Engineering is the second most common field of study among international degree students in the Netherlands, according to the 2021-2022 data published by Nuffic- The Dutch Organization for internationalization in education. Universities in the Netherlands offer many engineering specializations ranging from mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and electrical engineering to artificial intelligence, logistics engineering, business engineering, and aerospace engineering.
Engineering universities in the Netherlands use an engaging and student-centered teaching method that produces outstanding engineers. Plus, more than 95% of the Dutch population speaks English, thus there is no shortage of English-taught engineering programs. According to the Study in NL official website, there are more than 100 English-taught bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering offered by Dutch universities. Engineering universities in the Netherlands are well-ranked globally. As a result, engineering degrees awarded by them are recognized and respected globally.
Tuition fees for engineering in the Netherlands are also significantly lower than in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Moreover, international students in the Netherlands are eligible for a variety of scholarships such as the Orange Tulip Scholarship and the Holland Scholarship, which can further reduce tuition fees. The Netherlands is an excellent choice for international students to pursue an engineering degree. Let us look at some of the top-ranked engineering universities in the Netherlands.
Engineering universities in the Netherlands: Highlights
| Number of universities with English-taught engineering programs | 17 |
| Programs offered | Bachelor (BSc) and master (MSc) |
| Duration | Bachelor (3 to 4 years), master (1.5 to 2 years) |
| Annual undergraduate fees | 8,000 to 16,000 EUR |
| Annual postgraduate fees | 8,000 to 20,000 EUR |
| Common specializations offered | Mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, civil engineering, electrical engineering |
Netherlands Engineering universities with English-taught programs
There are around 17 Dutch universities that offer English-taught courses in engineering. They provide programs at both the bachelor’s (BSc) and master’s (MSc) levels. Here is a list of the top Dutch universities along with their worldwide ranking in the engineering field.
Top-ranked Engineering universities in the Netherlands
| University Name | #Best Global Universities (US News, 2022) | #Best Universities for Engineering (US News, 2022) | QS Ranking (Engineering & Technology, 2022) |
| Delft University of Technology | 169 | 25 | 10 |
| Eindhoven University of Technology | 342 | 101 | 58 |
| University of Twente | 400 | 219 | 96 |
| University of Groningen | 88 | 284 | 297 |
| Wageningen University & Research | 89 | 328 | – |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | 82 | 711 | 316 |
| Hanze University of Applied Sciences | – | – | – |
Delft University of Technology
Also known as TU Delft, it is the oldest and largest public university in the Netherlands. According to the QS rankings, it is one of the top ten engineering universities in the world as of 2022. TU Delft delivers the following engineering programs in English.
| Program Name | Duration (Years) | Program Level |
| Aerospace Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Aerospace Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Chemical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Complex Systems Engineering and Management | 2 | MSc |
| Electrical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| BioMedical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Civil Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Computer & Embedded Systems Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Environmental Engineering | 2 | MSc |
Eindhoven University of Technology
Established in 1956, the Eindhoven University of Technology is a public university in the Dutch city of Eindhoven. It is well-known for its open-hearted culture, and its educational philosophy is built on providing individual attention to boost talent. Some of the engineering programs it offers are
| Program Name | Duration (Years) | Program Level |
| Chemical Engineering and Chemistry | 3 | BSc |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Electrical Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Industrial Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Mechanical Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Artificial Intelligence Engineering Systems | 2 | MSc |
| Mastertrack Architectural Urban Design and Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Mechanical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Electrical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Biomedical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Chemical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
University of Twente
Based in Enschede, Netherlands, this public technical university is known for providing highly personalized education and research in fields ranging from engineering to psychology to the natural sciences. Here is the university’s list of engineering programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
| Program Name | Duration (Years) | Program Level |
| Chemical Science and Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Civil Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Electrical Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Industrial Design Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Industrial Engineering and Management | 3 | BSc |
| Mechanical Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| Biomedical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Chemical Science and Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Civil Engineering and Management | 2 | MSc |
| Electrical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Industrial Design Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Industrial Engineering & Management | 2 | MSc |
| Mechanical Engineering | 2 | MSc |
| Robotics | 2 | MSc |
| Spatial Engineering | 2 | MSc |
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Situated in Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a leading public research university in the Netherlands. It provides three undergraduate programs in engineering and one postgraduate program in engineering.
| Program Name | Duration (Years) | Program Level |
| Artificial Intelligence | 3 | Bachelor |
| Creative Technology | 3 | Bachelor |
| Mechanical Engineering | 3 | Bachelor |
| Computer Security | 2 | Master |
Hanze University of Applied Sciences
Hanze UAS, or Hanze University of Applied Sciences, is the largest private technical university located in the northern Netherlands in Groningen. It has 28,432 students, 8.1% of whom are international students. The university offers engineering programs at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. The Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders accredits these programs. Here is a list of engineering programs at Hanze UAS.
| Program Name | Duration (Years) | Program Level |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering – Sensor Technology | 4 | BSc |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering – major Electronics | 4 | BSc |
| Mechanical Engineering | 3 | BSc |
| European Master in Renewable Energy | 1.5 | MSc |
| European Master in Sustainable Energy System Management | 1.5 | MSc |
| Smart Systems Engineering | 1.5 | MSc |
Eligibility to study Engineering in the Netherlands
Netherlands follows a national application registration system called Studielink. Students have to visit the official website, fill out the application form online, and submit the relevant documents. The eligibility criteria to study engineering in the Netherlands are
Basic eligibility for Bachelor in Engineering
- High school diploma equivalent to Dutch pre-university education called VWO
- Physics, mathematics, and chemistry as core subjects in high school
- English language proficiency at CEFR, B2/C1 level; minimum IELTS score of 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, or equivalent
Basic eligibility for Master in Engineering
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with at least three full years of academic study
- Grade point average of at least 75%
- English language proficiency (TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.5, or equivalent)
- GRE (if applicable)
Cost of studying Engineering in the Netherlands
Tuition fees at Dutch institutions are divided into two types: institutional fees and statutory fees. Non-EU/EEA nationals must pay institutional fees, whereas EU/EEA citizens must pay statutory fees, which are less expensive than institutional fees. The average institutional fees for international students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering are 13,000 EUR per year. For a master’s program in engineering, the fees are slightly higher at 16,000 EUR per year. There is not much difference in the public and private university fees for engineering in the Netherlands.
Tuition fees: Bachelor
| University Name | Annual Tuition Fees (EUR) |
| Delft University of Technology | 15,200 |
| Eindhoven University of Technology | 12,300 |
| University of Twente | 10,875 |
| University of Groningen | 15,080 |
| Wageningen University & Research | 16,400 |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | 12,900 |
| Hanze University of Applied Sciences | 7,900 |
Tuition fees: Master
| University Name | Annual Tuition Fees (EUR) |
| Delft University of Technology | 19,600 |
| Eindhoven University of Technology | 17,800 |
| University of Twente | 16,500 |
| University of Groningen | 18,850 |
| Wageningen University & Research | 19,600 |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | 15,500 |
| Hanze University of Applied Sciences | 7,900 to 9,750 |
Cost of living in the Netherlands
On average, international students spend 800 to 1,100 EUR per month, or 9,600 to 13,200 per year, on their living expenses in the Netherlands. These expenses can be broken down into
| Particulars | Costs per month (EUR) |
| Housing | 300 to 600 |
| Food | 200 |
| Health insurance | 100 to 150 |
| Entertainment | 100 to 150 |
| Transportation | 50 to 90 |
Students receive a lot of discounts on their student card at restaurants, bars, museums, cinemas, and travel. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) offers travel, shopping, and museum discounts, whereas the CJP discount card is for discounts on shopping, museums, and festivals.
Scholarships to study Engineering in the Netherlands
International students pursuing engineering courses in the Netherlands are eligible to apply for scholarships. These scholarships are funded either by the Dutch government or Dutch universities. The scholarships can be university-wide or program-specific.
Holland Scholarship
Dutch government offers this scholarship to international students from the non-European Economic Area (EEA). It is available for bachelor and master-level students. Several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences also sponsor this scholarship. Students receive a one-time amount of 5,000 EUR in their first year of studies and it cannot be renewed.
Additionally, students can also apply for some country-specific scholarships like
- Orange Tulip Scholarship Program (Indian and Indonesian students)
- Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship program (Dutch and Chinese citizens)
- OKP-LPDP: StuNed Joint Scholarship Program (Indonesian students)
- Erasmus+ (EU citizens)
- MENA Scholarship Program (Middle Eastern and North African students)
- NRF-Nuffic Program South Africa (South African citizens)
Students pursuing masters level engineering courses can apply for Orange Knowledge Program and NN Future Matters Scholarship.
How to pick the right Engineering university in the Netherlands
While there are many top-ranked engineering universities in the Netherlands, selecting the one that is ideal for you may be challenging. You can begin to narrow down the list of universities that meet your interests based on your finances, criteria, academic grades, and ideal city. There are both public and private universities in the Netherlands that offer engineering programs in English. You can choose either one, as their tuition fees fall in the same range. For bachelor programs, the average tuition fee is 13,000 EUR per year, whereas for master programs it is 16,000 EUR per year.
Another crucial factor to consider is whether the university offers scholarships or other forms of financial aid. Many Dutch universities provide scholarships to their students. If you need help choosing the right engineering university in the Netherlands, you can contact Gyanberry. Our trained consultants will assist you in every possible way. Once you have been chosen by your dream university, you can also avail of our visa services to assist you with the visa application.