For international students the average tuition fee for bachelor’s programmes is between €6,000 and €15,000, and for a master’s programme between €8,000 and €20,000. Visit the Studyfinder database set up by Nuffic (the national organization that deals with education in Netherlands) which will help you find courses that fit your bill both monetarily as well as vocation wise.
Cost of living
Your daily expenses include food, public transport, books, clothes, and cinema tickets. But you also need to take into account the costs for housing and insurance. It has been determined empirically that students living and studying in Netherlands for one year spend between €800 and €1,100 a month.
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Cost of residing/ accomodation in Netherlands:
Netherlands does not have On-campus hostels. An average room in Netherlands costs somewhere between € 400 to € 600 a month. Please note that rooms in a Student Hostel are more expensive. Before you accept a room, please check which bills (e.g. gas, electricity, internet, TV) are included in your rent. Make sure you read your rental contract carefully before signing it. Please note that rental contracts with a minimum duration or a set period of time are legally not allowed. Also, we advise you not to pay your rent in cash unless your housing provider issues proof of payment. A number of university towns have a Rent Team (Huurteam) that assists tenants in negotiating with their landlords regarding rent. The Dutch Student Union (Landelijke Studentenvakbond, LSVb) operates a student helpline that also provides free legal advice.
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Cost spent on food in Netherlands:
Food can make up one third of your total expenses while living in Netherlands. Fortunately, most higher education institutions offer hot meals at reasonable prices. Many cities have pubs (eetcafés) where you can get a good meal at a good price. But the cheapest way to eat is to do your own cooking. Some average prices: a cup of coffee/tea in a café: €2, a cheese sandwich: €3, dinner in a typical student restaurant: €10.
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Cost spent on travelling in Netherlands:
Travelling in the Netherlands can be quite taxing. You can get around town easily on a bicycle, as the Dutch use this mode of transportation a lot. There are very good facilities for riding a bicycle around the city, plus its one of the cheapest options to get around. Bus tickets cost around €2 for a single fare in the city. You can consider buying a discount card for train tickets, which gives you 40% reduction in off-peak times.
International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
For international students, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can provide some interesting discounts and offers on travel, shopping, museums and more, worldwide. Many bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas give student discounts. Most of these ask for proof in the form of a student card from your institution. You should check in advance if a student discount is available.
Insurance
The following two companies offer special insurance for international students: IPS and AON Students Insurance. If you are going to study and work in Netherlands (Part time) , then you are obliged to take out Dutch public healthcare insurance (zorgverzekering), you are free to buy insurance from any Dutch public healthcare insurance company. Ask your school, employer or internship provider if they can refer you to an insurance company that will give you a discount. Dutch public healthcare insurance only covers your medical expenses. You will need to take out a separate repatriation insurance and liability insurance. Basic health insurance can cost upto 100 euros per month.
Income Tax:
You are required to pay tax over your total Dutch income for the year. Scholarships may also be counted as income and added to the total. For more information on income tax, you can check with your employer or directly with the Dutch Tax Office.
Bank deposit required for visa:
You are required to have sufficient money to support yourself in Netherlands in your bank account as a visa requirement. The amount for 2019 was almost 882 Euros for every month that you are going to spend in the Netherlands.
