How to Apply to Universities in the Netherlands (2027/28 Step-by-Step)

To apply to a university in the Netherlands, you choose a program, register and apply in Studielink (the national enrolment system), then upload your documents in the university's own portal before its deadline. For non-EU students most September 2027 deadlines fall between 15 January and 1 June 2027, and you should apply as early as you can because the visa process starts only after admission.

This guide explains each step, the deadlines that actually apply to visa students, application fees and a realistic timeline for the 2027/28 intake.

How the Dutch application system works

There is no single central admission office that decides for all universities. Each institution assesses your application and sets its own requirements, deadline and fee. Studielink is the shared front door: you create an account, enter your previous education and submit an application for each program.

After that, the university emails you a link to its own portal, for example Osiris at Utrecht or The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the EUR Admissions Portal at Erasmus University Rotterdam or uSis at Leiden. That is where you upload transcripts, your English test and motivation documents. Study in NL notes that some institutions register international students differently, so always confirm on the program page.

Step-by-step application process

1. 1

   Shortlist programs (12–18 months ahead)

   Use the Study in NL Studyfinder and each program page. Note the deadline for non-EU applicants, the fee, the English score and whether it is numerus fixus.

2. 2

   Check your eligibility

   Compare your diploma on the Nuffic website and read the program's entry requirements. See our guide to Netherlands university admission requirements.

3. 3

   Take an accepted English test

   Book IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, PTE, LanguageCert or TOEIC at a test centre. Many universities want the certificate before the deadline.

4. 4

   Apply in Studielink

   Create your account at Studielink, add your education history and submit the application for each program.

5. 5

   Complete the university portal and pay any fee

   Upload documents and pay the application fee if one applies. Some universities only start assessing after payment.

6. 6

   Receive your decision

   You may get a conditional offer (for example, pending your final diploma) or an unconditional one. Accept it in Studielink.

7. 7

   Send visa documents and payment

   Non-EU students send proof of funds and other documents, and often pay first-year tuition, so the university can apply to the IND.

Numerus fixus programs: special rules

Numerus fixus programs have a fixed number of places. Study in NL lists these rules:

• Apply before 15 January, 23:59 CET.
• Selection runs from 15 January to 15 April, and ranking numbers arrive through Studielink on 15 April.
• You can apply to at most two numerus fixus programs per academic year (only one for Medicine, Dentistry, Dental hygiene and Physiotherapy).
• If you are offered a place, you must accept within two weeks or it goes to another student.

Examples for September 2027 include International Business and Psychology at the University of Groningen and Maastricht University, and Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering bachelor's programs at TU Delft. At TU Eindhoven, four selective bachelor's programs accept applications from 1 October 2026 to 15 January 2027, with online selection tests on 6, 13 and 20 March 2027.

Real deadlines for non-EU applicants (September 2027)

Ignore any blog that tells you the deadline is simply 1 May. Here are official September 2027 dates for students who need a visa:

February 2027 intake

A smaller number of programs start in February. Several February 2027 deadlines for non-EU students are very close or have passed: Radboud and Maastricht master's on 1 November 2026, Fontys on 15 November 2026 and HZ (selected bachelor's) on 30 November 2026. If you miss them, plan for September 2027.

Application fees

Study in NL says some institutions charge non-EEA students or applicants without Dutch prior education an application or handling fee of €75 to €100. Examples from official pages:

Early-decision options worth using

Applying early is not only about the visa. Some universities reward early applicants with faster decisions. The University of Groningen runs an Early Bird route: if you apply for a bachelor's program in Arts, Economics and Business, Science and Engineering, Social Sciences or Law before 28 February 2027, it aims to decide within 15 working days.

Scholarship rounds also push you to apply early. Utrecht University wants master's scholarship candidates to apply by 1 February 2027, Radboud University by 31 January 2027 for the Radboud Scholarship Programme, and VU Amsterdam advises scholarship applicants to apply for their program by 1 December 2026. See scholarships in the Netherlands for the full list.

After admission: what you pay before the visa

Admission is not the finish line. Because the university applies to the IND for you, it must first be sure you can pay. Many institutions therefore ask non-EU students to pay first-year tuition, and sometimes the living-cost amount, before they file the permit application. Examples from official pages:

• Wageningen University & Research invoices admitted non-EU students for first-year tuition, 12.5 months of living costs, insurance and the residence permit; for an MSc this comes to about €74,522. For bachelor's students it applies for the permit only after final documents and payment are in.
• TU Eindhoven asks admitted non-EEA students for a guarantee fee (around May) that also covers tuition, plus proof of sufficient means for the IND.
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences asked visa students for the 2026/27 intake to pay a €26,000 package fee (tuition, living-cost proof and legal fees) by 15 June.
• Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences (private) charges visa students a package fee that includes tuition, insurance, housing and MVV costs, and requires applicants from Afghanistan to pay the full invoice upfront.

Documents you usually upload

• Passport copy.
• Secondary diploma and transcripts (bachelor's) or bachelor's diploma and transcript (master's), with translations if not in English or Dutch.
• English test certificate.
• CV and motivation letter (most master's and some bachelor's programs).
• Reference letters or a writing sample for some master's programs.
• Residence permit of your country of residence if you live outside your home country.

Our guide to documents, translation and legalization explains which documents need a sworn translation or legalisation.

Month-by-month timeline for September 2027

Funding is often the slowest part. Read cost of studying in the Netherlands and the Netherlands student visa guide before you apply, so you know what you must pay and when.

Mistakes that cost applicants a place

• Submitting in Studielink but never finishing the university portal, so the application is incomplete.
• Missing an early scholarship deadline and finding out later that the program deadline was not the scholarship deadline.
• Using an English test edition the university does not accept, such as IELTS Online or TOEFL Home Edition at many institutions.
• Applying in the last week, leaving too little time for the IND and the MVV appointment.
• Not paying the application fee, which at Maastricht means the application is rejected if unpaid before the deadline.

For a big-picture view, read our complete guide to studying in the Netherlands. To get reminders for every official deadline, track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.