Costs to study in Netherlands

Studying in the Netherlands is considered much cheaper than other studies abroad powers in Europe. In addition to valuable scholarships from the Dutch government and universities, the cost of living here is also relatively low. Therefore, the Netherlands becomes the ideal destination for most international students. 

Tuition fees when studying in the Netherlands

Tuition fees for non-EU, EEA students are regulated by Dutch Universities. As a result, there will be a large disparity between schools, disciplines as well as levels of study in terms of tuition fees for international students.

Average tuition fees per year for international students from countries outside the EU, EEA:

      Table of average tuition fees per year for international students

Cost of living for international students studying in the Netherlands

According to the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalization Department, each international student needs about 10.412 EUR a year (average about 800 - 1.000 EUR/month), equivalent to 286.200.000 VND/year (22.000.000 - 27.500.000 VND/ month) to pay for living expenses such as housing, food, health insurance, travel, entertainment, etc.

According to Eurostudent.eu, about the total cost that students use for studying abroad, they spend an average of:

• 37% for accommodation
• 15% for tuition
• 3% for public transport
• The remaining 45% is for food, entertainment, insurance, etc

When studying abroad in any country in the world, besides tuition fees, living costs are always the top concern of international students. I asked if the cost of living in the Netherlands is expensive, the answer will be, depending on the city you live in and the spending habits of each person.

You can refer to the average cost of living of some major cities in the Netherlands:

• Enschede: about 1.200 EUR/month (33.000.000 VND/month)
• Eindhoven: about 1.100 EUR/month (30.200.000 VND/month)
• Amsterdam and Delft: 1.200-1.300 EUR/month (33.000.000 - 35.700.000 VND/month)
• Rotterdam: 1.000 EUR/month (27.500.000 VND/month)

The living costs of international students studying in the Netherlands

1. Housing cost

In general, the rent will range from 300 – 600 EUR/month depending on the type of room and the city you are studying in. There are also some other costs related to housing such as internet, electricity, water, etc.

The Netherlands is different from other countries in that the university rarely has student accommodation on campus. Students will have to find housing on their own. Therefore, as soon as you receive an offer of admission, you should proactively ask about accommodation, and if you are prioritized for accommodation, accept it immediately. Because the cost of renting a house arranged by the University will not be as expensive as renting outside. 

2. Food cost

On average, students will have to spend about 170 EUR/month (VND 4.700.000/month) for food expenses. However, the amount you pay for necessities depends on your lifestyle and the city you are studying in. And no matter which city in the Netherlands you choose to study in, be sure to find cheap supermarkets like Lidl, Aldi and Albert Heijn to shop at affordable prices.

3. Means of transportation

The monthly travel cost for international students studying in the Netherlands is about 35 EUR/month (nearly 1.000.000 VND/month). The popular means of transportation in the Netherlands are trams, buses, etc. You can save a lot of money on travel by buying a cheap used bicycle to meet your needs. his commute. Or you can also rent bicycles for 10 EUR/day. Because the Dutch are famous for their love of bicycles and thanks to that, you have the opportunity to integrate into the life of the people in this country of windmills.

4. Insurance cost

International students are required to purchase insurance while studying in the Netherlands. Insurance for international students such as AON, IPS or InsuretoStudy costs about 55 EUR/month (1.500.000 VND/month). For students with part-time jobs, they have to buy additional insurance for people with income (Basic Health Insurance) about 99 - 130 EUR/month (2.700.000 - 3.600.000 VND/month). When international students buy this insurance package and meet the requirements of the Government, you will be supported by them with an insurance amount of about 99 EUR/month (VND 2.700.000/month). So in the end you pay almost nothing or only pay 1-30 EUR/month (27.000 – 830.000 VND/month).

5. Other extra costs

• Books and other materials are about 30 – 65 EUR/month (830.000 – 1.800.000 VND/month).
• Expenses for entertainment and travel: this is a necessary expense, but the amount more or less depends entirely on the needs of each person. Some restaurants and entertainment facilities will offer student discounts. If you wish, you can also prepare yourself with an International Student card to enjoy discounts on services.

The Dutch government always has financial support policies to create opportunities for students from developing countries to have the opportunity to access quality education at Dutch universities. Therefore, to reduce the cost of studying abroad to the lowest level, international students can learn about scholarship programs from the Dutch Government and universities. This is the simplest and cheapest way to experience studying in a country with top-quality education in the world.