For students with EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship, the standard tuition fee is about €2,700 per year. You can pay it in installments or get a loan to cover it.

For living costs, plan on about €900–1,400 per month. Housing is the biggest cost, and the final amount depends on the city and your habits.

Set aside some extra money for study materials, moving in and your first months. Later on, support for working students can make your budget easier to manage.

Compare tuition and living costs.

If you work while you study and combine grants with optional loans for living costs and tuition, your total DUO support can exceed €1,200 per month.

One of the main ways to qualify for this support is to have an official job of at least 32 hours a month. Other DUO conditions apply too, and the size of the supplementary grant depends on your parents' income.

You can also travel for free on public transport, choosing either weekdays or weekends. You may also get a housing allowance and a healthcare allowance if you meet the conditions for each one. Optional loans have to be paid back.

Learn about grants, loans and other support.

Yes, there are jobs where English is enough. Many international companies operate in the Netherlands, and students work in hospitality, logistics, administration and other fields.

Students with EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship can work while they study. Allow time for the job search and choose a workload you can combine with your lectures and self-study.

Basic Dutch will widen your options. Plan your first months' expenses so that you can manage while you're still looking for a job.

Read about work and everyday life in the Netherlands.

University of Applied Sciences (HBO) – more practice: you learn through projects, do an internship and prepare for a specific profession.

University (WO) – more theory and research: a good fit if you like to dig deeper, analyze and explore why things work the way they do.

Both paths lead to a bachelor's degree, so choose the one that fits how you like to learn and compare the content of specific programs.

Compare both study paths.

All programs Kastu offers in the Netherlands are taught in English. You don't have to know Dutch, and English is widely spoken in everyday life too.

Some Kastu partner universities in the Netherlands accept your school-leaving exam in English as proof of your English level. It depends on your country and the university – if yours accepts it, you don't need an extra IELTS or TOEFL test.

Some programs still require an international test. Before you register for a test, check which proof your chosen program accepts.

Check the English language requirements of your chosen university.

You can start filling in the Kastu application form while you're still in your final year of school. To start, you submit a transcript of records confirmed by your school, and you upload your secondary school leaving certificate when you receive it.

For the main intake to the Netherlands through Kastu, plan to submit your form by April 1 – this date is approximate, so check the exact date for your program in advance.

Start by choosing your programs and checking their requirements. Kastu reviews your documents and submits your applications, so you can start preparing before your school-leaving exams.

Compare programs, their requirements and application deadlines.

Start looking for housing as early as possible – especially in the bigger university cities, the search can take time.

First check the housing your university recommends, student housing organizations and rooms for rent. Kastu's housing search guide helps you see where to look in your city.

Compare the rent and the location, and check how long it takes to get to the university. Put the housing search in your preparation plan and don't leave it until the end of summer.

See the housing search information.

You will have plenty of opportunities to meet other students. Universities organize orientation weeks, buddy programs for newcomers and events for international students.

Join a student organization, a sports club or another shared activity. You will also get to know your classmates while working on group projects.

To start, pick at least one activity you'd like to go to. That makes it easier to start a conversation and build your own circle of friends step by step.

Read how Kastu students experienced the start of their studies.