WO or HBO?
Two study approaches
Research-oriented and applied programmes differ.
Study in NL · bachelor’s routesSTUDY ABROAD / NL
Vooruit.Your next chapter.In the Netherlands.
Vooruit / Forward. An idea becomes a next step.
A library you can walk over. A project you can build on. Find your direction through Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences—with a clear view of the course, the cost and your place to live.
Guide checked · Official sources
DELFT / IN FOCUSNETHERLANDS
Choinowski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display cropped
€1,130.77
Monthly study-funding reference · 2026
Higher education; tuition is additional.
IND · required income amounts16 h / week
One employee-work option
Employer TWV required; a separate summer option exists.
IND · higher-education study permit01 / YOUR STARTING POINT
Where are you starting from?
Choose the closest match. Use it to plan your next checks, not as an admission decision.
Find your way of learning.
A research university (WO) emphasises academic inquiry. A university of applied sciences (HBO) focuses on applying knowledge professionally. Compare real modules and assessments before deciding which suits you.
Study in NL · bachelor’s routes- 01Check your school qualification and required subjects.
- 02Compare research-led study with practical projects and placements.
- 03Confirm the course language for your intake.
- 04Read selection requirements and the institution’s application deadline.
Keep in mind
Both are higher-education routes; they are not interchangeable in structure or entry requirements.
02 / THE REAL COST
A university place needs a place to live.
Compare the net tuition, a credible housing plan and the money needed before arrival.
Use your actual fee category
Many applicants from outside the EEA pay institutional tuition. The lower statutory figure on a website may not apply to you. Ask about annual increases and the cost of any extra study period.
Study in NL · tuition feesSecure accommodation early
Study in NL advises arranging housing before arrival. Ask about university allocation deadlines, tenancy conditions, deposits and what is included. Verify a landlord or provider before transferring money.
Study in NL · finding a place to liveSeparate required funds from spending
The immigration study amount is a financial-evidence threshold, not an extra bill or a personalised living budget. Housing in your chosen city may require a larger monthly allowance.
IND · required income amounts03 / MAKE THE NUMBERS YOURS
What would your first year look like?
Change the example figures to match your shortlist. See the expenses and the cash you may need to set aside.
UNIVERSITY STUDY / 12 MONTHS / EUR
Illustrative EUR plan for one year of a fee-paying programme; not a TU Delft quote. Monthly living includes rent, food, transport, insurance and routine costs. Arrival allows for travel, applications, residence charges and settling in. Replace figures with your offer and housing quote, without counting insurance or other costs twice. A pre-master’s or extra year needs its own budget.
YOUR FIRST-YEAR PICTURE
Total cash to plan for€39,300.00
- Estimated expenses
- €37,800.00
- Refundable deposit
- €1,500.00
Living costs × 12 + tuition + other fees + arrival costs. The deposit is added separately as money to set aside.
Build from funds you can rely on.
No sign-up. Your figures stay in this page.This example deducts no unawarded scholarship or income from a job you have not secured.
04 / FUNDING THE MOVE
Find the right kind of support.
Start with an affordable study plan. Then explore funding that matches your background.
NL Scholarship: a contribution
Check participating institutions, eligibility and the current application round. Treat this as partial support; build a plan for the costs it does not cover.
Check the NL ScholarshipRead the university’s own awards
Search by your programme and nationality. Ask whether an award reduces tuition or also contributes to living costs, and whether it continues for the second year.
Start with official funding guidanceCompare the net course cost
Put confirmed awards against the complete duration. An unawarded scholarship should not make an otherwise unaffordable offer your only option.
Check fee categoriesSTUDY. WORK. UPSKILL.
Work during and after your studies.
Understand the study-related options, then prepare for the next stage.
Employee work has two alternatives
With the applicable student permit and an employer-held TWV, choose up to 16 hours a week or full-time work in June, July and August. Check the exact conditions before accepting a contract.
IND · higher-education study permitThe orientation year is an application
Eligible graduates can apply for a one-year orientation permit to look for work. It is not a job offer, and the conditions for a later residence route still matter.
IND · orientation yearMake projects part of your evidence
Ask about industry projects, internships and careers support in your actual department. Learning Dutch can widen the roles and everyday conversations you can access; plan language learning alongside the degree.
Study in NL · bachelor’s routes05 / FROM INTEREST TO ACTION
A route you can work through.
Start at the step that matches where you are. Course dates and your circumstances set the pace.
- 01
Choose WO or HBO
Compare learning style and the programme you would actually take.
Study in NL · bachelor’s routes - 02
Check direct or bridge entry
Match the transcript, language evidence and deadline.
University of Twente · international degree applications - 03
Build the full-course budget
Use the correct fee category and confirmed funding.
Study in NL · tuition fees - 04
Work with the educational sponsor
Confirm the residence process and financial evidence.
IND · higher-education study permit - 05
Secure your room and arrival plan
Finish the housing arrangements before travelling.
Study in NL · finding a place to live
06 / KEEP YOUR PLAN CURRENT
Worth knowing before you apply.
Reviewed guidance and official publishers to follow as your plan develops.
PLAN YOUR ARRIVAL
Treat housing as a decision checkpoint
Make a verified housing arrangement part of accepting your study plan. The official guidance advises organising it before arrival.
Study in NL · finding a place to liveReviewed 12 September 2026CHECK EACH INTAKE
Language, selection and fees can move
Revisit the university’s current programme information before applying. Record the date and conditions of the offer you compare.
University of Twente · international degree applicationsReviewed 12 September 2026Keep an eye on what’s new
For the latest published notices, visit IND · Netherlands. Read the date, eligibility and deadline on each announcement.
The reviewed guidance above is a dated reference. New announcements do not automatically change the page’s advice.
THE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER
A little more clarity.
Useful answers to bring into your next conversation.
They form a recognised part of Dutch higher education and emphasise professional application. Compare the qualification and learning approach with a research university rather than treating the labels as a simple ranking.
Study in NL · bachelor’s routesYOUR NEXT MOVE, WITH STAAR
Turn “what if” into a first step.
Tell us where you are today. We’ll help you explore what comes next.
SOURCE NOTES
Check the detail at its source.
Reviewed 12 September 2026. Course, funding and immigration rules can change. Use the current rules for your nationality, residence and intake.
Study in NL · bachelor’s routes
Research and applied higher education.
Study in NL · tuition feesFee categories and institution-specific charges.
Study in NL · finding a place to liveHousing before arrival.
IND · higher-education study permitEducational sponsor, study progress and employee-work conditions.
IND · required income amounts2026 student living-funds requirement.
IND · orientation yearGraduate permit eligibility and duration.
University of Twente · pre-master’sOne university’s bridge-programme explanation; availability varies.
University of Twente · international degree applicationsProgramme-specific assessment and bridge entry example.
Study in NL · NL ScholarshipParticipating institutions and partial scholarship terms.