Netherlands guide · Cost · 3 min read
Cost to study in the Netherlands from Nepal, and the housing problem nobody budgets for.
Non-EU students in the Netherlands pay tuition of about €9,000 to €20,000 a year on our shortlists. The IND asks you to show €1,130.77 a month for higher education (1 July to 31 December 2026), and the permit costs €254 through your university. Year 1 costs about Rs 39.1 to Rs 58 lakh. The hardest cost isn't on any form: rooms are scarce, and many students pay more than they planned, or start the year without one.
The short version
- Year 1: about Rs 39.1 to Rs 58 lakh.
- Tuition on our shortlists: €9,000 to €20,000 a year; applied sciences often at the lower end.
- Funds: €1,130.77 a month (about Rs 23.3 lakh a year); permit €254, paid through the university.
- A room: about €500 to €900 a month, and hard to find in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Delft and Leiden.
- Work: 16 hours a week with an employer's permit, or full-time in summer; after graduating, the orientation year.
Year 1, in rupees
At Rs 171.38 per EUR (18 Oct 2026):
| Item | EUR | Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (our shortlists) | 9,000 to 20,000 | about Rs 15.4 to 34.3 lakh |
| Living funds, 12 months at €1,130.77 | 13,569 | about Rs 23.3 lakh |
| Residence permit (through the university) | 254 | about Rs 43,500 |
| Year 1 | about Rs 39.1 to Rs 58 lakh plus flight and insurance |
Rent, city by city
What our students report for a room in 2026:
| City | Room a month | How hard to find |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | €750 to €1,100 | Very hard |
| Utrecht, Leiden, Delft | €650 to €950 | Very hard |
| Rotterdam, The Hague | €600 to €900 | Hard |
| Groningen, Enschede, Nijmegen, Maastricht, Tilburg | €450 to €700 | Easier |
The housing plan
- Apply for university housing on admission day. Many universities reserve some rooms for international students, first come, first served.
- Use known platforms and never pay before a viewing or a signed contract. Rental scams target international students every summer.
- Have a backup: a short-term room for the first weeks, so you can view rooms in person.
- Budget the deposit: often one to two months’ rent.
What work covers
| Period | Hours |
|---|---|
| Term | Up to 16 hours a week, with the employer’s work permit |
| June to August | Full-time |
Our alumni report about €14.40 an hour in typical student jobs. At 16 hours a week that’s roughly €1,000 a month before tax: a real help with rent once you have a job, not a plan for tuition.
From our files. Aakash Pandey from Kathmandu showed his funds at €1,130.77 a month for his MSc in Civil Engineering in Delft and received his permit in 5 weeks, after applying before the non-EU deadline, which came months before the EU one.
After graduating
The orientation year gives up to 12 months to work in any job with no work permit. The orientation year.
