Best 30 Post-initial Master Universities in the Netherlands

There are 30 publicly funded universities in the Netherlands with post-initial master programmes on the CROHO register — research universities (WO) and universities of applied sciences (HBO). Between them they run 144 registered programmes.

Delft University of Technology

Location Delft, Zuid-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 1
QS World Ranking #47

University of Amsterdam

Location Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 14
QS World Ranking #55

Utrecht University

Location Utrecht
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 2
QS World Ranking #103

Leiden University

Location Leiden, Zuid-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 12
QS World Ranking #119

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Location Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 18
QS World Ranking #140

University of Groningen

Location Groningen
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 5
QS World Ranking #147

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Location Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 14
QS World Ranking #194

University of Twente

Location Enschede, Overijssel
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 4
QS World Ranking #203

Maastricht University

Location Maastricht, Limburg
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 12
QS World Ranking #239

Radboud University

Location Nijmegen, Gelderland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 5
QS World Ranking #279

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

Location Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland
Institution type University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes 2
Enrolments (2025) 37,473

NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

Location Leeuwarden, Friesland
Institution type University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes 1
Enrolments (2025) 22,033

Frequently asked questions

How many universities in the Netherlands offer Post-initial Master?

30 of the Netherlands' 54 publicly funded universities have post-initial master programmes on CROHO, the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes. That count covers both research universities (WO) and universities of applied sciences (HBO).

How is this ranking put together?

Order comes from a published-figures-only composite: QS World position, breadth of recognised programmes, share of programmes taught in English and scale by DUO enrolments. No university pays for placement, and no judgement of teaching quality is invented.