Almost every application to a Dutch university or university of applied sciences goes through one tool, Studielink. The tricky part is not the tool. It is knowing which deadline applies to you, and that the institution, not Studielink, decides whether you get in.

Step 1: find the programme and read the institution's page

Start in the Study in NL Studyfinder, then go to the programme's own page at the institution. That page tells you how to apply, and it matters, because How to apply on Study in NL warns that some institutions use a different method for students from abroad. Check this before you create anything.

This site lists the 0 programmes recognised in the DUO register. Use it to build a shortlist, then confirm every detail on the institution's own page.

Step 2: register in Studielink

Studielink is the official registration and application portal for Dutch higher education. Study in NL points to the Studielink website for step-by-step instructions on creating an account, adding your previous education and submitting an application. If you get stuck, the institution you want to study at will help, even if you have not applied yet.

The deadlines

  • 15 January for a numerus fixus programme (fixed number of places).
  • 1 May for all other programmes.

Study in NL describes these as general deadlines and says to check the exact date with your institution, because it can vary by institution and by programme. If you are from outside the EEA you need time for a residence permit, so do not leave it to the last day. Scholarship deadlines often come much earlier (see our scholarships guide).

What the institution looks at

The admission requirements are set by the institution and can differ between programmes of the same university. Study in NL names three usual ones: a qualification at the right level, an English test for English-taught programmes, and sometimes a selection procedure.

On your qualification: the institution checks your diploma with Nuffic. Doing it that way costs you nothing, while ordering your own written evaluation does cost money. The institution makes the final decision.

On English: Study in NL lists Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency), IELTS, LanguageCert, Pearson, TOEFL iBT and TOEIC as generally accepted. The score is set by the programme, so look it up there.

Fees at the application stage

Some institutions charge non-EEA students, or students with no earlier Dutch education, an application or handling fee. According to Study in NL’s tuition page these fees range from €75 to €100, vary by institution, and some institutions refund the fee when you actually enrol.

After you are accepted

The institution sends you a notification of acceptance. If you need a residence permit, your host institution contacts you to start the application, since only the institution can apply for it. Our guide to the student residence permit covers that step.

A short checklist

  1. Confirm on the programme page that it exists in your language of instruction and your intake.
  2. Check whether it is numerus fixus. If it is, your deadline is 15 January.
  3. Check your diploma level and your English test requirement.
  4. Register in Studielink, or in whatever system the institution tells you to use.
  5. Ask the institution about housing at the same time, not later.

Sources

Opened and checked on 5 October 2026. Figures that change from year to year are marked "as of October 2026"; check the source before you rely on them.