English-Taught Programs in the Netherlands: Where to Find Them (2027)

The Netherlands offers a very wide choice of English-taught degrees: FindUniPath tracks 412 English-taught bachelor's and 1,381 master's programs at 51 Dutch institutions. You find them in the official Study in NL Studyfinder and on each university's own program pages, and you need an accepted English test, usually IELTS 6.0–6.5 or equivalent.

This guide shows where the programs are, what scores you need for 2027/28, which tests are accepted, and when Dutch still matters.

Where the English-taught programs are

Research universities dominate at master's level, while universities of applied sciences offer many practical English-taught bachelor's programs. These are the institutions with the most English-taught programs in our database:

The three technical universities are smaller in program numbers but entirely focused on engineering and science. TU Delft lists 4 English-taught bachelor's and 37 master's programs, the University of Twente 16 and 32, and TU Eindhoven 13 and 23. Their bachelor's programs in popular fields such as Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering at TU Delft, or Computer Science and Engineering at TU Eindhoven, have selection and a 15 January deadline.

Examples by field

• Engineering and technology: TU Delft BSc Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering; University of Twente bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics and Civil Engineering; HAN Mechanical and Automotive Engineering.
• Business: International Business at Saxion, HAN, Avans, Windesheim and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences; master's at Erasmus University Rotterdam and the University of Amsterdam.
• Computing: Saxion Applied Computer Science, HAN Embedded Systems Engineering, Utrecht and UvA master's in Artificial Intelligence.
• Life sciences and agriculture: Wageningen University & Research, where all MSc programs are English-taught, plus Aeres and Van Hall Larenstein bachelor's programs.
• Hospitality and tourism: Breda University of Applied Sciences, Saxion Hotel Management and Hotelschool The Hague.

How to find and check a program

1. 1

   Search the Studyfinder

   Use the official Study in NL Studyfinder to filter by level and field.

2. 2

   Open the university's program page

   The university sets the language of instruction, requirements, English scores, fee and deadline. Trust its page over any list.

3. 3

   Confirm it is fully English-taught

   Some programs are Dutch, bilingual or have Dutch-taught tracks. TU Eindhoven's Biomedical Engineering bachelor's, for instance, is Dutch or bilingual, and Wageningen teaches only 8 of its bachelor's programs in English.

4. 4

   Check the intake and deadline

   Most programs start in September; some, such as selected master's at Utrecht, Groningen and Twente, also start in February.

English test requirements

Study in NL lists the accepted tests: Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency), IELTS, LanguageCert, Pearson (PTE Academic), TOEFL iBT and TOEIC. Each program sets its own minimum. TOEFL now uses a new 1–6 score scale, and many universities list both old and new scores.

Universities of applied sciences

Most universities of applied sciences ask for CEFR B2, which they express as IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80. Saxion, Windesheim and Avans list exactly that for bachelor's programs, and Breda University of Applied Sciences also requires a speaking score of 6.0. Master's programs can be higher: Rotterdam Business School asks IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90, several HAN master's ask 6.5, and Hanze lists 6.0–6.5 with some programs at 7.0 or more.

Choosing between IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and others

All six tests named by Study in NL are widely accepted, but not every university lists every test, and scores do not convert one-to-one. Before booking, open the language page of each university on your shortlist and check three things: that your test is listed, the overall score, and the minimum per section. Typical equivalents published by Dutch universities for a B2/6.0 level are Cambridge 169, PTE Academic 61 and LanguageCert 65; for 6.5 they rise to Cambridge 176–180, PTE 61–66 and LanguageCert 70.

If you plan to apply to several universities, aim for the highest requirement on your list so one test covers all applications. Retaking a test close to the deadline is risky, because some universities need the certificate before the deadline, not after.

Test rules that trip people up

• Home and online editions: Groningen does not accept IELTS Online or One Skill Retake; Wageningen refuses home editions and One Skill Retake; Erasmus School of Economics does not accept online tests for visa students; Avans and Fontys require test-centre exams.
• Test age: most universities want results no older than 2 years.
• Single sitting: TU Delft requires scores from a single test.
• Deadline: the University of Twente says your certificate must be in hand before the deadline.

Can you study without IELTS?

Sometimes, but not everywhere. Saxion mentions exemptions for English-medium prior degrees and some diplomas, and Wittenborg exempts applicants whose previous education was all in English, after verification. Other universities have their own country lists. Never assume a waiver; email the admissions office with your exact diploma.

English-taught programs with limited places

Some of the most popular English-taught bachelor's programs are numerus fixus, with a 15 January 2027 deadline and a selection procedure for September 2027. Examples from official pages:

• International Business and Psychology at the University of Groningen and Maastricht University.
• Psychology, Business Administration and Political Science (English track) at the University of Amsterdam.
• Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering at TU Delft.
• European School of Physiotherapy at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

You can apply to at most two numerus fixus programs per academic year, so choose them carefully and add regular programs with later deadlines to your list.

February intakes in English

If you miss September, some English-taught programs also start in February. Examples on official pages include selected master's at Utrecht University (for instance Artificial Intelligence, with a 1 September 2027 deadline for February 2028), the University of Twente (1 October 2027 for February 2028) and the University of Groningen, which lists bachelor's programs such as Data Science & Society starting in February 2028 with a 1 November 2027 deadline.

Do you need Dutch?

Not for admission to an English-taught program. Saxion, for example, states that no Dutch is needed for its English programs. Dutch still matters in three ways:

• Some degrees are only available in Dutch, such as Medicine at Maastricht University and all degree programs at the University of Humanistic Studies.
• Many part-time jobs and internships outside international companies use Dutch.
• Basic Dutch makes daily life and, later, job-hunting during the orientation year easier.

Bachelor's or master's in English: which route?

If you are finishing school, a 4-year English-taught bachelor's at a university of applied sciences is often the most accessible route, because Nuffic compares many non-EU school certificates to HAVO level. If you already hold a bachelor's, the master's choice is far wider at research universities. Check Netherlands university admission requirements for diploma levels and how to apply for deadlines.

Your English-taught program checklist

1. 1.Shortlist programs in the Studyfinder and confirm English as the language of instruction.
2. 2.Note the English minimum, including section scores, for each program.
3. 3.Book one test-centre exam that meets the highest requirement on your list.
4. 4.Check whether the program is numerus fixus or has selection.
5. 5.Write down the non-EU deadline, which is often earlier than 1 May.
6. 6.Ask about English waivers only with your exact diploma details.

Then budget with cost of studying in the Netherlands, return to the complete Netherlands study guide, and track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.