Cost of Studying in the Netherlands in 2026/27: Tuition, Living Costs, Permit Funds and the Full-Degree Budget

For students from outside the EU/EEA, a bachelor's year in the Netherlands costs from $10,640 (€9,360) at a university of applied sciences to $22,000–25,000 for engineering and science programmes at research universities in 2026/27; medicine is $36,000–39,000. Master's programmes typically cost $24,000–30,000 a year. Living costs run to $1,137–1,705 (€1,000–1,500) a month, and the immigration service requires proof of at least $1,285 (€1,130.77) a month. A realistic first year including tuition, housing, insurance and fees comes to roughly $27,000–46,000 depending on the university and city.

This guide lists verified fees for specific universities, living costs, the funds you need for the residence permit, one-off fees and the cost of a full degree. Amounts are for 2026/27 unless stated otherwise, converted at the ECB rate of 29 September 2026. For a country overview see study in the Netherlands; to compare institutions, see universities in the Netherlands.

First-year costs at a glance

Flights, translations and apostilles, language tests, rental deposits and furniture are not included because they depend on your situation.

Who pays about $3,000 and who pays $10,000–40,000

There are two fee levels. The statutory fee is $3,062 (€2,694) in 2026/27 and $3,150 (€2,771) in 2027/28. It applies to EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese nationals, and to holders of certain Dutch residence permits, provided they have not already earned the same type of Dutch degree. A student residence permit does not qualify.

Everyone else pays the institutional fee set by the institution. It varies by university, faculty, degree level and intake year. Study in NL quotes $10,220–22,710 (€9,000–20,000) for bachelor's and $13,630–34,060 (€12,000–30,000) for master's, but medicine and some programmes exceed that.

Bachelor's fees for 2026/27 and what is known for 2027/28

Within one university fees can differ by $9,000 a year, so budget from the specific programme page. Increases are uneven: TU Delft raises its bachelor's fee by about 3%, TU/e by 20%.

Master's fees

A one-year master's can cost more per year but less in total: at UvA one year of science is $38,989, two years $59,108. See master's in the Netherlands.

Transitional fees

When a university raises fees sharply, current students often keep an indexed lower rate. At TU Delft, bachelor's students who started in 2025/26 at $19,660 (€17,310) pay $20,640 (€18,175) in 2026/27 and 2027/28, while new students pay $22,600 (€19,906). At TU/e, bachelor's students who started in 2024/25 or earlier pay a reduced fee until 31 August 2028 ($16,120 (€14,200) in 2026/27). UvA keeps the rate of enrolled students with 3.62% indexation. New students do not benefit, but it shows how fast base fees are rising.

Living costs

Study in NL puts student spending at $1,137–1,705 (€1,000–1,500) a month. The average breakdown from the budget institute Nibud (2024):

Without insurance that is about $1,309 (€1,152) a month, close to the IND norm. A room costs $512–1,137 (€450–1,000) a month, about $625 (€550) on average; Amsterdam is at the top of the range, smaller university towns such as Enschede at the bottom. TU Delft estimates $1,033 (€909) a month for a student in student housing. An off-peak rail discount card saves 40%, and a bike replaces local transport.

Housing is the biggest budget risk: Study in NL warns of a severe shortage and advises arranging a room before arrival. Never pay for a room you have not seen at least by video, and never pay brokerage fees.

Permit funds: how much to show and how universities handle it

The IND requires proof of living funds at the 2026 higher-education rate of $1,285 (€1,130.77) a month. The rate is reviewed every year; the 2027 amount will be published in early 2027. These funds come on top of tuition.

Universities handle the proof differently:

• TU Delft sends non-EU students a first invoice of $38,768 (€34,106): bachelor's tuition, $16,141 (€14,200) for living costs, the IND fee and a housing fee. The living-cost amount is refunded to a SEPA bank account about three weeks after the programme starts, minus fees.
• Saxion asks for proof of $14,735 (€12,963) and arranges first-year insurance at $774 (€681) a year.

If you pay from a country where euro transfers are restricted, settle early which bank account will be used for tuition and proof of funds, and use only lawful routes — see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia. The permit procedure is covered in our Dutch student residence permit guide and deadlines in applying to Dutch universities.

One-off and hidden costs

• IND fee: $289 (€254) for the first application and each extension, paid via the institution.
• Application handling fee: $85–114 (€75–100) at some institutions; UvA's $114 (€100) is non-refundable.
• University housing fee: $324 (€285) at TU Delft.
• Insurance: if you only study, you may not take out Dutch public health insurance and need private or home-country cover. Once you take a job, Dutch basic insurance becomes compulsory — about $151 (€133) a month. If the CAK agency writes to you, respond within 3 months or face a fine of $602 (€529.72).
• Foundation year, if your diploma is not enough: Twente Pathway College, September 2026 — $21,597 (€19,000) engineering, $21,029 (€18,500) business and social sciences.
• Documents and tests: translations, apostilles, IELTS or TOEFL, and travel to the embassy for the MVV sticker.

Three first-year scenarios

Twelve months: 2026/27 tuition, living costs at the IND norm ($15,424) or at the top of Study in NL's range — $1,700 (€1,500) a month, $20,461 a year, a more realistic base for Amsterdam, insurance as in the Saxion example, the IND fee and application fees. Flights, deposits and furniture are excluded.

The full degree: count every year

Four years at a university of applied sciences cost about as much in tuition as three at an affordable research university, but the fourth year adds another ~$15,000 of living costs. Fees are indexed every year, so add a buffer. For comparison, see the cost of studying in Austria or bachelor's in Germany.

How to reduce costs

1. Match the institution type to your goal. Applied universities are cheaper per year; research universities are one year shorter. See bachelor's in the Netherlands.
2. Compare cities. A year's rent difference between Amsterdam and a smaller university town can equal a sizeable share of tuition.
3. Apply for the NL Scholarship. $5,684 (€5,000) once, in the first year, for non-EEA students without a Dutch degree. Participants in 2026/27 included TU/e, Maastricht, Radboud, Groningen, Twente, Utrecht, VU and Wageningen, plus Saxion, THUAS, Fontys, Hanze and other applied universities. The list changes every year, and each institution sets its own deadline.
4. Look for university scholarships. Usually partial fee waivers; apply together with your programme application. Overview: scholarships abroad in 2026.
5. Do not rely on part-time work. On a student permit, employment requires a TWV permit arranged by the employer and one of two regimes: up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August. Your first paycheck also triggers compulsory insurance of about $151 a month.

Common budgeting mistakes

• Using a national average instead of the fee for your programme and intake year.
• Treating the IND norm as the real cost of living in Amsterdam.
• Forgetting that TU Delft and some other universities collect living-cost funds upfront with tuition.
• Planning to cover rent with part-time work.
• Ignoring fee increases in years two and three.
• Leaving the payment route until the last month.

FAQ

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