Study in Holland FAQ

Mar 02, 2010

If you have any other question or doubt, please do not hesitate to contact Nuffic Neso Thailand at +66 (0) 2 252 6088

  1. Where can I find out information about study in Holland?
  2. Do I need to speak Dutch to study in Holland?
  3. What English level do I need to study in The Netherlands?
  4. Can I study an English Preparation program before the main course?
  5. Can I use English in daily life?
  6. I want to learn Dutch. Is this possible during my stay in Holland?
  7. How do I apply to an institution in Holland?
  8. Which documents are usually required for admission?
  9. Can I enter a Master’s programme with any Bachelor’s title?
  10. How do I legalize my documents for use in Holland?
  11. Do I need a visa to study in Holland?
  12. Where can I find scholarships?
  13. How much does it cost to study in The Netherlands?
  14. Can I work while I am studying?
  15. Can I stay in Holland after my studies?
  16. Are there public and private universities in Holland?
  17. Are there many Thai students studying in Holland?
  18. What is the weather like in Holland?
     

Where can I find out information about study in Holland?

You can visit the websites:

Do I need to speak Dutch to study in Holland?

No. There are more than 1,450 programmes taught entirely in English. Furthermore, in daily life you can manage with English as well without any problems, since almost all Dutch people speak English.
 

What English level do I need to study in The Netherlands?

This depends on the institution and/or study programme. The two English tests that are accepted in all institutions are:
• IELTS
for this test you will need at least a result of 6.0. Some programmes may require a result of 6.5 or 7.0.
• TOEFL
the minimum score for the Internet Based Test (IBT) is 80 (equivalent to 550 Paper Based Test (PBT)). Some programmes require a higher score. Computer based result should be 213.

PLEASE NOTE: make sure you take the official TOEFL, and not the institutional TOEFL, since the latter is not accepted by Dutch higher education institutions. Also make sure your TOEFL diploma is still valid, since it expires after two years.
 

Can I study an English preparatory programme before the main course?

Yes, some institutions have the preparatory courses for international students. If you want to study English preparatory programme, please check the institution website to make sure that institution provides this course. The preparatory is usually designed for students who need to upgrade their English level with 0.5 or 1.0 point IELTS to be admitted to bachelor or master courses. It means that you also have at least IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 500 to apply for the preparatory course. Therefore we highly recommend that you should get a sufficient English level in Thailand before going to the Netherlands to study to save your cost and time.
 

Can I use English in daily life?

Yes, almost all Dutch people can speak English well, so you will not encounter any problems in daily activities.
 

I want to learn Dutch. Is this possible during my stay in Holland?

Many universities offer Dutch courses for their foreign students. This means that besides the regular study programme you can take an additional course to learn the basics of the language and a little more about the Dutch culture. This is not obligatory, but optional.

Several Dutch universities have language centres where you can take Dutch courses as well. Although this is mainly for students that want to start a programme taught in Dutch, some also offer the option of short courses or summer-courses. It is recommendable taking a course at a university because of the guaranteed quality.
 

How do I apply to an institution in Holland?

Every institution has its own procedures; therefore it is very important to contact the university and/or the Nuffic Neso by e-mail to ask the entry requirements for the programme you are interested in. In general you need to take the following steps:

1. search the programme you are interested in
for this you can use the Study in Holland database for a general overview and the institutions’ website for more detailed information. Of course you can also contact Nuffic Neso for more information or visit the office to obtain a brochure. Tell them all your questions and doubts about the programme; and ask them for a list of documents required for your admission.

2. contact the institution
send an e-mail to the contact address in the database to ask them all your questions and doubts about the programme; and ask them for a list of documents required for your admission.

3. collect all required documents
you will need to gather all documents required by the university. Some of these must be written by yourself (like a motivation letter or curriculum vitae) and some you must obtain from your high school or university (diplomas, transcripts). All documents must be in English or translated in English.                                                         

4. application
Some institutions accept online applications. Please complete the whole online procedure before sending anything by post.                                                       

5. send all documents to the institution by courier
always use a reliable courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) to make sure your documents arrive sound and safe within a few days.                                                             

6. wait for the acceptance letter
Dutch higher education institutes usually need 4-8 weeks to review your documents and send you the letter of acceptance. This letter is necessary if you want to apply for a scholarship.
 

Which documents are usually required for admission?

• For Bachelor programmes:
- high school diploma
- list of subjects with grades from your high school
- diploma of your English knowledge (TOEFL or IELTS)
• For Master programmes:
- Bachelor’s degree in the same study field as your Master programme
- list of subjects with grades
- diploma of your English knowledge (TOEFL or IELTS)
• For PhD programmes:
- Master’s degree in the same study field as your research proposal
- list of subjects with grades
- diploma of your English knowledge (TOEFL or IELTS)

Each institution requires additional documents, such as a motivation statement, a curriculum vitae (c.v.), recommendation letter(s), copy of your passport, copy of your birth certificate. Some institutions require GRE and/orGMAT-results, portfolio, etc. depending on the programme you are interested in.
 

Can I enter a Master’s programme with any Bachelor’s title?

In general it is not possible to study a master’s programme with any bachelor’s degree. In most cases you would need a bachelor’s degree in the same or related field in order to follow a master’s programme.

Some programmes (and institutions) do make an exception. For example, you can study MA in Political Science with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Depending on the institution you would either need to follow a preparatory year or take extra modules. The number of modules will depend on the programme.
 

How do I legalize my documents for use in Holland?

To use your documents in Holland you need to take a few steps:

1. Legalization of Indian Public Documents (International legalization)
For official documents it is necessary to have the “apostille” stamp in order to be recognized internationally. This stamp is issued by Thai's Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Consular Department on Cheangwattana Road. This is for only personal documents (ie. birth certificate, house registration) and educational documents.

2. Certified copies
You should never send original diplomas to the Dutch institutions as they will not return them to you after your application. Therefore it is necessary to obtain certified copies of all documents. These can be obtained either at your university or with a public notary. It is recommendable to request five or six sets of copies at once, since you might need them for other universities or scholarship programmes.

PLEASE NOTE: these copies are necessary for all official documents that you send to The Netherlands.

3. Official translation to English
It is necessary to have an official translator make the translation of all documents in English. You can ask your university if they know an official translator near your home.
 

Do I need a visa to study in Holland?

Yes, you need a visa called MVV. The university will apply for your MVV once you have been accepted in a programme and will require some additional documents from you. The visa will be issued by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok.

Generally the university will apply for your MVV two or three months before your studies begin, since the procedure at the Dutch Migration Service (IND) usually takes about 2 - 6 weeks (in some cases this may be longer). The requirements are:
• Acceptance in a programme in a higher education institute that has signed the Code of Conduct here;
• Proof of sufficient funds. The IND requires that you have about 700 euros per month (January 2009) available for the duration of your studies. If your programme is more than one year, you only need to prove sufficient funds for the first year. This requirement is very strict. Sufficient funds may be proven in three ways:

  1. a bank statement of an account on your name with sufficient funds in local currency.
    Take into account that the statement must mention Thai Baht and that it must be translated into English by an official translater. Also, bear in mind that the exchange rate may differ from the moment you obtain the statement to the moment the IND receives it for revision.
  2. a bank transfer to the host universities' account.
    Most Dutch higher education institutions offer the possibility to make a transfer to their account of the whole amount for one year of living expenses. They will apply for your MVV with their bank statement where your transfer appears (with the total amount in euros). Upon your arrival in The Netherlands, the university will return the money on your Dutch bank account, so you can use it for your personal expenses.
  3. a letter stating that you will receive a scholarship or student loan for the duration of your studies. This letter must be in English and mention your full name, birth date, the name of the institution where you will study, the name of the programme you are going to study, the exact period in which the scholarship or loan will be granted, the total amount of the scholarship or loan and the monthly amount that you will receive.

• A valid passport.

All Thai students no matter what the length of the stay require a visa.
 

Where can I find scholarships?

On the Neso webpage you can find a short overview of scholarships available to Thai students. Please note that many Dutch higher education institutes also offer their own scholarships to excellent students, so it is recommendable to enquire at the university as well whether you are eligible for such a scholarship.
On the Grantfinder webpage and www.nesothailand.org you may find additional scholarship options.
 

How much does it cost to study in The Netherlands?

Tuition fees are fixed by the different institutions themselves. We just provide average costs as a guide. Tuition fees for a bachelor programme range from € 5,500 to € 7,000; most master courses range from € 9,000 to € 15,000.Although living costs may vary a little per city, generally students spend about € 700 euro per month.
In comparison with other Anglo-Saxon countries, tuition fees and living costs in The Netherlands are reasonable.
 

Can I work while I am studying?

Yes, you can apply for a work permit to work up to 10 hours a week all year round or you may work full-time during vacation periods (June, July and August). Please note that it may be difficult to find a job because of the language. Furthermore, studying requires at least 40 hours per week, which sometimes makes it very difficult to combine work and study. For further information on working while studying in the Netherlands go to the Nuffic website.
 

Can I stay in Holland after my studies?

After graduation at a research university or university of applied sciences in the Netherlands, foreign students do have the possibility to extend their stay for a period of one year to search for a job as a highly skilled migrant or for further studies. For more information please visit the Nuffic webpage about working after your studies.
 

Are there public and private universities in Holland?

Most higher education institutions receive funding from the Dutch government, but Dutch citizens always have to pay a tuition fee as well. Therefore the separation between public and private institutes is not distinct.
There are some institutions that are completely private though. These institutes generally offer very specific programmes, such as MBA’s and non-degree courses.
 

Are there many Thai students studying in Holland?

Each year a little less than 100 bachelors, masters, PhD, short courses and internship students go to Holland with the purpose of studying at a higher education institute. At the moment an estimated 300 students are registered at publicly funded Dutch higher education programmes. 
 

What is the weather like in Holland?

The climate in Holland is a moderate sea climate. Winters can be cold and summers hot. The average temperature in the winter (from December to February) is about 0- 4°C. In the summer (from June to August), it is usually warm and dry with the spells of cool and wet weather. The average temperature is between 22-26 C degree. Locally it can be 30C.

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