Netherlands guide 路 verified 2026-07-04
How to Apply to Universities in Netherlands, Step by Step
Applying to universities
Every applicant, Dutch or international, applies through Studielink, the national portal, then the university itself follows up for programme-specific documents. Numerus fixus programmes run on a hard mid-January deadline; open-admission programmes should still be filed early because of visa lead time and the housing crunch.
Create a Studielink account and choose your programmes
MandatoryRegister on Studielink (international applicants typically start the process without DigiD and verify identity separately, e.g. via document upload). You may apply to up to 4 programmes per academic year, of which at most 2 can be numerus fixus. Studielink is the single national gateway used by every Dutch WO and HBO institution.
Respond to the university's own admissions requests
MandatoryAfter the Studielink application, the university contacts you directly for programme-specific items: transcripts, a motivation letter, a CV, reference letters, portfolio (for creative/design programmes), or standardised test scores. Typical document set for Indian applicants: 10th & 12th marksheets/certificates, Bachelor's transcripts and degree certificate (for Masters), English test score, CV, statement of purpose, and (if requested) a Nuffic/IDW credential evaluation.
You get: A completed application file with the university, in addition to the Studielink registration.Meet the right deadline for your programme type
ConditionalNumerus fixus programmes: submit in Studielink by 15 January; selection runs roughly mid-January to mid-April; ranking numbers are published around 15 April, and an offered place must usually be accepted within two weeks. Open-admission programmes: no hard national deadline, but apply as early as possible, realistically several months before a September intake, because non-EU applicants also need time for the MVV/residence-permit process and for finding housing, which is the actual bottleneck most years.
When: Numerus fixus: by 15 January. Others: as early as possible, ideally months before intake.Accept the offer and hand over visa-relevant documents
MandatoryOnce admitted, confirm your enrolment and provide the university (as your future IND-recognised sponsor) with the documents it needs to file your MVV and residence-permit application, passport copy, admission proof, and proof you meet the income requirement (see Finances). The university cannot start the IND filing until you've supplied these.
You get: Enrolment confirmed and the sponsor has what it needs to start your visa filing.
Numerus fixus programmes are unforgiving about 15 January, there is no late window. Open-admission programmes have no fixed national deadline, but Indian students should still apply early because visa processing (IND) and finding housing both take months and run in parallel, not after enrolment.
Where this fits
This is one step of the full Netherlands journey: admission, tests, application, visa, money, arrival and stay-back, every figure cited to an official source.
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Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This page is information, not immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm the current requirement on the official source before acting on it.