18 Best Universities for MS in Netherlands for International Students 2026

When choosing the Netherlands for Master’s degree, mainly look at post-study work options, job opportunities, long-term immigration scope, and return on investment in your sector.

Here is a detailed explanation of why pursuing an MS in the Netherlands is a smart choice:

• One-Year Post-Study Work Visa (Orientation Year): The Netherlands allows international graduates to stay back for up to 1 year after completing their Master’s under the Orientation Year visa to search for a job. Students can work full-time and apply for a long-term work permit once they secure employment during this period.
• Clear Work Permit and PR Pathway: If a company hires you during the orientation year, it can sponsor a work permit without complex lottery systems. After 5 years of studying and/or working in the Netherlands, graduates can apply for permanent residency.
• Strong Job Opportunities in High-Demand Fields: According to employment data, around 45% of non-EU engineering graduates and nearly 40% of business graduates stay and work in the Netherlands for over five years. Students have better chances of getting jobs if they choose in-demand courses like CS, Data Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Consulting, and Healthcare.
• Affordable Education with High ROI: The total cost of studying for an MS in the Netherlands is around ₹30-40 lakh, including tuition and living expenses for 1.5-2 years, while average monthly salaries range from €2,500-€3,500 (₹2.64-₹3.70 lakh). This means many graduates recover 60-80% of their total study cost within the first year.

Delft University of Technology and the University of Amsterdam are among the highest-ranked, while in total, 13 Dutch universities appear in the QS World University Rankings.

Below is a table of the 10 top universities in the Netherlands for MS:

Let's explore each one in detail:

Delft University of Technology

TU Delft, one of the top universities for MS in Netherlands, has an acceptance rate of 55% and has over 26,000 students. About 25% are international, and 1,912 first-year Master’s students enrolled in 2025. The university ranks #1 for Climate Action & Affordable & Clean Energy and #2 for Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure in THE Impact Rankings.

• Popular MS Programs: Engineering, Technology, and Applied Sciences
• Average Tuition Fee: €12k-€95k per year (₹12.7L-₹1.5 Cr)
• Application Deadline: Fall, January 15, 2026
• Useful Link: https://www.tudelft.nl/

The University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam has over 44,000 students. About 5,100 are international from over 100 nationalities, making up roughly 12% of the student body, with a student-to-faculty ratio of ~27.5:1. Top recruiting companies include Deloitte, Rabobank, ING, EY, and Adyen, and the university has an annual budget of €850 million.

• Popular MS Programs: Business, Economics, Law, Social Sciences, and Data Science
• Average Tuition Fee: €3k-€61k per year (₹3.2-₹64.5 L)
• Application Deadline: Fall, January 15, 2026
• Useful Link: https://www.uva.nl/

Utrecht University

Utrecht University is ranked among the top 15 in Europe, 1st nationally according to CWUR 2025, and it is also a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU). It has around 30,000 students, with 15% international students from over 110 countries. The acceptance rate is approximately 14%.

• Popular MS Programs: 100 programs across Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Business, Law, and Data Science
• Average Tuition Fee: €19k-€59k per year (₹20.1-₹62.4 L)
• Application Deadline: Fall, February 1, 2026
• Useful Link:https://www.uu.nl/

Leiden University

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and has 33,839 students with 6,413 staff members. There are 83 students enrolled in Master’s programs, and the university has a total budget of €974 million. Leiden University has produced 16 Nobel Prize winners till now.

• Popular MS Programs: 67 programs across Law, Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, and Business
• Average Tuition Fee: €20k-€65k per year (₹21.2-₹68.7 L)
• Application Deadline: Spring, February 1, 2026
• Useful Link: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/

Eindhoven University of Technology

Eindhoven University of Technology has around 13,450 students, including approximately 4,900 Master’s students, with 37% international students from over 100 nationalities. The university employs about 4,000 staff members (38.5% international). 88% of graduates find jobs within six months, which makes it one of the best universities in the Netherlands for MS.

• Popular MS Programs: 28 programs across Engineering, Technology, and Applied Sciences
• Average Tuition Fee: €35k-€65k per year (₹37.0-₹68.7 L)
• Application Deadline: Fall, January 15, 2026
• Useful Link:https://www.tue.nl/

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam has around 28,000 students and 3,207 academic staff. The university 81.8% international faculty/research network ratio. Erasmus University Rotterdam is one of the top 10 universities in the Netherlands for MS because it has over 250 senior researchers, 35 research centers, and 150 international partners.

• Popular MS Programs: Business, Economics, Social Sciences, Law, and Data Science
• Average Tuition Fee: €15k-€143k per year (₹15.9-₹151.2 L)
• Application Deadline: Winter, January 1, 2026
• Useful Link:https://www.eur.nl/

University of Groningen

The University of Groningen has over 50,000 students, and about 75% are international students. The acceptance rate is around 50%. Its business and economics programs are highly ranked, like #31 in Business Administration (Shanghai 2024), #40 in Economics & Business (US News 2025), and #56 in Business & Economics (THE 2025).

• Popular MS Programs: Business, Economics, Social Sciences, Science, and Law
• Average Tuition Fee: €14k-€59k per year (₹14.8-₹62.4 L)
• Application Deadline: Spring, February 1, 2026
• Useful Link: https://www.rug.nl/

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research has around 12,407 students (excluding PhDs), with about 31% international students. The university is highly ranked in its fields: #1 in Agricultural Sciences, #4 in Plant Science, and #8 in Environmental Sciences.

• Popular MS Programs: Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Science, Life Sciences, and Food Technology
• Average Tuition Fee: €20k-€50k per year (₹21.2-₹52.9 L)
• Application Deadline: Spring, February 1, 2026
• Useful Link:https://www.wur.nl/

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has 31,761 students, including 12,025 Master’s students, with around 5,896 international students (20% of the total). The student-to-staff ratio is approximately 15.8:1. The university ranks 16th in Europe and 2nd in the Netherlands for the top 10% scientific publications indicator.

• Popular MS Programs: 44 programs across Business, Social Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Health
• Average Tuition Fee: €17k-€79k per year (₹18.0-₹83.5 L)
• Application Deadline: Fall, February 1, 2026
• Useful Link:https://www.vu.nl/

University of Twente

The University of Twente has over 10,000-12,000 students across UG and PG programs, supported by 3,000+ staff members. The university’s motto is High Tech, Human Touch, which shows its focus on technology and society. It is affiliated with the 4TU federation along with TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, and Wageningen University.

• Popular MS Programs: 33 programs across Engineering, Technology, Business, and Social Sciences
• Average Tuition Fee: €12k-€51k per year (₹12.7-₹53.9 L)
• Application Deadline: Spring, February 1, 2026
• Useful Link: https://www.utwente.nl/

In the Netherlands, Engineering and Data/Tech-related MS specialisations offer the strongest career outcomes for international students.

Below are the top 10 MS specialisations in the Netherlands, along with what you study and the career opportunities linked to each field:

Top universities in the Netherlands for MS offer 1-2 year English-taught programs mainly focusing on research, projects, internships, and thesis work, all structured under the ECTS credit system.

Below is a simple overview of how MS courses in the Netherlands are structured:

To study an MS at top universities in the Netherlands, students mainly need a relevant bachelor’s degree and proof of English proficiency. Once these basics are met, universities review entrance exams and supporting documents.

Eligibility

Top universities for MS in the Netherlands expect students to meet clear academic and program-specific requirements, such as:

• Academic Qualification: A recognised 3 to 4-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 60-75% (or equivalent GPA).
• Subject Relevance: Your bachelor’s degree must closely match the chosen MS specialisation (for example, Engineering for MS in Engineering or IT for Computer Science).
• Work Experience: Not mandatory, but 1 to 2 years of experience is helpful for fields like Business Analytics, Management, or MBA-type programs.
• Pre-Master’s Requirement (if applicable): Some research universities in the Netherlands might ask students from non-EU countries to complete a pre-master’s programme if the academic background does not fully match the MS curriculum.

Entrance Exams

Most universities offering an MS in the Netherlands do not make entrance exams compulsory, but here is what would make your profile stand out:

• GRE: 300 to 320 can be helpful for STEM, engineering, or research-based programs, mainly at technical universities like TU Delft or TU Eindhoven.
• GMAT: 550-680 preferred for MBA, Business Analytics, and Management programs.

English Language Requirements

Universities in the Netherlands require proof of English proficiency to make sure students can understand coursework taught in English.

• IELTS: 6.5-7.0
• TOEFL iBT: 79-100
• PTE Academic: 58-65

Documents Required

Universities in the Netherlands ask for a clear set of documents to check your academic background and to support the student visa process.

• Academic Transcripts & Degree Certificate: Official mark sheets and bachelor’s degree certificate from a recognised university.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP): A short and clear write-up explaining your academic background, why you chose the MS program, and your career plans.
• LOR: Usually 1-2 letters from professors or employers who can explain your academic or professional strengths.
• Resume: A simple overview of your education, projects, internships, research work, and job experience (if any).
• Passport Copy: A valid passport for identity verification and visa processing.
• Proof of Funds: Many Dutch universities ask for financial proof to meet IND (Dutch Immigration) visa requirements.

Tuition fees at universities for Master’s in the Netherlands differ from program to program; for some it is as low as $11k per year (₹11.6 L), and for some it is even $143k per year (₹1.51 Cr).

Here is an overview of tuition fee ranges and the number of universities in each range:

Indian students aiming to study in the Netherlands mainly apply for scholarships like the Holland Scholarship and the Erasmus Mundus, as they offer tuition fee waivers and living expense support.

Below are the top scholarships in the Netherlands, along with their eligibility criteria and benefits:

When choosing a university in the Netherlands for an MS, focus on post-study work outcomes and how closely the program is linked to high-demand Dutch and EU job markets, rather than just rankings.

Here are the key factors to consider when finalising a university in the Netherlands:

• Industry & Applied Research Integration: Dutch employers prefer graduates with project-based and applied research exposure. So, select universities which focus on industry-sponsored projects, real company case studies, or applied research labs.
• Orientation Year (Post-Study Work) Job Conversion Rate: Some universities help students get jobs faster during the 1-year stay-back period. Universities like TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, and the University of Amsterdam usually have better job outcomes.
• Acceptance of 15 Years of Education & IELTS Waivers: Many Dutch universities accept 15 years of Indian education and might as well waive IELTS if your previous degree was taught in English.
• Employer Sponsorship Track Record: In the Netherlands, staying back long-term depends on employer-sponsored work permits, not lotteries. Universities with strong alumni presence in Dutch MNCs, tech firms, and EU startups make it easier to secure sponsorship during or after the orientation year.

Choosing the right university in the Netherlands can feel confusing because many universities look equally good on paper. Students often struggle to compare tuition fees, job outcomes, and visa benefits across different MS programs. Starting early, shortlisting realistically, and understanding stay-back and job prospects can make this decision much easier.

This is where Yocket Premium can quietly make a difference. With expert shortlisting, profile evaluation, and visa guidance, students get clear direction instead of guessing. From university selection to admissions and post-study planning, Yocket helps you move step by step with confidence.