Tuition fees

Student grants​

The student grant is a monthly contribution towards the cost of your studies and your living costs. Only Full-time EU/EEA-students may be eligible for a student grant

For more information, see the DUO website.

Financial arrangement

Working whilst studying

  • Many students find a part-time job in a restaurant, bar or shop. This kind of job can be found via student and other employment agencies, advertisements, newspapers and noticeboards.
  • The intermediary agency Campus4Work (in Dutch), which is located at De Uithof, is another option. It deals specifically with jobs for students at Utrecht University. You can contact them via email: campus4work@uu.nl

Important: if your earnings are above the additional income threshold, this may affect your claim to a student loan or grant. You will find more information on the DUO website: Additional earnings during your studies (in Dutch: Bijverdienen naast je studie).

Insurances

The most important insurance policies you will need to take out are health insurance, household contents insurance and third-party liability insurance. You should always compare the policy conditions and premiums of several insurance companies before you take out an insurance policy. It is important to be properly insured, this is not something you should skimp on. You have the option of choosing a collective health insurance policy for students.

Health insurances

For student health insurances we have a collaboration with AON Student Insurances. This insurance provider has a lot of experience with international students and offers a Basic Health Insurance policy as well. Due to their experience with international students they offer the possibility to change back to your AON student insurance as soon as you are no longer required to have a basic health insurance quickly and will not hold you to a year term. Please note, if you take out Dutch basic health insurance, you may be eligible for compensation for your insurance premium. This compensation is called healthcare benefit or healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag).

> more information on health insurance in the Netherlands (PDF)

International students

International students can work in The Netherlands under certain conditions:

As an EU/EEA-student in the Netherlands, you are free to take a part-time job in order to help cover your costs. However, if you work in The Netherlands you will need to take out a Dutch health insurance policy.

If you work in the Netherlands for a minimum of 56 hours per month, you may be eligible for Dutch student grant for EU/EEA students.

As a non-EU/EEA student in the Netherlands, you need a work permit in order to have a part-time job. In addition you will also need to change your health insurance policy, so that it complies with the requirements of the Dutch government. With a work permit you will be allowed to work either 16 hours per week or full time during the summer months. You will have to take several practical matters into account:

How to acquire a work permit

You cannot apply for a work permit yourself. An employer must apply for the work permit, so first you have to find an employer or employment agency willing to do this for you. A work permit is always issued for a specific employer. 

Conditions

  • You need a residence permit before your employer can apply for a work permit. Note that the application for a residence permit usually takes approximately 2 months. After that it takes about 6 weeks to process your work permit.
  • You must have a Burger Service Number, for which you need to register with the city.
  • You are allowed to work either full-time in June, July and August OR no more than 16 hours per week throughout the academic year.
  • The work permit is valid for the same time as your residence permit. When you extend your residence permit, you also have to extend your work permit.

Please note! It can be difficult to find a job, and work permit procedures take a substantial amount of time.

For more information, also see the Nuffic website.