The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS): Admission, Fees and Housing for International Students

The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS; De Haagse Hogeschool in Dutch) is a publicly funded Dutch university of applied sciences (a hogeschool, the HBO tier) with campuses in The Hague, Delft and Zoetermeer. Its 2027/28 country list states that the Russian 11-year school certificate (attestat) gives access to both four-year and three-year fast-track bachelor's programmes, with programme-specific subject and English requirements on top. Non-EU students pay $11,890 (€10,528) a year for a bachelor's in 2026/27 and $15,820 (€14,000) for a full-time English-taught master's. Non-EU applications close on 1 May, and a $29,370 (€26,000) package fee is due by 15 June.

Do not confuse THUAS with Leiden University's campus in The Hague: Leiden University College The Hague and the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs belong to a research university with different requirements and fees. THUAS is a separate institution awarding professional bachelor's and master's degrees.

Who THUAS suits

Applicants choose THUAS for its setting in the "international city of peace and justice", home to the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and many international organisations. Programmes such as International and European Law, European Studies, International Public Policy and Leadership, and Safety and Security Management Studies are built around that environment. Business and IT options include International Business, International Financial Management & Control, Applied Computer Science and User Experience Design. To compare similar institutions, see NHL Stenden, Hanze, Fontys and Saxion; research-university alternatives nearby are Leiden, Erasmus University Rotterdam and TU Delft. All profiles are on our Netherlands page.

English-taught bachelor's programmes

Fast tracks are for well-prepared students: the pace is higher and there is more self-study. For Dutch applicants THUAS requires a VWO diploma, a research-university propaedeutic certificate or a bachelor's degree for these programmes, yet its 2027/28 international list marks the Russian attestat as giving access to them. Subject requirements, such as mathematics for engineering, still apply.

Master's options include one-year full-time MBAs (with Artificial Intelligence and Finance profiles), the Master of Financial Management and Control, Data Driven Business, International Communication Management, Next Level Engineering, Sustainability Transitions and the two-year Applied Quantum Technology. For general rules, see master's degrees in the Netherlands.

Entry requirements

School certificate. THUAS publishes an International admissions table for 2027/28. Its row for Russia lists the attestat o srednem obshchem obrazovanii with access to four-year and three-year programmes. The table is guidance only: you get a formal decision after applying through Studielink, and the Enrolment Office checks subjects and grades against the programme's requirements.

English. THUAS accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, Cambridge B2 First / C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency, Pearson PTE Academic, LanguageCert Academic and, from October 2026, Linguaskill. It does not accept IELTS Online, IELTS One Skill Retake or home editions. Results must be no more than two years old on 1 September 2027.

If your English falls short. The English Academic Preparation Programme, run by a separate organisation, The Hague Pathway College, prepares students for THUAS degrees taught in English. The January intake requires IELTS Academic 5.5, and non-EU students need a residence permit for the course. For applicants who want a three-year track but do not meet the academic requirements, The Hague Pathway College offers a foundation programme with September and January intakes.

Deadlines and steps

1. Studielink: register and choose a programme; applicants without a Dutch address do not need DigiD.
2. Osiris: THUAS sends a student number and login. Upload your passport, diploma with grades (or a school statement of predicted grades) and English test.
3. 1 May: applications from non-EU nationals close (2026 cycle dates; THUAS publishes new dates in its important-dates table).
4. 15 June: complete documents, including the language test, and the package fee.
5. 31 August: all enrolment conditions must be met.

From October most programmes offer an optional Study Choice Check conversation. Our guide to applying to Dutch universities explains Studielink and national deadlines.

Fees and the package fee

The package fee is paid in one transfer. THUAS deducts first-year tuition, the IND fees and first-year health insurance; the remainder is your proof of living funds and is paid back once you open a Dutch bank account. If IND refuses the permit, only the fees are kept; if you cancel, the fees plus a €100 cancellation charge are deducted. The 2027/28 rate has not been announced; it rose by 3.6% last year, so plan for a similar rise.

To keep the permit, every summer you must again show about €26,000 for the next year's tuition and living costs, and you must earn at least 30 of 60 ECTS credits each year. Without progress or recognised personal circumstances, THUAS has to notify IND.

IND's minimum for higher-education students in 2026 is €1,130.77 a month. Students may work up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in seasonal work for up to three months. A full budget is in our cost of studying in the Netherlands guide.

NL Scholarship

THUAS awards the NL Scholarship, a one-off €5,000 ($5,650), to non-EEA students enrolling for the first time at a Dutch institution on a full-time bachelor's or master's and paying the institutional fee. Selection is by an English essay of 950–1,100 words on a set question. In the 2026 cycle the essay was due by 1 May, conditional admission by 1 June, results came by 12 June and payment followed in November after a Dutch bank account was opened. THUAS states that essays written with AI tools are not permitted and are checked. A university committee chooses the winners. For other funding, see scholarships abroad in 2026.

Housing in The Hague

THUAS has no halls, but its Housing Service reserves furnished rooms with accommodation providers and can help about half of new international students without a Dutch address. An invitation to apply in Osiris follows conditional admission; in the 2026 cycle the bachelor's deadline was 30 March. The fee is €275 ($310), payable by Visa or Mastercard only, and is refunded minus €25 if you are not admitted, stay on the waiting list or turn down the room offered. Leases are fixed and cannot be extended: a full academic year for September starters, one semester (DUWO only) for February starters.

Students without a reserved room should start early, use student housing platforms first and treat private listings with caution.

Visa and residence permit

THUAS applies for the residence permit and MVV visa on your behalf; students cannot apply themselves. Russian citizens book an appointment at the Dutch embassy in Moscow within three months of the IND decision, and passports come back within ten working days; the St Petersburg consulate-general is temporarily closed. Nationals of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are exempt from the tuberculosis test. The full process is in our Dutch student residence permit guide, and Russia-specific points are in studying in the Netherlands for Russian citizens.

Knowledge-security screening. There is no such law. In a letter to parliament on 11 June 2026 the education minister called the broad version unworkable; a narrower one for researchers and PhD candidates is still being analysed. It does not affect applied bachelor's admissions, which the university decides.

English-taught programme cuts. On 2 October 2026 the Internationalisation in Balance bill was still before the House of Representatives. THUAS already publishes English requirements for the 2027 intake; check in Studielink that your programme is open for September 2027.

Paying from Russia

The package fee cannot be split. Before paying, confirm the bank details, accepted payment method and arrival deadline with the Enrolment Centre, and ask your bank whether a euro transfer to this recipient will go through; THUAS starts the immigration procedure only once the full amount arrives. Lawful options are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Recognition in Russia

Dutch universities of applied sciences are not on Russia's Order No. 186-r list of foreign institutions whose degrees are recognised without a procedure; Leiden and Erasmus are on it. A THUAS degree is recognised by Rosobrnadzor on application through Gosuslugi or the National Information Centre portal, with a state fee of 6,500 roubles.

Common mistakes

• Confusing THUAS with Leiden University's Hague campus. They are different institutions with separate applications.
• Planning around 1 June. THUAS closes non-EU applications on 1 May and needs the package fee by 15 June.
• Submitting IELTS Online or a one-skill retake. THUAS rejects both.
• Applying to a fast track with one IELTS band at 5.5. Three-year programmes require 6.0 in every band.
• Leaving the Housing Service until later. Rooms cover about half of newcomers, and the payment form closes once the limit is reached.
• Using outdated prices. Older descriptions quote 2023–2025 rates; the 2026/27 bachelor's fee is €10,528.

Timeline for a September 2027 start

FAQ

Can I apply to The Hague University of Applied Sciences after secondary school?

Yes. According to the university's 2027/28 country table, the Russian school certificate qualifies for both regular and fast-track degrees, though each programme also checks subjects and English. The Enrolment Office issues a formal admission decision only after you apply through Studielink.

How much does THUAS cost for non-EU students?

A bachelor's costs €10,528 ($11,890) in 2026/27, and a full-time English-taught master's €14,000 ($15,820). Before the visa, you transfer a €26,000 package fee; THUAS deducts tuition, IND fees and insurance and returns the rest after you arrive.

Is THUAS the same as Leiden University in The Hague?

No. Leiden University is a research university whose Hague presence includes Leiden University College and the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. THUAS is an independent university of applied sciences with professional programmes and its own deadlines and fees.

What is the THUAS application deadline for non-EU students?

For applicants who need a residence permit, applications close on 1 May, and complete documents plus the package fee are due by 15 June (2026 cycle dates). THUAS files the permit application, and IND makes the decision.

Does THUAS help with accommodation?

Yes, through its Housing Service, which reserves rooms with DUWO and other providers for about half of new international students. The service costs €275, and the fixed-term leases cannot be extended. Students who do not get a room search on the private market.

What scholarships does THUAS offer?

The main one is the NL Scholarship of €5,000, paid once to non-EEA bachelor's and master's students. A university committee awards it on the basis of a 950–1,100-word English essay; in the 2026 cycle essays were due by 1 May.

Sources

• THUAS: tuition fees 2025/26 and 2026/27, how to apply and deadlines, entry and English requirements, International admissions 2027/28 country list
• THUAS: immigration and package fee, scholarships, Housing Service, programme catalogue, English Academic Preparation Programme
• Nuffic: Russian qualifications compared
• IND: required amounts 2026, fees, TB test exemption; NetherlandsWorldwide: MVV in the Russian Federation
• Minister's letter on knowledge-security screening, 11 June 2026; Senate: bill 36 555
• Russian Government Order No. 186-r; Rosobrnadzor: recognition of foreign education

Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 1 October 2026 (€1 = $1.1298), rounded to $10. Facts checked on 2 October 2026.

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