How to Apply to Universities in Netherlands: Requirements, Deadlines and Portals

Start with Studielink

Studielink is the national online portal for almost every degree program at Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. You create one account, add the program you want, and the system passes your application to the institution automatically. Some international programs use a separate institutional application system instead, so confirm this with your chosen university before you start.

Deadlines you cannot miss

The Netherlands runs two application deadlines depending on the program type.

• 📩 15 January: deadline for numerus fixus (capacity-limited) programs

• 📩 1 May: deadline for all other bachelor's and master's programs

Confirm the exact date with your institution, since some programs, especially master's programs and international tracks, set their own earlier or later deadlines. Read the full process on Study in NL .

Numerus fixus and selection

Numerus fixus programs cap the number of places and select students when demand exceeds supply, common in Medicine, Psychology and other high-demand fields. Apply to a maximum of 2 numerus fixus programs per year. Medicine, Dentistry, Dental Hygiene and Physiotherapy limit you to a single application each, across all institutions offering that program.

Selection procedures vary by institution and now typically weigh your grades, a motivation letter or an entrance test, rather than the weighted lottery system the Netherlands used in the past. Check the selection criteria on your target program's own page well before the January deadline, since some programs ask for extra materials weeks in advance.

Selection results arrive on 15 April. If you receive an offer, accept it in Studielink within 2 weeks or lose the place.

Documents and diploma recognition

You need your secondary school diploma, transcripts and, for English-taught programs, proof of English proficiency, usually IELTS or TOEFL. If your prior education came from outside the Netherlands, your institution checks whether your diploma matches the required Dutch level. Nuffic, the Dutch organization for internationalization in education, runs the national credential evaluation service that universities and applicants use to compare foreign diplomas with Dutch qualifications.

EU and non-EU/EEA differences

EU and EEA students apply through the same Studielink process as Dutch students and pay the statutory tuition fee. Students from European countries outside the EU/EEA, such as the UK or several Balkan states, follow the same application steps but pay institutional tuition rates and, in most cases, need a residence permit before moving to the Netherlands, arranged through the institution and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

After you are accepted

Once your program confirms your place, finish your enrollment in Studielink and arrange your tuition payment. Apply for housing and register with your local municipality after you arrive, since Dutch address registration affects your access to local services. Keep an eye on your Studielink account and university email in the months before the semester starts, since institutions send follow-up requests and orientation information through those channels.

Preparing a strong application

Start collecting documents months before your deadline: your diploma, official transcripts, a passport copy and, for many programs, a motivation letter or CV. Numerus fixus and competitive master's programs often ask for extra materials such as a personal statement or reference letters, so read the exact document list on your target program's page rather than assuming every Dutch program asks for the same thing.

If your program requires English proficiency proof, check the minimum score your specific program accepts, since requirements differ by institution and by degree level. Book your test early, since slots fill up around application deadlines and results take time to arrive.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing the 15 January numerus fixus deadline by assuming it matches the 1 May general deadline

• Forgetting that Studielink registration and the university's own document upload are two separate steps

• Applying to more numerus fixus programs than allowed, which invalidates your applications

• Waiting until after acceptance to start your housing search or visa steps