MS in Netherlands - Colleges, Requirements, Fees

You can get a master’s degree in Netherland either from a research university or at a university of applied sciences. A master’s degree at the universities of applied sciences increases your knowledge and professional expertise at the graduate level. This program is for those who want to be employed in a specific profession already.

The master’s programs offered by research universities are research-oriented and they provide you with the necessary knowledge and analytical skills at the graduate level and help you become an independent researcher either in a specific field or in a multidisciplinary field.

The master’s programs last one year to three years depending upon your course. 

Highlights for Master’s in the Netherlands

Factors	Particular/Statistics
Total number of Master’s colleges in the Netherlands	Approximately 20+ colleges
Master’s costs in the Netherlands	Tuition fee: €8,000 – €20,000 (INR 8.2 L - 20.33 L) (approx.) annually Living expenses: €800 – €1,200 (INR 81.3 K - 1.22 L) monthly
Top specializations	Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Big Data, Engineering and Technology, Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Environmental Science and Sustainable Development, Business Analytics and Management Science, and more
Exam required	GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL
Work permit required	Orientation Year Residence Permit

MS in Netherlands: QS World University Rankings 2025

QS World University Ranking is a globally recognized ranking platform, used as a trusted source by employers and students. The rankings done by QS are based on various factors like Employability, ROI, Career outcomes, Class and faculty diversity, and academic reputation.

The ranking given below is an overall university ranking by the QS World University Rankings 2025:

Universities in Netherlands for MS	QS World Rank 2025
Delft Tech	#49
University of Amsterdam	#55
Utrecht University	#105
Eindhoven University of Technology	#140
Leiden University	#119
University of Groningen	#147
Wageningen University & Research	#153
Erasmus University Rotterdam	#140
Vrije University of Amsterdam	#194
University of Twente	#203

QS World University Rankings for Netherlands: Recent Years

The table below compares the rankings of the top universities as per QS World University Rankings for the past three consecutive years:

Universities in Netherlands for MS	2023	2024	2025
Delft University of Technology	61	47	49
University of Amsterdam	53	58	55
Utrecht University	103	103	105
Eindhoven University of Technology	140	140	140
Leiden University	119	119	119
University of Groningen	147	147	147
Wageningen U. & Research	153	153	153
Erasmus University Rotterdam	140	140	140
Vrije University Amsterdam	194	194	194
University of Twente	233	203	203

MS in Netherlands : Popular Specializations

Netherlands offers a range of courses to choose from. Some of the most popular courses in the Netherlands for international students are:

• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Science and Big Data
• Engineering and Technology
• Biotechnology and Life Sciences
• Environmental Science and Sustainable Development
• Business Analytics and Management Science
• Public Policy, Governance and Law

MS in Netherlands: Tuition Cost and Cost of Living

The tuition fee and living expenses are among the major factors when planning to study abroad for international students. Applicants must have an idea of an estimate of how much they would need on a daily basis in order to plan their funds accordingly. The table below gives an idea of the cost of living of the top universities for an MS in Netherlands:

University	Tuition Cost	Estimated Cost of Living (INR )
Delft Tech University	INR 18.88 L - 22.5 L	INR 10.2 L – INR 14.3 L
University of Amsterdam	INR 14.77 L - 34.73 L	INR 11.22 L – INR 15.3 L
Utrecht University	INR 17.67 L - 24.67 L	INR 10.2 L – INR 13.3 L
Eindhoven Tech University	INR 16.36 L - 22.21 L	INR 9.7 L – INR 13.8 L
Leiden University	INR 17.97 L - 22.01 L	INR 10.2 L – INR 13.8 L
University of Groningen	INR 9.09 L - 32.31 L	INR 9.7 L – INR 12.8 L
WUR University	INR 18.88 L - 21.4 L	INR 8.7 L – INR 12.24 L
Erasmus University Rotterdam	INR 9.09 L - 24.02 L	INR 10.2 L – INR 14.3 L
Vrije University Amsterdam	INR 12.96 L - 37.1 L	INR 10.2 L – INR 14.3 L
University of Twente	INR 9.09 L - 19.08 L	INR 9.2 L – INR 12.24 L

Student Visa Cost

International students who wish to study in the Netherlands need to apply for a residence permit to study (TEV) in the Netherlands. The cost of a visa for the first application or extension of a student visa is €207, which is around INR 21.1 K

(€ 1 = INR 102)

MS in Netherlands: Requirements

The Requirements for admission into the master’s program differ for each university. Every university sets some minimum requirements for a program. But, there are some general admission requirements at most universities. Those general admission requirements for an MS are as follows:

• GRE/GMAT scores
• English language proficiency scores like IELTS/TOEFL
• Academic qualifications transcripts
• CV/Resume
• LORs
• SOPs
• Documented work experience, if any

MS in Netherlands: Post-Study Work Permit

Students after the completion of their MS course in Netherlands can apply for the Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) residence permit that allows graduates to stay for up to 12 months after graduation to seek a job or start their own business. After gaining this post-study work visa, graduates can work without restriction in the country and skill up. Once they start earning the minimum salary required for a highly skilled migrant, they can transition to a work visa. 

MS in Netherlands: Scholarships for Indian Students

Studying in the Netherland could be costly. The tuition fee with living costs may go to tens of thousands of euros. But this should not discourage applicants from applying to their dream university in the Netherlands. There are several scholarships available for international students. Some of the popular scholarships are:

• Holland Scholarships
• TU Delft Excellence Scholarships
• University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship
• VU Fellowship Programme
• Eric Bluemink Scholarships
• Orange Tulip Scholarships
• Leiden University Excellence Scholarships
• Utrecht Excellence Scholarships
• Radbound Scholarship Programme
• Wageningen University Fellowship Programme

MS in Netherlands: Average Salaries (ROI)

Netherlands has a great demand for international graduates who can join their workforce. There are many job opportunities in the big companies in the Netherlands. The table below includes the range of average salaries for graduates from the top universities after pursuing an MS in Netherlands:

University	Tuition Cost	Estimated Salary (INR )
Delft University of Technology	INR 18.88 L - 22.5 L	INR 46 L – INR 61.2 L
University of Amsterdam	INR 14.77 L - 34.73 L	INR 42.84 L – INR 59.2 L
Utrecht University	INR 17.67 L - 24.67 L	INR 40.8 L – INR 56.1 L
Eindhoven University of Technology	INR 16.36 L - 22.21 L	INR 44.9 L – INR 59.2 L
Leiden University	INR 17.97 L - 22.01 L	INR 40.8 L – INR 53.04 L
University of Groningen	INR 9.09 L - 32.31 L	INR 38.8 L – INR 51 L
Wageningen University & Research	INR 18.88 L - 21.4 L	INR 36.7 L – INR 49 L
Erasmus University Rotterdam	INR 9.09 L - 24.02 L	INR 42.8 L – INR 56.1 L
Vrije University Amsterdam	INR 12.96 L - 37.1 L	INR 40.8 L – INR 53.04 L
University of Twente	INR 9.09 L - 19.08 L	INR 38.8 L – INR 51 L

The average salaries after an MS in the Netherlands, graduates can expect as per their roles, are as follows:

Field of Study	Avg. Salary (INR/year)
Executive Management & Change	INR 71.4 L – INR 1.23 Cr
Financial Services	INR 61.2 L – INR 1.02 Cr
Energy, Chemicals & Environmental	INR 45.9 L – INR 71.4 L
Executive Masters (MBA-level roles)	INR 81.6 L – INR 1.13 Cr
Masters (Other STEM/business tracks)	INR 40.8 L – INR 61.2 L

Shreya Basu09-30-2025 17:03