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Study In Netherlands

Netherlands, Holland, or Dutch? Why are there three names to refer to a country and its people? These are common questions students ask when talking about the Netherlands. Let’s make it easier for you – The official name of the country is the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Holland refers to only 2 of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands called Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland. However, the name Holland is often used when referring to all of the Netherlands. The biggest cities in the Netherlands – Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague – are in Holland. The people of Holland are called Dutch because the official language of the Netherlands is Dutch.

Understanding Education in The Netherlands

Higher education in the Netherlands is known for its high quality and its international study environment. With more than 2,100 international study programs and courses, it has the largest offering of English-taught programs in continental Europe. Dutch institutions offer international degree programs, many undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in English. Dutch universities and institutions are either government-funded or government approved. There are also privately financed institutions that are not recognized. NVAO is the organization that accredits institutions (nvao.com). Check with your AEC counselor to help identify the accreditation for your chosen institution

Three Cycles

In 2002 Holland introduced the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure, but the distinction between the two types of education still exists. Both research universities and universities of applied sciences can award a bachelor’s or a master’s degree. You first obtain a bachelor’s degree (first cycle), and then continue to study for a master’s degree (second cycle). After completion of a master’s program you can start a Ph.D. degree program (third cycle).

Scholarships in the Netherlands

Provided you meet the conditions, there are many options for scholarships in the Netherlands. You can also find an extensive listof  Nuffic scholarships (add hyperlink), or use the government’s list of Netherlands scholarships here.  You can also use the Grantfinder to help you search faster.

Life in The Netherlands

The Netherlands is home to world-famous companies like Philips, Unilever, Rabobank, KPMG, Endemol, Elsevier and more. This proves that despite the small size of the nation and its population, the ambition of the Dutch and their commitment to excellence is what really defines them and also contributes to their economic growth. The standard of living is quite high and the Dutch are a friendly bunch of people who love football, fine art, technology, good food, and drinks. They are very serious about abiding by the law and deeply respect the State.

For Indian students, the education system in the Netherlands comes across as refreshingly different because of the focus on student-teacher open discussions and attaining knowledge. The Dutch tend to be less focused on textbook knowledge and an integral part of a course is group work, helping students figure things out independently by working together.

WORK PROSPECTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Foreigners who graduate from a Dutch university – as well as foreigners who graduate from any of the world’s top 200 universities in the last three years – can apply for a special visa in the Netherlands to look for work for up to one year.

This is called the search year or zoekjaar. You can apply for this towards the end of your Bachelor’s or Master’s study at Dutch higher educational institution accredited by NVAO. If you’ve graduated from a Dutch university with a Master’s degree program registered in the CROHO (the Central Register of Higher Education Programs) or Ph.D. degree, you may be able to apply to stay and work in the country as a highly skilled migrant. However, a work permit as applied by your employer is still required.

Additionally, students with a valid Dutch residence permit are allowed to work 10 hours a week and also involve in seasonal labor during June, July, and August.

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Eligibility exams for netherlands

Both Bachelor and Master’s degree programs require English language proficiency test such as IELTS (min 6 bands)/ TOEFL (80 for iBT).

GRE and GMAT are required for specific Master’s degree programs.

Sometimes the university might ask you to take up the Preparatory course and give you a conditional offer of admission. Students would be required to take up special classes for the required subjects and must clear exams to get admission into the preferred course.

Netherlands study permit information

If you want to move to the Netherlands to study for more than three months, once you have been provisionally accepted into a course, Indian students need to undertake the TEV (Entry and Residence Permit) Procedure as the visa for the student has to be applied by the recognized sponsor institution or university.

The visa process for the Netherlands is a two-step process thatrequires:

  • The MVV or an Entry Visa to enter the Netherlands
  • The VRV – or the Residence Permit – granted to students within a month of their reaching the country

Under the TEV Procedure, the University would request you to provide the necessary documents and submit the form on your behalf to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) in the Netherlands. Once the IND approves your application, it would grant you an MVV (Provisional Residence Permit) which would be valid for 3 months. The student can collect the MVV from the Dutch Embassy/ Consulate and then fly to the Netherlands.

On arriving in the Netherlands, Students would then be required by their respective Universities to appear for and apply for a Residence Permit (VRV) within a stipulated time. Again, this may vary from university to university but is usually stipulated between 3 to 5 days. The application is then forwarded by the University for a Permanent Residence Permit which is issued within the following two weeks.

For obtaining the TEV, health insurance is a mandate. Contact your AEC counselor for more details.

Documents for Dutch Visa

  • A valid passport
  • A letter or other document from the Dutch host institution stating that you are registered as a student, that you are going to do an internship, that you will be a guest lecturer, or that you are going to do research
  • Proof that you are adequately covered by health insurance
  • Proof that you can support yourself financially
  • A copy of the application for a work permit, if applicable
  • Documents such as a legalized birth certificate or a certificate of marriage
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