Why is Amsterdam Popular with International Students?

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, it is a city of culture and art with the most diverse population in Europe. It is a city of windmills and flowers which will create a high wind velocity to boost your career and fill the fragrance in your life as the country is known for its innovative education methods. Amsterdam is centrally located in Europe which makes it easy to travel. Living and learning in a multicultural city would be beneficial for students in the learning stage of their life. Diversity over language leads to the popularity of the English language, this would help international students to communicate with locals and to read and understand signboards. There are lots of multi-cuisine restaurants and shopping centres, which means you won't miss your home food.

Companies also appreciate the Dutch working environment- open-minded people, multicultural, business oriented, labour market, and stable economy of the Netherlands. This means students will get more opportunities in terms of company for internships and jobs. Amsterdam offers high-quality education, Dutch education system has highly reputed Universities for various streams from fashion to technologies. The academics of dutch institutions are globally recognized. Most institutes not only emphasise academics but other skills like verbal and written communication. 

Want to study in Amsterdam?

The first step is to know your interest and apply to the respective Universities. Netherland has reputed Institutes offering various diploma, undergraduate, master's, and PhDs level courses. The one-third population of the Netherlands is proficient in English which makes Life of University students much easier to communicate. Students won't feel the language is a barrier to studies, unlike in some countries.

Various scholarship programs are designed for international students to pursue education in their desired courses.EU students have fewer tuition fees in comparison with other non-EU students.The average tuition fee for an undergraduate program is around two thousand to three thousand euros and for a master's program is from eight thousand to fifteen thousand per year.

Some common scholarships Program

• Erasmus University Holland Scholarship.
• L-EARN Impact Scholarship.
• University of Twente Scholarships (UTS).
• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships for excellent International students.
• Radboud Excellence Scholarships for International students.
• Holland Scholarships for Non-EEA International students (amount is up to 5000 euros per year).
• Netherland fellowship Programs for students coming from developing countries.
• Some collaborating Universities also offer scholarships for engineering students based on merit criteria.

One can get two degrees at a cost of one: state regulation says if you have paid the statutory tuition fee for your first enrollment in any undergraduate or master's program, and wish to enrol for a second in any other program at the same time, then you will be exempted from paying the fee for the second. 

Dutch Universities also offer many elective courses without paying any extra fees.

A new policy also states that a student from an EU/EEA country can start their course in any public University by paying only half the amount of the tuition fee for the first year of the course (in the 2021-2022 batch).Fee discount also applied in master's degree for the batch stated in 2019-2019 or later.

Some benefits of studying and living in Amsterdam

• The city is full of culture and historic arts as well as modern art galleries, City has world-renowned museums, galleries, annual festivals, historic markets, etc.
• Mobility within the city would be easier as travel signboards and the system is bilingual in English and dutch.
• Companies welcome international students and post-study visas allow students to stay and find work in the Netherlands even after they graduate.
• Locals have a liberal mindset with a friendly attitude which will make you feel comfortable.
• Amsterdam is one of the safest cities in the world and ranks number 1 in Europe.
• It has low crime rates and is a peaceful place to live.

Visa

• One will not require a Visa if they are from the EU/EEA or countries like Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Vatican City. Students from other countries will need a Visa, which will depend upon the duration of stay/studies.
• A short Visa or Schengen Visa is required if someone plans to stay for 90 days or less.
• An entry visa (MVV) and a residence permit (VVR) are required if someone plans to stay for more than 90 days.

Details for Visa

Your University should start the initial stage of the application and if delayed contact your respective Universities. After the application is approved, one can apply to the local embassy in your country. It will take around 3 months to collect the MVV. Usually, the processing time for a Visa is 1 month but it depends upon other factors like your nationality, etc.

Language

A minimum level of English will be sufficient for you to enter the Netherlands. The main accepted English tests are: IELTS Academic, TOEFL ibt, PTE Academics, etc.

Documents Required for Dutch study visa

• Completed Visa form.
• Valid passport.
• Two recent photographs.
• Birth certificate.
• Academic transcripts.
• Official letters from institutes.
• Financial proof for the entire period of the course.
• Travel and health insurance.
• Visa application fee (174 euros).
• Biometric Information.
• Other required Original documents.

By Mithila Rathod

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