Since it is popular for providing low-cost, high-quality education, it is the dream of many to study in the Netherlands. Many international students wish to pursue MSc or MBA in the Netherlands, so after referring to this article to find the deadline for your preferred university, it is always advisable to double check with the university’s official page. It is also recommended that students apply much before the deadline in order to secure adequate funding in Netherlands universities through scholarships.

Application Process for Universities in Netherlands

The Netherlands follows a centralized admission process, but the deadlines may be slightly different for the different levels of programs available.

In the Netherlands, Associate & Bachelor courses are known as first-cycle programs, Masters courses as second-cycle programs, and PDEng and PhD courses as third-cycle programs.

For first-cycle programs, it is very important to keep in mind the following application deadlines:

  • Numerus Fixus programs: 15 January 2021
  • Research University programs: 1 April 2021
  • University of Applied Sciences programs: May or August 2021

Different universities may have deadlines earlier or later than the above mentioned dates, but not with much deviation. Typically, the academic year starts in September, so the admission cycle ends before that.

There are mainly four types of higher education institutions in the Netherlands:

  • Research University
  • University of Applied Sciences
  • Institutes for International Education
  • University Colleges

The application deadlines for each are given in alphabetical order in separate tables below.

Application Deadlines for Research Universities in the Netherlands

University Degree Intake Application Deadline Application Fee
Delft University of Technology Bachelors September 1 April 2021 N/A
Masters
Post masters 1 June
Eindhoven University of Technology Bachelors, Masters September 1 May 2021 INR 8,837
Erasmus University Rotterdam Bachelors September 1 May 2021 N/A
Masters September 1 May 2021 INR 8,837

Leiden University
Bachelors September 1 April 2021 INR 8,837
Masters September 1 April 2021 INR 8,837
February 15 October 2021
Maastricht University Bachelors September 1 April 2021 INR 8,837
Masters September 1 May 2021 INR 8,837
Nyenrode Business Universiteit Bachelors August 1 February 2021 N/A
Masters N/A INR 11,046
Radboud University Nijmegen Bachelors, Masters September 1 April 2021 INR 6,628
The Protestant Theological University Masters, PhD N/A 1 May 2021 N/A
TIAS School for Business and Society Masters N/A N/A INR 8,837
MBA September 1 July 2021 INR 8,837
Tilburg University Bachelors, Masters September 1 May 2021 Free
University of Amsterdam Bachelors, Masters September 1 April 2021 INR 8,837
University of Groningen Bachelors, Masters September 1 April 2021 N/A
University of Humanistic Studies Bachelors, Masters, PhD September 1 April 2021 N/A

University of Twente
Bachelors September 1 May 2021 N/A
Masters September 1 May 2021 Only for some programs
February 1 October 2021
Utrecht University Bachelors, Masters September Varies for programs INR 8,837
VU Amsterdam Bachelors, Masters September 1 April 2021 INR 8,837

Wageningen University and Research Centre
Bachelors September 1 May 2021 N/A
Masters September 15 April 2021 N/A
February 15 September 2021

Application Deadlines for Universities of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands

University Degree Intake Application Deadline
Aeres University of Applied Sciences Bachelors, Masters September 1 May 2021
Amsterdam School of the Arts Bachelors, Masters N/A N/A
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Bachelors N/A 1 May 2021
ArtEZ Institute of the Arts Associate, Bachelors, Masters September 1 May 2021
Avans Hogeschool, University of Applied Sciences Bachelors, Masters September 1 June 2021
Breda University of Applied Sciences Bachelors September 1 May 2021
Masters September 1 June 2021
Business School Netherlands MBA September N/A
Codarts, University for the Arts Bachelors N/A 28 February 2021
Design Academy Eindhoven Bachelors, Masters Admissions ongoing
Fontys University of Applied Sciences Bachelors, Masters September 1 April 2021
HAN University of Applied Sciences Bachelors September 1 June 2021
Masters September 1 May/1June 2021
Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen Bachelors, Masters September 1 May 2021
HZ University of Applied Sciences Bachelors September 15 June 2021
Masters 1 June 2021
Hotelschool The Hague Bachelors August 1 May 2021
MBA 15 June 2021
Inholland University of Applied Sciences Bachelors N/A 1 May 2021
Netherlands Business Academy MBA September N/A

New Business School Amsterdam
Bachelors, Masters September 1 April 2021
MBA 1 June 2021
Rotterdam University, University of Applied Sciences Bachelors, Masters September 1 May 2021
Saxion University of Applied Sciences Bachelors, Masters September 1 June 2021
The Hague University of Applied Sciences Bachelors, Masters September 1 May 2021
TIO University of Applied Sciences Bachelors, Masters September 1 July 2021
University of Applied Sciences Leiden Bachelors, Masters September 1 April 2021
University of the Arts, The Hague Bachelors, Masters September 1 June 2021
Webster University, University of Applied Sciences Bachelors. Masters N/A N/A

In the case of both research Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences, please note that all Numerus Fixus programs have 15 January as the deadline.

Application Deadlines for Institutes for International Education in the Netherlands

University Degree Intake Application Deadline Application Fee
Maastricht School of Management MBA September 15 July 2021 INR 8,395
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) Masters N/A 17 March 2021 Free
Tyndale Theological Seminary Masters June 1 February 2021 N/A
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education Masters, PhD Year-round intakes Free

Application for University Colleges in the Netherlands

University Colleges accept students into Bachelors courses, mostly in Liberal Arts and Sciences.

University Intake Application Deadline
Amsterdam University College September 1 February 2021
Erasmus University College September 1 May 2021
University College Fryslân September 1 May 2021
Leiden University College, The Hague September 1 April 2021
University College Groningen September 15 January 2021
University College Maastricht February 2021 1 July 2020
September 2021 1 October 2020
University College Roosevelt Fall 1 April 2021
Spring 1 October 2021
University College Tilburg September 1 May 2021
University College Twente September 1 May 2021
University College Utrecht September 1 February 2021

While some universities in the Netherlands may have their own admission portals, most applications are done through a centralized process, i.e through Studielink.nl. For this reason, the admission deadlines of Netherlands universities do not show too much variation between institutions.