Holland also known as the Netherlands is country located in Western Europe by the North Sea. Official language is Dutch language. More than 95% of population speaks English. The country’s formal name is Nederland, meaning ‘low country’. This refers to the fact that much of the land is at or below sea level.
The Netherlands or Holland?
The Netherlands is often incorrectly called Holland. In fact, only the central part of the Netherlands is geographically named Holland.
This part of the country consists now of two provinces Noord Holland (North Holland) and Zuid-Holland (South Holland). Holland is the region with important cities as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague (Den Haag), Delft, Leiden and Haarlem.
Population and languages of the Netherlands
The Netherlands being the most densely populated country with more than 16,5 million inhabitants. Netherlands is populated in 81% by Dutch nation. Many Dutch people speak also German, which is in many aspects similar to Dutch language and some of them speak French.
Why study in Holland?
76,000 international students are studying at Holland universities.
Holland is the first non-English speaking country which offers study programs conducted in English language. This year the Dutch universities propose 1,450 programs.
6 Reasons to come for study in Holland
• internationally recognized degree’s;
• multicultural study environment;
• practical studies with a business approach;
• more than 1300 English taught Bachelor and Master programmes;
• enrollment twice a year: September February;
• even for non-Europeans study expenses are relative low: on average 13,000 – 18,000 euro a year

Admission requirements
The main requirement for admission to a bachelor’s programme is a secondary-school diploma at the appropriate level. Foreign students must have a diploma judged equivalent to the minimum diploma required. There are also study programmes – in the arts for example – for which institutions set their own additional requirements.
For admission to a master’s degree programme, applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
In certain popular fields, the number of places is limited and quotas are set.

Language requirements
It is essential for foreign students to be able to speak, read and write English well. Students must have passed an English language test. IELTS and TOEFL are commonly accepted, but institutions may accept other tests as well.
The required scores are at least 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based) for TOEFL. For IELTS a score of at least 6 is required.
Tuition fees
Education in Holland is not free, but tuition fees are reasonable compared with other countries.
The Dutch government aims to make Dutch higher education as accessible as possible to students and mid-career professionals from other countries.
Bachelor and Master programmes tuition fees for non EU- students usually are higher than for EU -members. Mostly a study year can cost between 14,000 euro – 22,000 euro (inclusive all living expenses.) In general, tuition fees are higher for non-EU students.
Visas and permits
To enter the Netherlands for study purposes, nationals from most countries need a visa. Once in the Netherlands, a residence permit is often required. In some cases a work permit is also required.
An entry visa is a sticker placed in your passport at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your own country (or the country in which you legally reside), but it must be applied for well in advance.
For a stay of up to three months, you might need a ‘short stay visa’ depending on your nationality. If you will be staying for longer than three months, you might need a ‘provisional residence permit’ This requirement does not apply to citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Vatican City, Monaco or South Korea.
Documents required when applying for Student Visa
In any case you will need to present:
• A valid passport.
• A letter or other document from the Dutch host institution stating that you are or will be enrolled as a student, or that you are going to do an internship, or a traineeship.
• Proof that you can support yourself financially.
• A copy of the application for a work permits, if applicable.

Working while studying
If you’re a foreign student (non–EU/EEA/Swiss) and you have a valid residence permit with the aim to study, you can work alongside your studies (either full-time seasonal work in June, July and August, or part-time work of no more than ten hours a week). In this case your Dutch employer does need a work permit for you, but this is an easy process as the employer doesn’t need to show that there are Dutch or EU nationals capable of doing the job.
Registering with the university
You need to register at your host institution (university or university of applied sciences) when you arrive, not only for getting your class schedules, but also to comply with immigration procedures.
The host institution will want to see proof that you have reported to the Aliens Police/the municipality and, if applicable, will apply on your behalf for a residence permit which form you need to sign.
Health insurance
When preparing your stay in Holland, make sure you will be properly insured during your stay. There are certain rules concerning your healthcare insurance which you have to comply with. It is also highly advisable to take out a liability insurance. You must be insured against the cost of medical treatment. This is a requirement under Dutch law.
Accommodation
Holland does not have a tradition of on-campus accommodation. Most students live in or near their university town.
Finding good, affordable accommodation can be a problem in the Netherlands. Almost all university towns suffer from shortages. Many Dutch students have trouble finding suitable accommodation near their university.
If you are taking part in an exchange programme or are enrolled on an international course, it is quite possible that a room will be arranged for you. You should consider accepting it immediately, or you might regret it later. Please check in advance what the situation is at your university.
Rent and bills
Accommodation can also be expensive, especially in the bigger cities. Find out in advance what a room is going to cost you. Don’t forget to include additional expenses such as the deposit and utility bills (gas, water and electricity). The latter are not always included in the rent. Most rental contracts run for at least six months or a year when you are enrolled on a course programme. Think about these things beforehand to avoid unpleasant surprises later.
Daily expenses
Your daily expenses include food, public transport, books, clothes, and cinema tickets. But you also need to take into account the costs for housing and insurance. Experience has shown that students living and studying in Holland for one year spend between €700 and €1,000 a month.
1. Housing – €250 to €600 a month.
2. Food- € 250 to € 450 a month.
3. Transport- € 100 to € 200 a month.
4. Other Expenses- € 100 to € 200 a month.
Scholarships
The Dutch Ministry of Education offers scholarships to nationals from a wide range of countries under the terms of various cultural agreements and other agreements of co-operation.
1. Berlage Institute Scholarship Scholarship for excellent 1st. year Berlage Institute participants who want to be in the 2nd. year postgraduate program at the Berlage Institute.
2. CentER scholarships CentER fulltime M.Phil./Ph.D. Program
3. CHN-SGS Scholarship Scholarship for SGS Masters programmes at CHN University Netherlands
4. Erasmus Mundus programme Cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education.
5. Eric Bleumink Fund Ph.D. researchers Ph.D. researchers who conduct Ph.D. research within the scope of a cooperation between the University of Groningen and an institution in a developing country.
6.Eric Bleumink Fund students for a Master’s or equivalent programme at the University of Groningen or an university in the developing country or one of its neighbouring countries (provided that part of the study programme takes place at the RUG).
7. Faculty Of Applied Sciences Scholarship, TU Delft Scholarships for outstanding international students who have been admitted into one of the MSc programmes within the TU Delft’s Faculty of Applied Sciences: Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, Life Science Technology, Science Education and Communication, and Sustainable Energy Technology.
8.Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program As a fellow, you may enrol on master’s programmes or doctoral programmes and pursue any academic discipline or field of study that is consistent with the interests and goals of the International Fellowships Fund. The Fund currently works in twelve fields to strengthen democratic values, alleviate poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. To ensure that fellows are drawn from diverse backgrounds, IFP actively seeks candidates from social groups and communities that lack systematic access to higher education.
9. HSP Huygens Programme Scholarships for excellent students
10. Amsterdam Merit Scholarships Scholarships for outstanding students from non-EEA countries pursuing a Master’s degree at the UvA