Checklist Studia na Hulanda - Studying in Holland

Are you ready to start choosing a course programme? Use this checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything!

Step 1: Discover

Discover your options and make a list of course programmes you want to compare.

The following sections on the website will help you do this:

  • Sign up for your free personal digital environment and get step-by-step plans to help you choose the right programme at MijnStudiekeuze.
  • Make an appointment to see your school’s academic counsellor and talk about choosing a course programme.
  • Depending on your background, we offer specific information on choosing a bachelor’s programme, a master’s programme, studying while working, and transferring from mbo to hbo or from hbo to wo. Read more about your options (in Dutch).
  • Who are you and what are you good at? Find out with one of our study choice tests (in Dutch).
  • You can also use the Van profiel naar studie (From profile to programme) tool to check which profiles give you access to which course programmes. Note that this is based on Dutch secondary-school profiles.
  • Would you like to involve your parents in your decision? We also have information for your parents (in Dutch).

Step 2: Compare

Attend online activities on choosing a programme, compare course programmes and narrow down your selection. Make a top 5 of programmes to learn more about.

The following sections on the website will help you do this:

  • Learn more about and compare course programmes and institutes of higher education using the opleidingenvergelijker. Select the programmes you’re interested in and hit “Vergelijk” to compare them. Hint: You can also choose to only show the differences between programmes. The course programme overview is only available in Dutch. Are you looking for an overview of course programmes in the Netherlands that are thaugt in English? Check Study in NL.
  • Attend a Study and Career Fair on your island, or sign up for an Open Day in the Netherlands. It will give you much more information you can use to compare programmes. These days, many activities focused on choosing a course programme are organised online. That may be good news for you, as you won’t have to travel to the Netherlands to attend! Find all the Open Days in the Open Days Calendar.
  • Prepare for an Open Day using these tips (in Dutch).
  • Compare what students think of different course programmes. What do students who are currently enrolled think of their programme, according to the National Student Survey?
  • Learn more about and compare student cities (in Dutch)
  • See how your programme of choice performs compared to the national average and compare it to others at Studie in Cijfers.
  • Did you run into terms or abbreviations you don’t know while searching for the programme that’s right for you? Look them up in the Studiekeuzewoordenboek (in Dutch).

Step 3: Choose

Choose your course programme and learn about the practicalities of applying and studying.

The following sections on the website will help you do this:

  • Check if your course programme has a numerus fixus. Some programmes, such as Medicine, Physiotherapy and Dentistry, admit a limited number of students. That’s why you’ll have to go through a selection procedure. Read more about numerus fixus programmes.
  • Apply on time. Read more about application and enrolment deadlines. Studielink has a step-by-step plan (in Dutch) for prospective students from Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands.
  • If possible, apply for student finance and a student travel product via DUO.
  • Read more about the (possibly mandatory) studiekeuzecheck or matching activity that the institution will invite you to participate in after you have applied for enrolment. This page is only available in Dutch.