In 2024, three Dutch cities were included in the top 50 best student cities in Europe. Find out where you can get a good education in the Netherlands and which cities are considered the best for international students

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The Campus Advisor has published its ranking of the best European cities for students. The good news was that three Dutch cities – Amsterdam, Groningen and Delft – were included in the list. That is why in 2024 the Netherlands can safely be called one of the educational capitals of Europe. We tell you which cities in the Netherlands were recognized as the best for students.

1st place - Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, home to almost 2.5 million people. The city, also known as the Venice of the North, is a very important financial center of Europe. The headquarters of many multinational companies are also located here.

The University of Amsterdam UvA is among the top 50 best universities in the world. Also according to the QS subject rankings, the UvA's media and communication departments were ranked as the best in the world for two consecutive years, in 2018 and 2019. Amsterdam Business School, which is part of the UvA, offers Bachelor, Master, MBA and Executive Education.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – VU is the second largest university in Amsterdam. It is private, but since 1970 it has been financed by the state.

If gaining professional experience during your studies is important to you, you may want to consider HvA Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. At HvA, internships are considered an important learning method, so students must have a period of practical work during their studies.

Amsterdam received the title of the best student city in the Netherlands, because it became a leader in terms of cultural diversity. Amsterdam also received high marks for the academic environment, friendliness to students, amenities, nightlife and public transport. However, it did not show high indicators regarding the cost of living.

2nd place – Groningen

In Groningen, the largest city in the northern part of the Netherlands, every fourth resident is a student, so the city can be safely called the educational capital of the Netherlands.

The University of Groningen - RUG has more than 32,000 students representing 120 nationalities. It is also one of the oldest educational institutions in the Netherlands, it is more than 400 years old. It offers 3 bachelor's and 13 master's majors in English in the field of economics and business.

In addition, students can also visit the Hanseatic University of Applied Sciences – UAS, which offers programs in Dutch, German and English to more than 28,000 students.

3rd place – Delft

Delft is a small city in the southern part of the Netherlands, located between The Hague and Rotterdam. International students get higher education here at Delft University of Technology - TU Delft - the oldest and largest state technological university in the country. TU Delft, which is 178 years old, is also among the top 15 engineering and technology universities in the QS World University Ranking.

4th place – Utrecht

Utrecht is a lively Dutch city, second only to Amsterdam in the number of cultural events. Also, Utrecht is an important transport hub of the country.

One of the best and oldest universities in the Netherlands, Utrecht University – UU is proud of its distinguished alumni, including 12 Nobel Prize winners.

Also, TIAS Business School, located in the old university city of Utrecht, is number one.

You can get advice on education abroad on the Visit World portal. Our lawyers can answer all your questions about the current rules for admission to certain educational institutions, as well as help with the preparation of documents for admission and study abroad. To order a specialist consultation, follow this link.

5th place - Leiden

Leiden is a Dutch city, which for more than 400 years has been famous as one of the outstanding scientific centers of Europe. Leiden's sister city is Oxford.

Leiden University is one of the best educational institutions in Europe and one of the oldest in the Netherlands. It first opened its doors 445 years ago and now has over 29,000 students. The university offers a bachelor's degree in economics, public administration and management, and a master's degree in economics and psychology.

6th place – Rotterdam

The second most populous city in the Netherlands is also home to the largest seaport in Europe and one of the top 100 universities in the world, Erasmus University Rotterdam.

EUR, which was founded in 1913, has almost 30,000 students and offers a variety of programs in the fields of health, welfare, management and culture. The international business school EUR, Rotterdam School of Management, has triple accreditation (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB).

7th place – Eindhoven

Eindhoven has the title of the most inventive city in the world. It hosts the Netherlands Design Week and is the starting point for most startups.

All courses at Eindhoven University of Technology – TU/e ​​are taught in English. The institution is constantly included in the top 200 universities in the world according to THE, QS, ARWU, etc. Students who graduate from TU/e ​​have good career prospects.

 Should I study in the Netherlands?

According to Universitas21, the Dutch higher education system is the seventh in the world. Students here study at two types of institutions: universities of applied sciences or research universities. It's also worth considering that even though the Netherlands is not an English-speaking country, it offers many programs in English, making it one of the best non-English-speaking countries in the world in terms of quality of education.

Advantages of the Netherlands for international students

The Netherlands receives nearly 90,000 international students every year, of which 95% are English-speaking. Another advantage of the country is that foreigners with a student residence permit are allowed to work up to 16 hours a week during their studies and full time during the holidays.

After completing the course, foreigners get the right to stay in the country for one year and find a job without having to request a work permit.

Representatives of which countries go to study in the Netherlands?

International students from various countries study in the Netherlands, but in 2024 representatives from Algeria, Colombia, Afghanistan, South Africa and Spain are studying the most.

We will remind you! Amsterdam is considered by many to be one of the best places to live as an expat in Europe, as it offers a cosmopolitan spirit, a rich cultural life and a large international community. We've already talked about the pros and cons of moving here and what you should know about living in the city before packing your bags.