Affordable and Cheap Universities in Netherlands
Studying abroad is a dream to many, however, the budget constraints often crush these fantasies. Netherlands is one such country which offers very affordable education for their international. In this article, we have provided the list of the top 5 affordable and cheap universities in Netherlands, and some scholarships offered to study in the Netherlands.

Study in the Netherlands: Studying in the Netherlands is a good option for Indian students. Masters in the Netherlands is affordable as the universities charge low tuition fees compared to some of the developed countries in Europe. Students can find some of the best scholarship programs in the Netherlands through which they can easily waive their tuition fees. One of the developing study abroad destinations among international students – the Netherlands has grown to offer students state-of-the-art universities coupled with the latest amenities across a multitude of courses available among the top universities in the country. Move over to the top universities in the Netherlands, today we are going to be talking about the cheap and affordable universities in the Netherlands.
Study abroad enthusiasts can relate to the fact that studying abroad can get expensive. Especially when you need to convert your Indian rupees to foreign currency, to pay for university tuition as well as living costs given the current exchange rates (ouch!). Hence, in this article, we are going to be providing our readers with a list of the most affordable and cheap universities in the Netherlands for admission to the next academic year.
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Candidates should note that the Universities mentioned below would have a comparatively cheaper tuition fee as compared to other universities in the Netherlands without compromising on the quality of the education. Living costs would depend entirely on the lifestyle of the candidate and preference for accommodation. Scholarships to the Netherlands and applying for Education Loans to the Netherlands are other alternative ways to bring down tuition costs for studying abroad.
- List of Cheap Universities in the Netherlands
- Cost of Living in the Netherlands for International Students
- Scholarships for Studying in the Netherlands
List of Cheap Universities in the Netherlands
As mentioned earlier, we will discuss the top affordable universities in the Netherlands. Here is the list of cheap universities in Netherlands below.
- HZ University of Applied Sciences (HZ)
- Nijmegen School of Management (NSM)
- HAS University of Applied Sciences
- Breda University of Applied Sciences
- HAN University of Applied Sciences (HAN)
To understand how these options compare to those in Germany, check our Study in Netherlands vs Germany analysis.
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HZ University of Applied Sciences
Established in 1987, HZ University of Applied Sciences is a public university of applied science for vocational courses. The university features among the top multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences in the country. The HZ University of Applied Sciences has several colleges that have their own study programmes. Candidates looking to study at a cheap and affordable university in the Netherlands can definitely take a look at the courses available at the university.
Nijmegen School of Management (NSM)
Founded in 1988, Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) is another afforable university in Netherlands. This institution has five academic departments which offer five undergraduate and 35 postgraduate programs. Each department is focused on subject areas, including economics, business administration, business economics, geography, planning and environment, political science, and public administration. Candidates looking for affordable universities can check out the popular courses of the university, here. The Nijmegen School of Management (RU - NSM) is a constituent of Radboud University, which the government runs.
HAS University of Applied Sciences
Established in 1947, HAS University of Applied Sciences is a premier, non-profit educational institution and expertise centre that offers bachelor’s, master’s, and minor courses in applied sciences. The HAS University of Applied Sciences is a coeducational and international student-friendly institute. Considered to be a prominent educational institute of repute in the southern Netherlands in the agri-food and environment disciplines, the university offers future-focused and industry-oriented courses. Check out HAS University of Applied Sciences Courses.
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Breda University of Applied Sciences
Established in 1966, Breda University of Applied Sciences is one of the most affordable universities in the Netherlands. It also cheaper on the pocket because it is a public university and secondly, it offers vocational courses. Breda University of Applied Sciences has five schools for study including Academy for Digital Entertainment (ADE), Academy for Leisure (AfL), Academy for Tourism (AvT), Academy of Hotel and Facility Management (HFM), Academy for Urban Development, and Logistics and Mobility (AUDLM). Candidates looking for affordable universities in the Netherlands can consider applying here. They can also check out its affordable courses at Breda University of Applied Sciences courses.
HAN University of Applied Sciences (HAN)
Established in 1996, the HAN University of Applied Sciences is the cheapest university in Netherlands. It is considered affordable despite being a research-oriented institution offering high-quality education in a wide range of disciplines. HAN University is located in Arnhem and Nijmegen. Both campuses offer modern yet student friencly facilities such as spacious study centres, multimedia centres, contemporary lecture halls, hi-tech laboratories, IT facilities, and various community gathering spaces. Check out a list of popular courses at this affordable university in the Netherlands, here.
Check: Top 12 Reasons to Study in Netherlands
Cost of Living in the Netherlands for International Students
The cost of studying abroad makes up the lion’s share of the expenses incurred during the process of studying abroad. The cost of living is a close second. Candidates would have to keep in mind that staying in the capital or in a city would cost more than opting for a suburban lifestyle. Staying alone would be more expensive as compared to staying at a hostel accommodation or on sharing basis.
International candidates are advised to be having a minimum of € 800-1100 per month for expenses such as lodging (on sharing basis), food, transport and clothing, etc. as living expenses in the Netherlands. A lot of times candidates wonder whether doing a part-time job would cover living expenses in a country. Candidates should note that money earned through part-time jobs in the Netherlands would only suffice as pocket money. Candidates would be required to show proof of funds for both living as well as studying costs in the Netherlands during the Student Visa process. Candidates can know more about the same through our expert Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors.
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Scholarships for Studying in the Netherlands
Scholarships and financial aid are great ways to bring the costs of studying abroad down. Even though we have provided some of the most affordable and cheap universities in the Netherlands, a reduction in study expenses has never hurt anybody. Government organizations, universities, and private bodies have a large number of need-based and merit-based scholarships that they are willing to give to the students that truly deserve it. The key is to start early.
Candidates who wish to apply for a scholarship to study in the Netherlands or apply for an education loan to study in the Netherlands should start their application process early. This would give them ample time to complete all document work, appear for any test that might be required as part of the process, and so on.
Candidates should note that the tuition fees for all universities have been sourced from shiksha.com and holds true for the Academic year 2021-22. However, the rates could vary depending on the university updates. Candidates are requested to check the current rates while applying to any of the affordable and cheap universities in the Netherlands mentioned above.
To study MS in Netherlands, the applicants are required to meet the below-given requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree
- GMAT / GRE score
- English language proficiency score
- CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendations
After doing Masters in Netherlands, the average salary of a Master’s graduate will be EUR 44,000 per year (Around 39 lakh) according to Payscale. The popular recruiters for MS degrees are:
- ING Group
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
- Nike., Inc.
- Accenture
- Adyen
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