Bordering Germany and Belgium in north-west Europe, the Netherlands is an excellent destination for international students due to its location in Europe, high quality education and interesting history and culture, with plenty of experiences to explore.
The official language spoken in the Netherlands is Dutch, but you will find that many in the country speak English to a good standard, which will help you to get by whilst you pick up the local language.
Read more about studying in the Netherlands as an international student.
There are two main types of university in the Netherlands, and whilst they may both be referred to as a university, their focuses are different.
Some of the most popular cities in the Netherlands for international students include:
The Netherlands boasts several of the world’s top universities, with programmes taught in English, making it a very attractive location for international students.
This includes 5 universities that feature in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2024 top 100: Delft University of Technology, University of Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research, Leiden University and University of Groningen.
University | Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2024 | Best Global Universities | QS World University Ranking |
Delft University of Technology | 48 | 169 | 47 |
University of Amsterdam | 61 | 39 | 53 |
Wageningen University & Research | 64 | 89 | 151 |
Leiden University | 77 | 74 | 126 |
University of Groningen | 79 | 88 | 139 |
Utrecht University | 44 | 107 | |
Erasmus University Rotterdam | 99 | 65 | 176 |
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | 125 | 82 | 236 |
Radboud University Nijmegen | 140 | 106 | 222 |
Maastricht University | 138 | 186 | 256 |
We have compiled a list of some of the top universities and higher education providers in the Netherlands to browse below. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see what courses are available for international students.
Browse higher education providers in The Netherlands
Bachelor of Business Administration BBA
IC University of Applied Sciences – Amsterdam Netherlands
Find out moreRadboud University, Nijmegen School of Management Netherlands
Find out moreBrain and Cognition Master Degree
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) Netherlands
Find out moreMarketing Management - Digital Business Concepts Bachelor Degree
Fontys Academy for the Creative Economy Netherlands
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