.
  • Grading. Grades run from 1 to 10 with 6 as a pass. Most grades fall between 6 and 8, and an 8 is already very good.
  • Binding study advice (BSA). Many programmes decide at the end of year one whether you may continue. The programme sets the threshold — 45 of 60 ECTS at Utrecht University's humanities faculty, where a negative BSA bars re-enrolment for four years.
  • Progress and your permit. A student residence permit requires at least 50% of the credits in each academic year; if progress is insufficient without good reason, the institution reports it to the IND.
  • Internships. Built into applied bachelor's; an internship that is part of the curriculum needs no TWV work permit.
  • Associate degree. Some applied universities offer a two-year Associate degree (120 ECTS) that can be continued into a bachelor's.

What a full bachelor's costs

Programme Length Tuition for the whole degree, known fees
Saxion 4 years $42,558 (€37,440)
THUAS 4 years $47,869 (€42,112)
Erasmus University, most schools 3 years $46,036 (€40,500)
University of Groningen, most faculties 3 years $47,741 (€42,000)
TU Delft 3 years $69,375 (€61,032), including 2027/28 fees

This is tuition only. The IND requires proof of at least $1,285 (€1,130.77) a month for living costs, so a fourth year at an applied university adds about $15,000. Add a foundation year and its living costs if you need one. Full budgets are in our cost of studying in the Netherlands guide.

The NL Scholarship helps: $5,684 (€5,000) once, in the first year, for non-EEA students without a Dutch degree at participating institutions. In 2026/27 these included Saxion, Fontys, THUAS, Hanze, HAN and other applied universities, as well as Groningen, Maastricht, Radboud, Twente, Utrecht, VU, Wageningen and TU/e. The list changes every year.

Applying in brief

  1. Shortlist four to six programmes of varying difficulty, at least one without a fixed quota.
  2. Submit Studielink requests from 1 October; by 15 January for numerus fixus programmes and by 1 May for others — but by 1 April if you need a visa.
  3. Upload documents to the university portal: diploma with sworn translation and apostille, a language test (typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT, which uses a new 1–6 scale from 21 January 2026), and a motivation letter if requested.
  4. Complete the study-choice check (studiekeuzecheck or the university's own version).
  5. After admission, the university applies for your MVV and residence permit; you arrange funds, insurance and housing.

The full procedure, dates and numerus fixus rules are in applying to Dutch universities; the permit in the Dutch student residence permit. Russian citizens collect the MVV only at the Dutch embassy in Moscow. There is no general ban on Russian students; possible sanctions-related limits in technical programmes are covered in universities in the Netherlands.

Housing: sort it out before the visa

Study in NL warns of a severe student housing shortage and advises finding a room before arrival; an average room costs about $625 (€550) a month. Universities do not guarantee housing: UvA has no campus housing and UvA Housing cannot place everyone. Factor the city into your choice, start searching as soon as you apply and never pay for a room you have not seen at least by video.

Where the degree leads

  • Master's. WO graduates enter a master's in their field directly; HBO graduates often via a pre-master. See master's in the Netherlands.
  • Orientation year. Within three years of an accredited Dutch bachelor's you can apply for a 12-month orientation year permit and work without a TWV; the fee is $289 (€254).
  • Work while studying. Employment requires a TWV arranged by the employer: up to 16 hours a week or full-time in June, July and August. Self-employment is allowed without a TWV, with Chamber of Commerce (KvK) registration, tax and possibly Dutch health insurance.

When a Dutch bachelor's is not the right fit

  • Your annual budget for tuition and living is below about $25,000 without a scholarship.
  • You need an English-taught bachelor's in a technical field that your target university only offers in Dutch.
  • You need a research university straight after school and your diploma is rated HAVO-level.
  • You plan to fund living costs entirely through part-time work.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing by ranking without checking whether the university accepts your diploma.
  • Paying for a foundation year the target university does not recognise.
  • Taking an unrelated first year at home when TU Delft requires the same or a closely related field.
  • Ignoring the BSA and the 50% credit rule for the permit.
  • Budgeting per year instead of per degree.

FAQ

Yes, especially at a university of applied sciences. If Nuffic rates your diploma at VWO level, research universities are also open; if it is rated HAVO-level, most research universities ask for an extra year of university or a recognised foundation year.

Usually 3 years (180 ECTS) at a research university and 4 years (240 ECTS) at a university of applied sciences. With an extra preparatory year, both paths take four years.

In 2026/27, from $10,640 (€9,360) a year at Saxion to $22,627 (€19,906) at TU Delft and $24,780 (€21,800) for science at UvA; roughly $42,000–69,000 in tuition for the whole degree, plus at least $15,424 a year in living costs under the IND norm.

Yes, especially at universities of applied sciences and university colleges. Most research-university bachelor's are in Dutch, so check the language of the specific programme and track.

A first year at home is cheaper and accepted by many research universities if the field is related. A Dutch foundation year costs about $21,000 plus living costs but offers language and academic adaptation — provided your target university recognises it.

After a Dutch bachelor's you can obtain the orientation year permit and work without a TWV. Staying longer requires switching to a work-based permit, which depends on an employer and the IND.

Sources

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