From TU Delft to Erasmus University — the Netherlands offers world-ranked, English-taught master's plus a generous 1-year Orientation Year visa for graduates, giving you time to find work after you finish.
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€8,000 – €20,000 per year
€11,000 – €15,000 per year
Near 100% for funded applicants
16 hrs/week during studies · Full-time in summer
September · February
1 yr Orientation
Higher education in the Netherlands is known for its high quality and international study environment. With more than 2,100 international study programmes, it has the largest offering of English-taught programmes in continental Europe. Dutch universities and institutions are either government-funded or government-approved; the NVAO accredits institutions. The Netherlands uses a three-cycle structure: you first obtain a bachelor's degree (first cycle), then a master's (second cycle), and may continue to a PhD (third cycle).
Dutch institutions offer international degree programmes — many undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English. Universities are either government-funded or government-approved; privately financed institutions that are not recognised also exist, so accreditation matters. The NVAO accredits institutions — check with your AEC counsellor to confirm accreditation for your chosen institution.
The Netherlands is home to world-famous companies like Philips, Unilever, Rabobank, KPMG and Elsevier — proof of Dutch ambition and commitment to excellence. The standard of living is high and the Dutch are friendly people who love football, fine art, technology and good food. For Indian students, the education system feels refreshingly different thanks to its focus on open student-teacher discussion, group work and independent learning rather than textbook memorisation.
Provided you meet the conditions, there are many scholarship options. Browse the government's list of Netherlands programmes and scholarships via Nuffic, and explore funding options on Study in NL to search faster.
Graduates of a Dutch university — or of any of the world's top-200 universities in the last three years — can apply for a special 'orientation year' (zoekjaar) visa to look for work for up to one year. Master's graduates with a CROHO-registered programme or a PhD may apply to stay and work as a highly skilled migrant (an employer work permit is still required). Students with a valid Dutch residence permit may work 10 hours a week plus seasonal labour in June, July and August.
To study in the Netherlands for more than three months, Indian students follow the TEV (Entry and Residence) procedure — the visa is applied for by your recognised sponsor institution. Health insurance is mandatory for the TEV.
Once provisionally accepted into a course, your university begins the TEV procedure on your behalf.
The university submits your documents to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
On IND approval you receive an MVV (provisional residence permit), valid 3 months — collect it from the Dutch Embassy/Consulate, then fly to the Netherlands.
After arrival, your university helps you apply for the residence permit (VRV), usually issued within two weeks.
AEC students consistently secure offers from these institutions.
TU Delft
University of Amsterdam
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Eindhoven University of Technology
Leiden University
University of Groningen
Radboud University
VU Amsterdam
Wageningen University
University of TwenteThe most in-demand postgraduate programmes our students choose.
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