Study Engineering in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is located in Northwest Europe and is a place known for its educational expertise. They have created a name in the world for the field of Engineering and Technology and hence is a place mostly opted for higher studies by international candidates. The Universities in the Netherlands are known for their renowned faculty who are perfectionists in their field of expertise. Learning from such faculty will allow candidates to gain both the theoretical and practical knowledge they require to succeed in the workplace.


The Dutch system of learning is interactive, based on applying practical knowledge to solve problems. This system of education is achieved through a well-planned system of training and quality assurance. This system is created with the industry in mind, so when candidates take up a job later, they will find the working similar and easy to pick up.

Benefits of Studying Engineering in the Netherlands

The Netherlands offers candidates with internationally recognized degrees in the field of Engineering and Technology along with the obvious benefits of studying abroad. The place is rich in a multicultural environment and hence will provide candidates with an insight into the technological advancements of different parts of the world. A few of the benefits of studying in the Netherlands include-

• The country offers candidates with degrees at undergraduate, postgraduate, and research levels. The degrees that are offered are at affordable rates even for international students making them graduate from the program without any debts.
• Candidates who have their primary interest in research will be able to find many research laboratories in the country where they will be able to take their doctorate and post-doc at affordable rates. They will even be able to receive scholarships for the program.
• Candidates who graduate from engineering schools in the Netherlands will be able to easily procure jobs for themselves due to the large-scale collaborations that institutions and research organizations have with top companies in the world.
• The country not only offers international candidates with affordable education but also has affordable living costs which will make their lives relatively easier and let them focus more on academics than part-time jobs.
• The engineering schools in the Netherlands have the perfect blend of theoretical and practical learning which will help candidates to understand the concepts that are taught and implement them in workspaces afterward.
• Their research background helps international candidates in specializing in different topics ranging from robotics to aeronautics thereby broadening their career prospects anywhere in the world.

Eligibility Requirements for Engineering in the Netherlands

While the eligibility requirements for engineering programs in the Netherlands vary from institution to institution, there are general documents that have to submit by all candidates irrespective of where they apply to. These documents are-

• Valid Passport
• Statement of Purpose
• Educational Transcripts
• English/Dutch Language Proficiency Certificate, as required
• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation

Types of Engineering Programs and Their Duration

The Netherlands offers candidates with bachelor's, master's, and research programs in engineering all of which have different durations. A Bachelor's degree in the Netherlands can take a duration of 3 to 4 years depending on the university/college and the specialization the candidate has chosen.

The master’s program takes 2 years irrespective of the field the candidate has chosen and the research programs can take 5 years or more depending on the area of research the candidate has taken up.

Cost of Engineering Programs in the Netherlands

Candidates who wish to study in the Netherlands will be able to find that engineering programs in the country, like most other courses offered, are affordable and cheaper when compared to the rest of the world. The fee, like other countries in Europe, is less for EU, EEA, and Switzerland nationals when compared to non-EU candidates.

The average tuition fee for EU/EEA candidates is estimated to be around €1,000 to €2,080 per year for bachelor’s programs whereas it is between €1,000 to €2,100 per year for master’s students. The average fee for non-EU candidates for a bachelor’s program is between €8,000 to €15,000 per year and around €8,000 to €20,000 per year for master’s students. While these are the fee estimates for public universities, the tuition fee for private universities can differ largely from these numbers.

Popular Engineering Specializations in the Netherlands

The most popular engineering specializations that candidates can take while in the Netherlands include-

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Information and Communication Technology
• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Big Data Engineering
• Logistics Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Smart Systems Engineering
• Industrial Engineering

Top Engineering Universities in the Netherlands

A few of the top Engineering schools in the Netherlands are-

Delft University of Technology

This university was established in the year 1842 and is one of the oldest technical universities in the country. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research level programs in 8 different fields and the engineering programs they offer are referred to as Bachelors or Masters in Engineering programs. The duration of the BSc Engineering programs is 36 months whereas that of the MSc Engineering programs is 24 months. Both of these programs are offered only as full-time programs.

A few of the fields in which engineering programs are offered are-

• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Complex Systems Engineering and Management
• Electrical Engineering

The statutory fee for a bachelor’s degree for EU/EEA candidates is €1,804 to €2,209 per year and for non-EU/EEA candidates is around €13,416 to €15,200 per year.

Eindhoven University of Technology

This public university was established in the year 1956 and contains 9 departments in all out of which 5 departments are dedicated to specialized engineering alone. The university also offers candidates the option of doing a postgraduate doctorate in engineering based on the specialization they have previously chosen. They offer engineering degrees at the undergraduate, and postgraduate levels as well with the former having a duration of 3 years and the latter has a duration of 2 years.

A few of the specializations offered under engineering are-

• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Construction Management and Engineering

The tuition fee for the programs will be disclosed only upon contacting the university personally.

University of Twente

This public university was established in the year 1961 and is located in Enschede within the country. It offers engineering programs under the Faculty of Engineering Technology which is one among the five faculties the institution has. The engineering programs are provided at a bachelor’s, master’s, and research level. A few of the different engineering programs they offer include-

• Civil Engineering
• Industrial Design Engineering
• Construction Management Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

The statutory fee that EU/EEA candidates will have to pay ranges from €1,804 to €2,209 per year whereas the institutional fee that non-EU/EEA candidates will have to pay is around €9,666 to €10,875 per year.

University of Groningen

The University of Groningen was founded in the year 1614 and is a technical public university rooted in tradition. They have 11 faculties and 27 research centers in all along with 9 graduate schools where the Faculty of Science and Engineering offers all the engineering programs. Engineering programs are offered at bachelor’s, master’s, and research levels with the bachelor’s program having a duration of 3 years and the master’s program having a duration of 2 years.

A few of the fields they offer courses for under engineering are-

• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering and Management

The fee for non-EU/EEA students for the bachelor’s program is around €14,000 per year and that of the master’s program is around €17,500 per year.

Maastricht University

This university was established in the year 1976 and can be said to be relatively new in the technical field when compared to the older universities in the country. Their Faculty of Science and Engineering offers 6 bachelor’s programs, 4 master’s programs and is also good at research within the same field. A few of the engineering programs offered are-

• Artificial Intelligence
• Circular Engineering
• Business Engineering

Scholarships for Engineering Students in the Netherlands

• Holland Scholarship for International Students- Holland Scholarship is provided by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science along with different Dutch research universities. Candidates who are non-EEA are eligible to apply for the scholarship as long as they are applying for a bachelor’s or master’s program. The award amount €5,000.
• ASML Technology Scholarship- This scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a technical master’s degree in the Netherlands irrespective of their nationality. They provide candidates with a personal guide for their personality development. It is a merit-based scholarship and candidates will receive an amount of €5,000 every year for the two-year program they are in.
• QuTech Scholarship- QuTech offers scholarships for international students pursuing an MSc degree within the university. They provide 6 full scholarships which are divided into three categories. One category of scholarships is provided to candidates from the field of Qubit Research, another for Quantum Internet, and the final one for Quantum Coping. Candidates get an estimated amount of €18,750 for non-EU students and around €2,143 for EU candidates.

Career Options for Engineering Students in the Netherlands

Candidates who have completed their degree in engineering will find that though the country doesn’t have major manufacturing units in aerospace or engines, it is still home to companies in sectors like oil and gas, maritime technology, shipbuilding, etc. Candidates with a BSc or Bachelor’s in Engineering or a qualification above the same will easily be able to find jobs within the country. A few of the fields in which they will be able to find jobs are-

• Embedded Software Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Technical Service Engineer
• Systems Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Bio and Chemical Engineering