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The Netherlands may be a small country in size, but certainly not in impact. The Netherlands is famed for its liberal social policies, Living standards consistently rank high in the OECD’s Better Life Index, and the Netherlands has the fourth best work-life balance and high levels of employment and household wealth. Dutch children, likewise, are ranked as the happiest in the developed world, topping two surveys conducted by UNICEF.

No Dutch city has yet reached a million inhabitants and each retains a unique character and architectural style. The capital is something else entirely, and in terms of atmosphere and attitude.

Culture and quality living combined make the Netherlands an attractive place for expats, who are an intrinsic part of the country’s knowledge-based economy. The Dutch people are generally receptive, curious, cultured, and friendly. English is widely spoken – a survey by Education First ranked the Netherlands as third in the world for English proficiency as a second language. With many international companies headquartered in the Netherlands, there are plenty of employment opportunities.

Studying In Netherlands

The Netherlands was the first non-native English speaking country to offer courses taught in English to international students. International students can study programmes in Dutch or English, making it a great option for studying abroad.


The Netherlands is an established and revered seat of higher education. In the 2016 QS World University Rankings, two Dutch universities are listed in the top 100. These are the Delft University of Technology and the University of Amsterdam.


Reasons To Study In Netherlands

1. Wide range of English programs : Dutch universities offer the largest number of English-taught programs in continental Europe. More than 2,100 programs are taught entirely in English.Also, 95% of the Dutch speak English, so it’s easy to communicate in daily life.

2. Affordable Tuition fee: The quality of Dutch higher education is well-recognized. The tuition fees and cost of living are considerably lower than in English-speaking countries. Also, there are lots of scholarship opportunities.

3. Big international community : Holland’s many international students come from more than 160 different countries. Dutch society is diverse and inclusive. It is strongly connected to other cultures, the business community and the world. The Dutch are open-minded and direct, so it is easy to meet them and exchange ideas.

4. Great place to live : Holland is one of the safest countries in the world, according to the 2018 Global Peace index and belongs to the top 10 happiest countries in the world.

General Requirements To Study In Netherlands


1- Holding an international passport

2- Academic transcript of your previous studies.

3-University application form.

4- Letter of recommendation.

5- Personal Statement.

6- Language proficiency (English or Dutch, depending on the program).

7- proof of Financial Funds


General Requirements To Apply For The Netherlands Student Visa:


1- Valid passport.

2- Proof of sufficient financial means validating that you will be able to support yourself financially during your stay

3- Letter from the university you have chosen confirming your admission or enrollment.

4- Proof of payment for all required legal fees.

5- Completed application form

6- Two photographs meeting the officially specified conditions

7- Birth certificate

8- Academic transcripts

Accommodation

Universities in the Netherlands usually do not provide international students with traditional on-campus accommodation. After your application is approved, the international office at your Dutch educational institution will offer you several accommodation options to choose from. They will send you information about available housing, along with reservation forms.

They can also provide you with a list of housing agencies which have agreements with the university regarding accommodation for new international students. It is best to take advantage of these offers and arrange housing before your arrival so that you are guaranteed a place to stay.

Type Of Accommodations


The first is an apartment-style type of room in which the student shares the living area, bathroom, and kitchen facilities with 1-3 roommates.
Each student has their own private bedroom.

The second type is a private bedroom with a private bathroom. Kitchen and living area facilities are shared between all of the students living on that floor or corridor.

third type is Student hotels, Student Hotels are another option for students living in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. These all-inclusive facilities offer affordable fully furnished rooms with large (40m²) shared kitchen facilities and more than 1.000m² of quiet study space. The suites offer free Wi-Fi and private en-suite bathrooms and the facilities also include social areas and feature 24-hour security to ensure a safe environment. Students can book a room or suite for a whole academic year, a semester, or just one night

Transportation

bicycle

Most students use a bicycle for their transport in town (as you will see on your arrival in the Netherlands). If you plan to stay in Holland for a few months, it is advisable for you to buy an (old) second-hand bike.

Bus service

The bus stations is located near the railway station. If you want to travel by bus, you have to be in the possession of a public transport card (OV-kaart). This OV-kaart can be reused. The OV-kaart can be bought at the ticket office, train station or cigarette stores. Busses are used to travel relative short distances (never more than 20 km).

Taxi service

Taxis are rather expensive in the Netherlands. There is start price of € 7.50 regardless of the length of the ride. For each consecutive kilometre a surcharge is applied..

Train service

Trains are, when compared to other European countries, neither very expensive, nor very cheap. The quality is relatively good. There are regular services all over the country. As Amsterdam and Utrecht have a large train stations, you will always have easy connections to all the big cities from the central train station.

Work during studying In Netherlands

If you’re a foreign student (non–EU/EEA/Swiss) and you have a valid residence permit with the aim to study, you can work alongside your studies (either full-time seasonal work in June, July and August, or part-time work of no more than ten hours a week). In this case your Dutch employer does need a work permit for you, but this is an easy process as the employer doesn’t need to show that there are Dutch or EU nationals capable of doing the job.


TRAINEESHIPS

If you are enrolled as a student in the Netherlands or in another country, you may work as a trainee. A traineeship is any work placement or practical training arrangement that aims to give you experience of the world of work while you are studying.

If you have already graduated, you will not be able to work as a trainee in the Netherlands. However, there is a similar arrangement that allows you to gain practical work experience in the Netherlands for up to six months. This is called residency with the purpose of work experience.

Life after graduation

Research shows that international students in the Netherlands are quite keen on staying after their studies. That’s not a surprise, considering the many job opportunities, the good work-life balance, the high living standards and the excellent public facilities

Nuffic supports the ambition of the Dutch government to retain international talent for the country’s key sectors. If you want to stay and work in the Netherlands you will need good career advice and information on how to find a job. The challenge of finding a job work in a country that is not your own lies in getting a grip on the unknown subtleties of the application process.

the Dutch government has introduced the orientation year residence permit (also known as Search Year, Zoekjaar or Orientation year highly educated persons). a residence permit for one year free access to the Dutch labour market during the period on this permit. The holder can be employed, do voluntary work, internships, set up a start-up and/or be active in self-employment, all without a work permit being required.a partner/spouse also has free access to the Dutch labour market.