Study in Holland: Complete Guide 2027

What Is the NL Scholarship?

The NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship) is a one-time €5,000 grant for non-EEA students who do not already hold a Dutch degree. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with the participating universities. It is not a full ride — it covers part of your first year’s costs and nothing after that.

Unlike Chevening or DAAD, there is no central application. You apply through your chosen university, and each one sets its own deadline. For September 2027 starts, some universities close on 1 February 2027 (VU Amsterdam, for example; Utrecht University used 1 February for 2026–27), but there is no single national date. Study in NL’s official page still lists the 2026–2027 participating institutions; the 2027–2028 list is published on that page later, so confirm your university on its own website.

The Numbers Behind Studying in the Netherlands

The scholarship is the easy part. These figures describe the environment you are moving into.

The Honest Truth: What Nobody Tells You

These are the things studyinnl.org and university brochures leave out.

€5,000 sounds good until you see the tuition

Non-EU tuition ranges from €8,000 to €30,000 a year. A technical master’s at TU Delft or Eindhoven costs around €18,000–20,000; Rotterdam School of Management is €25,000+. The NL Scholarship covers about 17–62% of one year’s tuition at best and nothing for years 2, 3 or 4 of a bachelor’s. You will need other funding.

The housing crisis is the real problem

The Netherlands has a 20,000+ student room shortage, with 45,000 rooms projected to disappear by 2027. An Amsterdam studio can take 3–5 years on a waiting list. Students arrive in September and sleep in hostels or emergency shelters for their first weeks, and some universities tell admitted students to defer. Start searching the moment you get your admission letter.

Housing scams target international students

Fraud reports from internationals grew from 1.4% to 9.3% of all cases. Fake landlords demand deposits before viewings, create convincing copies of real listings and disappear; one fraud researcher called it “almost organised crime.” Never pay before visiting in person, and never wire money to a private account. If a deal seems too good for Amsterdam or Utrecht, it is.

59% struggle with mental health

Dutch government research found that 70% of international students feel lonely and 28% don’t feel at home. The dropout rate is 17% versus 6% for Dutch students — roughly triple. Housing stress, Dutch directness that reads as coldness, difficulty making Dutch friends and grey winters all contribute. Counselling services exist but are overwhelmed.

The BSN circular dependency

To function you need a BSN (citizen service number). To get a BSN, you register at the municipality. To register, you need a residential address, and to get an address you need housing. Without a BSN there is no insurance, no bank account and no employment contract. Some universities offer temporary registration addresses — ask before you arrive.

The government wants fewer international students

The proposed WIB law (Wet internationalisering in balans) is being rewritten. On 5 October 2026 the cabinet proposed that programmes be taught in Dutch by default unless another language adds clear value, with institutions steering international intake through numerus fixus. It is not yet in force, but some English-taught programmes are already switching to Dutch. The landscape is shifting — some programmes may not exist in their current form for long.

Health insurance is mandatory and confusing

Non-EU students who only study need private insurance at €30–60 a month. The moment you work — even part-time — you are legally required to take public insurance at €130–159 a month. Many students don’t know this and end up uninsured or doubly insured. See Health Insurance.

Government grants

University scholarships

EU and other programmes

Answer four questions. All four must be YES.

Full details on our Eligibility page.

You apply through your chosen university, not a central portal. Here is the typical sequence for a September 2027 start.

1. 1
   Autumn 2026

   Research and choose

   Browse Studyfinder and shortlist participating universities. Study in NL currently lists the 2026–2027 institutions; check that your university still takes part for 2027–2028.

2. 2
   From Oct–Nov 2026

   Apply to the university

   Submit via Studielink and the university portal. Apply early — each university sets its own scholarship deadline, and many open in October or November.

3. 3
   Often 1 Feb 2027

   Scholarship application

   Apply through the university portal before its deadline. VU Amsterdam, for example, closes on 1 February 2027 (23:59 CET); Utrecht University has not yet posted its 2027–28 date. Verify on each university site.

4. 4
   Mar–Apr 2027

   Selection and notification

   Selection dates vary by university (VU expects results mid-March 2027; Utrecht gave 2026–27 results by mid-April). Some universities deduct the €5,000 from your tuition; others, such as VU and Groningen, pay it as a contribution to living costs.

5. 5
   May–Aug 2027

   Visa and housing

   Your university sponsors the MVV and residence permit. You need proof of about €13,569 for a year (the 2026 IND norm of €1,130.77 a month). Start the housing search now.

6. 6
   Sep 2027

   Arrival

   Register for your BSN, open a bank account, arrange insurance and join the introduction week.

On a mid-range total first-year cost of about €25,000, the NL Scholarship pays €5,000 (20%). The remaining €20,000 (80%) is yours to find.

Bars are scaled to the top of each range. “Other” is insurance, travel and books. Only part of the tuition line is covered by the scholarship; rent, living costs and the rest are not. See Scholarship Amount and Living Costs.

Estimated monthly costs for an international student, by city.

Navigate This Guide

This guide covers everything from scholarship applications to surviving your first Dutch winter. Here is the recommended reading order based on where you are in the process.

1. Just starting out

2. Building your application

3. After winning

Living in the Netherlands

Explore Other Scholarship Guides

The NL Scholarship is one option. If you are open to studying in other countries or want to compare, these guides cover the world’s major scholarship programmes — each with the same honest, no-fluff approach.