The requirements for entering and studying medicine in the Netherlands
There are some requirements for studying medicine in the Netherlands, which we will examine them in the following. The applicants who have studied outside of the Netherlands must have a valid 12-year diploma and after submitting it, according to their desired university they must take the entrance exam and have enough knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. It is possible for those who have received their diploma from the Netherlands to enter a university directly. Having an IELTS language certificate (at least IELTS 6) and having a high GPA are very effective in your admission process. Due to the fact that in most of the second 3 years of medical education courses are in Dutch and in the last year you will be taking your internship courses in hospitals and medical centers, and also after graduation as a doctor/physician you have to deal with ordinary people in the Netherlands, you must also be fluent in Dutch and this can be achieved in the first 3 years of your education and you will learn Dutch.
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The required documents for getting admitted to the field of medicine in the Netherlands
Before entering the medical universities in the Netherlands, it is important to check the requirements for a university admission and admission deadlines that are determined by that university. It is necessary to have a 12-year high school diploma; some universities may have other requirements if you apply for special programs. Being fluent in English is also very important. It is mandatory for students to have a TOEFL or IELTS language certificate. The minimum score required is at least 550 (written test) or 213 (online test) for the TOEFL. A minimum score of 6 is required for the IELTS test. Presenting resumes, motivation letter and reasons (goals) for studying in the Netherlands are also required in some of the universities in the Netherlands. Copies of these documents must be submitted in translated forms and they must be approved by the educational institution or the notary public. Documents that are required to get a visa for studying medicine in the Netherlands are:
A valid passport and at least one photo which is similar to the passport photo
Proving that you have sufficient financial resources (financial ability) to support yourself during your studies. This part is determined by the Ministry of Justice in the Netherlands and is at least 850 euros per month. Bank statements and the letters of your scholarship must also be submitted.
MVV form must be completed and signed
Take TB test up to 3 months after arrival in the Netherlands
Present the admission letter to a repeatable institution in the Netherlands
Having insurance
The costs of medical education in the Netherlands
As always, the most important thing in migration through education to a country is the cost of education and university tuition fees, and by having more accurate information about these costs you can make a better and wiser decision. The cost of medical education in the Netherlands in 2020 in the Bachelor of Medicine (BSc) is between 6 thousand to 15 thousand Euros per year and in the Master of Medicine (MSc) is between 8 thousand to 20 thousand Euros per year. Of course, these costs and are the general costs and in many cases depending on the applicant’s specific circumstances, these costs many change and it is recommended for you to consult an experienced immigration lawyer to check the exact conditions and estimate the costs. The importance of this consultation before taking any actions is undeniable, so we recommend that after reading the contents of this article for more information and checking your situation, contact our consultants and lawyers at the Malekpour Law Firm (MIE Austria) and enjoy our consultation..
Investment in Switzerland through company registration
Investors can register a company and obtain a residence permit in Switzerland. Of course, a registered company must have a positive impact on the Swiss economy and create jobs for Swiss citizens this allows one to obtain permanent residency and eventually a Swiss passport. To complete the company registration process in Switzerland first of all one has to go through their file formation process through an immigration lawyer.In the next step, the applicant must choose a name for one’s business company to be approved by the Labor and Immigration Office. The applicant must then make copies of one’s personal identity documents which includes one’s passport and ID card and translate them officially. One must also select the CEO and shareholders for one’s company and announce their names. The important point is that there are no limitations on the nationality of the people hired as shareholders in the company. The advantages of registering a company in Switzerland are that both the applicant and their family can open an account at the bank, their children continue their education in the best schools and universities with high quality education, commuting freely in Schengen member states, and they even can apply for visas from authentic countries around the world.
The costs of living in the Netherlands
Any applicant who immigrates to a country as a student must check the monthly costs of living in that country before applying so that he or she can immigrate with proper planning and at a lower risk. The following is a summary of the monthly costs of medical education and life in the Netherlands:
| The cost | The subject | The cost | The subject |
| 3.2 Euros | One-way transportation ticket | 15 Euros | One meal in a normal restaurant |
| 89.45 Euros | Unlimited monthly public transport tickets | 2 Euros | A bottle of water |
| 4 Euros | Taxi | 0.9 Euro | A 1 liter milk bottle |
| 1,000 Euros | Monthly rent of a house/home with one room, in the city center | 1.85 Euros | One kilogram of rice |
| 800 Euros | Monthly rent of a house/home with one room, away from the city center | 15 Euros | One kilogram of beef |
| 2.35 Euros | 12 eggs | 8.40 Euros | One kilo kilogram of chicken |
| 1.27 Euros | One kilogram of onions | 1.38 Euros | One kilogram of potatoes |
Top / Reputable medical universities in the Netherlands
According to the information of valid websites and the new ranking of the world’s top universities, the universities of the Netherlands are in an acceptable category and in a good position at the international level. The following table shows the top universities for medical education in the Netherlands along with the world ranking of each university:
| The name of the university | World ranking |
| University of Amsterdam | 64 |
| University of Groningen | 114 |
| Leiden University | 118 |
| Utrecht University | 120 |
| Wageningen University & Research | 125 |
| University of Twente / Universiteit Twente | 186 |
Studying in other fields of medical sciences in the Netherlands
In the next parts of this article, we will take a closer look at studying in other fields of medical sciences such as pharmacy, dentistry and nursing in this country:
- Pharmacology
The duration of education in pharmacy in the Netherlands is 6 years, and unlike some countries there is no short-term course as a prerequisite for international applicants. Learning Dutch in this course is very important because the students must spend 1 year of their studies in hospitals for internship and therefore must be completely fluent in Dutch. Considering this one year of training, the whole study course is 7 year-course, which is Categorized as follows:
Bachelor of Pharmacy (BSc) – Three year-course
Master of Pharmacy (MSc) – Three year-course
Training course in hospitals – one year-course
- Dentistry
Applicants who want to study dentistry need an IELTS certificate of at least 6 and the duration of this course of study is similar to pharmacy and is about 7 years. You also need to pass the university entrance exam with an acceptable score to study dentistry.
- Nursing
The important thing about nursing is the very good labor market of this field after graduation in this country. Of course, dentistry and pharmacy always play a big role in the medical community, but a large part of this community is made up of nurses, so after graduating in this field, you can be sure of finding a suitable job. Studying in this course lasts for 3 years at the undergraduate level. Being fluent in Dutch is one of the requirements for studying nursing. You must also have an IELTS 7 to study nursing in English
Getting a visa for studying medicine in the Netherlands
For all non-EU students who intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, the visa process has two parts: temporary residence permit (MVV) and residence permit. The required visa for entering the Netherlands to study depends on your country of origin. Most students need an entry visa called a temporary residence permit or “Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblifj” (MVV) in Dutch. This MVV visa allows you to enter the Netherlands at any time within six months. To stay in the country for the duration of your studies, you will need a residence permit. MVV is proof of your eligibility to have a residence permit in the Netherlands. When you enter the Netherlands using this permit, you will enter this country as a potential resident and not as a tourist. If you have got admitted to a university in the Netherlands, after applying for an MVV, your host university is required to apply for a residence permit on your behalf. They will do this within five days after your arrival in the Netherlands and ask you to pay the determined amount of money which is set by them. After the approval/confirmation, you must get your residence permit from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) within two weeks after your arrival in the Netherlands. After receiving your permit, you must register with the local council. During your studies, by having this residence permit that you get you will be able to travel up to 90 days in a 180-day period into each one of the Schengen countries. Your residence permit will be valid for the duration of your studies, plus another three months for your university management to take care of the process of your graduation. To study medicine in the Netherlands, the points that have been mentioned must be followed. This article has been prepared by the best consultants of the Malekpour Law Firm (MIE Austria) and copying it without mentioning the source is forbidden by the law.
Working conditions after graduation in the Netherlands
In this part of the article, we discuss the working conditions after graduating in medicine in the Netherlands. One of the most important things to consider before migrating through education is the issue of working after graduation. According to the fact that the unemployment rate in the Netherlands is very low, around 3.2%, the possibility/probability of finding a job in this country is very high. Also those who study medicine, in the last years of their studies will undergo internship courses in hospitals and clinics, therefore they will have a good chance of finding a suitable job. In addition to that, graduates in the Netherlands are normally allowed to stay in the Netherlands for one year to look for a job, convert their visas into a work visa in the Netherlands, and then get a permanent residence permit. After studying medicine in the Netherlands it is also possible for a person to search for a suitable and desired job through websites and employment agencies. The following chart shows the unemployment rate in the Netherlands:
Answering to some common questions about studying medicine in the Netherlands
✅ Is studying in the Netherlands free?
No. You must pay tuition fees in order to study at a university in the Netherlands unless you have got a scholarship.
✅ Can you work in the Netherlands after completing your medical studies (graduation)?
After graduation you will be given the opportunity to look for a job in the Netherlands. Of course, in medicine you are much more likely to find a job.
✅ Do you need to learn Dutch to study medicine in the Netherlands?
With an IELTS language certificate you can get admitted to a medical university in the Netherlands, but the second three years of your studies are taught in Dutch and you also need to learn Dutch.
✅ What is the best university in the Netherlands?
The top university in the Netherlands in terms of global ranking is the University of Amsterdam with a global ranking of 64 among the top universities in the world.
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