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Ph.D. study in the Netherlands with a full scholarship
The Netherlands’ citizens can study for free in this country, so Ph.D. applicants in the Netherlands must pay their tuition. This tuition varies according to the applicants’ resumes, the university, and the applicants’ study field. However, the tuition fee in the Netherlands is around 3,000 to 9,800 euros. Although this amount is very high compared to the tuition paid by the Netherlands’ citizens, it is very affordable compared to the university tuition in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. However, studying for a Ph.D. in the Netherlands is almost free for international students. Ph.D. applicants in the Netherlands can reduce their tuition fees by applying for scholarships offered by Dutch universities. The table below shows some of these scholarships:
| Scholarship | Explanation |
| ISS University Scholarship
Erasmus of Rotterdam |
It is awarded to top international students with pretty strong academic resumes to continue their Ph.D. studies in the Netherlands. This university will hire Ph.D. students, and they will receive a monthly salary of 1,630 Euros. |
| Dutch government scholarship | It is awarded to students with the highest international rankings for euros 5,000 annually to Ph.D. students. |
| Eric Bleumink Scholarship | It is awarded to Ph.D. students in developing countries, including university tuition, travel, insurance, and student tuition. |
| Erasmus Scholarship | It is awarded by the European Union to international students with high academic degrees and solid research resumes. So, this scholarship is awarded to EU citizens and includes tuition fees, student insurance, travel, and all educational items for Ph.D. students according to the study field. |
Top universities in the Netherlands
The Ph.D. applicants in the Netherlands must first know the prestigious and high-ranking universities in this country. The Netherlands has many universities with high rankings in terms of the high level of science and attracts the attention of many study applicants. We have introduced some of the top universities in the Netherlands with their domestic and global rankings.
| University | Ranking in the Netherlands | Global ranking |
| Utrecht University | 1 | 64 |
| University of Amsterdam | 2 | 69 |
| DELFT University of Technology | 3 | 96 |
| University of Groningen | 4 | 101 |
| VU University of Amsterdam | 5 | 124 |
| Wageningen University and Research Center | 6 | 180 |
| Radboud University | 7 | 215 |
| Eindhoven University of Technology | 8 | 220 |
| Twente University | 9 | 229 |
| Erasmus University Rotterdam | 10 | 260 |
| University of Maastricht | 11 | 398 |
| Tilberg University | 12 | 654 |
| Leiden University | 13 | 669 |
| Open University of the Netherlands | 14 | 1,416 |
| IHE University Water Education | 15 | 2,028 |
| Han University of Applied Sciences | 16 | 2,200 |
| University of Hanze | 17 | 2,335 |
| Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences | 18 | 2,406 |
| Zoyid University of Sciences | 19 | 2,668 |
| Brad University of Vocational Education | 20 | 2,779 |
Study for a Ph.D. in the Netherlands and the required documents
The Ph.D. applicants in the Netherlands must first apply for admission to the universities. So, they must send the required documents to their desired university. These documents vary depending on the university and the study field, but here are some general documents:
- A master’s degree equivalent to a Dutch degree
- The applicant’s resume
- The applicants must write a strong motivation letter to state their goals for studying for a Ph.D. in the Netherlands. The stronger the letter, the better their chances of being accepted.
- International applicant articles
- An IELTS 7 English language certificate (either an online TOEFL score of 213 or a score of 550 on the IELTS paper)
- A confirmation letter from the supervisor
- A recommendation letters from previous courses professors
Since most Ph.D. students in the Netherlands also work as staff at the university, they may need to provide additional qualifications. You can get more information by contacting MIE Austria and consulting with our experts in this field.
Study for a Ph.D. in the Netherlands and finding a supervisor
Ph.D. applicants in the Netherlands must find a supervisor. A supervisor is a person who guides the students in doing academic affairs from the beginning of their studies and advises them as a scientific resource as long as the students intend to submit their dissertation and defend it. The Ph.D. applicants in the Netherlands must first send their documents and resumes to the university professors and correspond with them to obtain admission from the university of their choice and the professor’s approval. This process is not easy, and it is often time-consuming. So, the applicants must search for their supervisor before taking any action to immigrate to the Netherlands. The students can also search for professors related to their study field by scientific journals and correspond with them by email or phone call.
Ph.D. study in the Netherlands and companion visa
One of the applicants’ most significant concerns for immigration to other countries is the conditions for obtaining a companion visa in that country. Many immigration applicants want to take their family with them, including their spouse and children below 18. Married students applying for a Ph.D. in the Netherlands can apply for family reunification after a while. So, the applicants must first apply for a supervisor and obtain admission from the university. Then, apply for a student visa in the Netherlands. After receiving a student visa in the Netherlands and entering this country, a temporary student residence card will be issued to them after two weeks. Then, they can apply to the Dutch Immigration Office for a companion visa for their family. Therefore, their family can immigrate to the Netherlands. Applicants can also study for free in the Netherlands with a Dutch visa. However, if they intend to work in the Netherlands, they must first apply for a work permit at the Dutch Labor Office.
Working after a Ph.D. in the Netherlands
One of the most critical issues for Ph.D. applicants in the Netherlands is whether they can work and reside in the Netherlands after graduation. Due to the low unemployment rate in the Netherlands, applicants can look for a job after completing their doctoral studies. After finding a suitable job related to their study field, they must apply to the Swedish Migration Board for work residence in the Netherlands. Since many Ph.D. students also do research work while studying, they receive many job offers during their studies and graduation. So, they can work after their studies in the Netherlands. Therefore, the more work and experience students have while studying for a Ph.D. in the Netherlands, the better they will find a job. Also, students who find a job and obtain a work visa in the Netherlands, after studying for a Ph.D. they can apply for permanent residence in this country after five years from receiving their work visa and paying taxes and insurance regularly. The applicants can take the Dutch citizenship test after obtaining permanent residency in the Netherlands and obtain Dutch citizenship and a passport. This test includes the Netherlands’ knowledge of the laws and history, fluency in the Dutch language, and proof that they are integrated into Dutch society.
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