MS in Netherlands: Comprehensive Course Guide

MS (Masters) in the Netherlands can be earned in the field of sciences, engineerings, mathematics, medicine, and sometimes, more unconventional subjects such as humanities and social sciences. In this country, a full-time research-oriented master’s program usually takes 1-2 years to complete. 

• Students are required to have a bachelors degree in relevant field with a minimum of 65% to apply for MS in Netherlands universities. 
• The average salary after the completion of MS in Netherlands is 63,400 to 72,650 Euro (~53 to 60.77 lakhs INR) per annum.
• Some of the states/cities in the Netherlands offering the highest salary package, post a masters degree include Amerstdam, Rotterdam, Gravenhage, Utrecht, and Tilburg. 

Why Study MS in Netherlands?

• For a dual-language country, there are around 2100 courses taught in English in the Netherlands. 
• There are around 13 research, 39 applied science and 14 other higher education institutions in the Netherlands.
• According to QS world university rankings, Netherlands houses 13 out of 350 top universities around the globe. 
• Netherlands is the new and upcoming international student hub with around 45,000 international students entering the country each year. 
• Groningen city of the Netherlands houses students of 116 nationalities.
• Government-subsidized higher education in Netherlands helps in keeping the cost of studying abroad low in comparison to other countries. 
• The salary of an MS graduate is subjected to a 9% increment, every 15 months. 
• A student can work for 10-16 months after completion of the study with Netherlands work permit. 
• International students can avail different types of scholarships to study in Netherlands which include more than 400 scholarships.

Top Universities for MS in Netherlands

The following table will give you a brief idea of which university is appropriate for you. The table briefs the popular programs, cost of study and world rankings of the university

Course Details of MS in Netherlands

Netherlands mainly has three types of universities: Research University, University of Applied Science and Institute for International Education. The curriculum of MS depends upon which type of university is offering the program.

MS in Netherlands in research universities is more focused on research and academic aspects. University of Applied Science and Institute for International Education focus on professional aspect and practical training. 

In all the cases, students have to take up at least 60 credits to complete the program. Some of the popular specializations that you can study in Netherlands are:

• Computer Science
• Engineering (computer, civil, architecture, chemical, biomedical, etc)
• Applied courses in Mathematics, Physics, Biology etc.
• Biomedical Sciences
• Business-related programs such as entrepreneurship and innovation, digital business, international management, marketing, accountancy, etc. 

MS in Netherlands: Highlights

Admission Process of MS in Netherlands

Due to its affordable fees structure and multicultural, diverse and welcoming environment, the admission can become quite competitive. Therefore, eligibility, documentation and visa requirements should be duly filled in order to ensure admission in the university of your choice.

Where to Apply: Students can apply to Netherlands universities directly via the official website. A common online application portal called the studielink is also available as an option in some universities. 

Application Deadlines for MS in Netherlands

The application deadlines for universities in Netherlands usually lie within a certain range of months. Some of these are briefed below:

• The application deadlines for most courses is May 1 for the September session.
• For some universities, the application deadline ranges around February 1 – March 1.
• The application deadline for the February session is October 1 to November 1.
• For people applying through Numerus Fixes, the deadline is January 1.

Note – Numerus Fixes is a degree course lottery system which is used by the government of Netherlands.

Eligibility for MS in Netherlands Admission

• A bachelor’s degree in any relative field. For research-oriented programs, the bachelor’s degree should be of a research-oriented program as well.
• Average GPA score required is 7.5 or higher on a 10.0 scale.
• Minimum GRE score of 310 to 330 or GMAT score of 600
• Proof of English proficiency

Documentation Requirements for MS in Netherlands Admission

The following section will give you an idea of the general documents required by the top universities of Netherlands.

• Photocopy of ID and valid Passport.
• Photocopy of all academic transcripts.
• Personal essay.
• Proof of English language proficiency.
• Letter of motivation
• Letter of recommendation
• Curriculum vitae
• Additional documents such as the statement of research, letter of intent and so on.
• Financial stability with at least 1,160 USD in a bank account.

English Proficiency Requirement for International Students

You are expected to be fluent in the English language since the curriculum of masters at Netherlands universities is English. Following shows the types of language tests accepted with their minimum score requirements:

Netherlands Student Visa
The visa rejection rate of Netherlands is as low as 8.06%. Every student applying for a visa, needs a sponsor, which is usually the university. The application process for Netherlands student visa is stated below:

• A student has to acquire a MVV (long stay visa) and VVR (provisional residential permit).
• The MVV expires in 90 days and the VVR is valid till three months after the completion of degree.
• The visa application process is carried out by the university you’ve been accepted in.
• The visa application fee is 220.88 USD along with the additional fees charged by the university.
• International students are required to maintain 1,160 USD in your bank account and obtain 50% of the credit scores in the university to maintain the validity of the permit.

 On acceptance of the visa application, following steps are required to be followed.

• Appointment with the Dutch embassy.
• Submission of a valid passport, 2 passport photographs, biometrics and signature.
• Interview for obtaining the visa.

Cost of Studying MS in Netherlands

Your cost of study will include various expenses like, test fees, application fees, tuition fees, cost of living and others. Detailed below are some such expense details that you must be aware about when applying for MS in the Netherlands. 

Pre-arrival Expense

There will be certain expenses that will be incurred before landing up in your favourite university. These include application fees, visa application fees, registration fees of tests required to study in the Netherlands, and so on.

MS in Netherlands Tuition Fees

Radboud University offers the cheapest MS in Netherlands. On the other hand, Wageningen University and Utrecht University has the highest tuition fees among top universities. 

Cost of Living in Netherlands

The cost of living in the Netherlands is a very subjective scenario. It is based on your standard of living, the city you live in and the additional expenses. This table will give you a brief idea of how your monthly budget will look like.

MS in Netherlands Financial Aid

Relatively low fees and more than 400 universities and Dutch agency scholarships available to the international students make Netherlands one of the most sought after destinations to pursue higher education. The students can avail other forms of financial aids such as grants, education loans, work-study options and so on.

Scholarships for MS in Netherlands

Following are the few of the many scholarships available to international students in the Netherlands. Some of these are tabulated beow:

For more scholarships in Netherlands, click here. 

Loans for International Students

International and domestic students also have the option of funding their studies as Dutch universities offer interest-free loans. Funding helps the student cover the entire tuition fees. You can apply for education loans through Collegegeldkrediet. The loans are completely interest-free. The eligibility criteria for availing the loan is:

• Work for 56 hours per month.
• Under the age of 30 years.
• Have BSN (social security number)
• Have DigiD account.

MS in Netherlands Job Opportunities

Netherlands is an attractive study abroad destination because of its 96% employment rate. Almost, 84% of the international students get placed before the completion of their degree in the Netherlands. The salary range depends upon level of education and field of study and pursuing M.sc in the field of engineering or technology may help you earn up to 75,000 USD.

In the Netherlands, employees are subjected to 9% increment every 15 months. A master’s degree will help you earn 29% more than a bachelor’s degree. Your salary package depends on the specialization or the course pursued within the masters level of degree.

Following table provides a list of high paying jobs in the Netherlands after MS degree

A salary trend report suggests that there has been an increase of 4% of the average annual salaries in Netherlands from 2016-17, a further rise of 3% is observed from 17-18. Similarly another 3% rise has been observed over 2018-19 in the average salaries offered in the Netherlands. 

Wrapping it up, MS in the Netherlands is a 1-3 years of course costing 50,000 – 170,000 depending upon various factors such as the university, location, standard of living and so on. The country is culturally tolerant, welcoming almost 122,000 students from around the globe. On completion of the degree, the salary range will be around 70,000 – 96000 USD, which makes the Netherlands an attractive destination to pursue your master’s.

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