Being one of the first countries in Europe to offer degree-level courses entirely in English, the Netherlands has become a popular destination to international students. On top of this, students benefit from considerably lower tuition fees and costs of living compared to other English-speaking countries.
The Netherlands also hosts a very cosmopolitan student community, with students coming from over 160 different countries. In addition, it is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world.
If you’re interested in studying in the Netherlands and you’d like to find out which university would be a match for you, you have come to the right place. Here is a compilation of the top Dutch universities, according to the annual QS World University Rankings. You will also find an extensive list of all universities in Holland below.
The Top 5 Universities In The Netherlands
1. Delft University of Technology
First called TU Delft, Delft University of Technology was founded in 1842 and was later renamed in 1986.
It is notorious for its excellence in STEM subjects such as civil, structural, and mechanical engineering, environmental studies, technology, and architecture. According to QS rankings by subject, its architecture degree is amongst the top 3 worldwide.
The university’s campus is one of the largest in the world and provides students with great infrastructure. Delft offers 16 Bachelor programmes and 40 Master’s programmes.
2. University of Amsterdam
Established in 1632, the University of Amsterdam – also known as UvA – is the third oldest university in the Netherlands. It is the largest university in Holland and is one of the biggest universities on a European scale.
The UvA’s location is highly attractive for students as it is in the centre of Amsterdam, so students have access to a plethora of social and cultural opportunities. On top of its Dutch-taught degrees, the university offers 15 Bachelor’s programmes and 200 Master’s programmes in English.
3. Wageningen University & Research
Wageningen University was established in 1876 as an agricultural college and was later recognised in 1918 as a public university. It has been ranked as the best university in the Netherlands for fifteen years in a row. Wageningen University is also the world’s top university for Agricultural Science, Environmental Studies and Ecology.
On top of the excellent academics, students benefit from a great campus and a highly international environment. The university welcomes more than 12,000 students each year, coming from 100 different countries.
4. Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) was founded in 1956 and as indicated by its name, it is a technical university. It specialises in Technology, Engineering and Computer Science, which are divided into 9 departments.
TU/e welcomes around 12,000 students every year and they are fairly balanced between bachelor’s and master’s programmes. The majority of students are Dutch but the programmes are entirely taught in English. In conjunction with its excellent academics, Eindhoven University of Technology is home to incredible research projects.
