Parents and guardians can have an important role to play when it comes to university choice and study programme selection. We understand that you may be wondering what the next three or four years will hold for your child and how you can help. We hope you find the information here useful.

'Educating Parents' Session!

We know how important the role of parents is to their children when it comes to them studying abroad. It is a big decision – and not just for them but also for you as their parents. Will they be safe? What about practical issues like finances or accommodation?  What about the country where they will be living? And many more questions.

With this in mind we provide a session where you can meet the international recruiters but also parents whose children have studied at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. The next date is yet to be announced, keep an eye on this page for more information.

Higher education in The Netherlands

The Dutch education system is one of the most innovative and forward thinking in the world. It’s based on student-led learning, analytical debate and hands-on experience. Dutch higher education has an international reputation for its high quality, which is maintained through a stringent national quality assurance system.

Dutch higher education has a binary system, which means that your child can choose between two types of education:

  1. Programmes focussed on preparing students for their future careers, offered by universities of applied sciences. 
  2. Research-oriented education, offered by research universities.
Universities of applied sciences Research universities
  • Higher professional education
  • Research-oriented education
  • ‘How’
  • ‘Why’
  • Prepare students for particular professions and tend to be more practically-oriented.
  • Focus on theoretical aspects of the field of study.
  • More contact hours (e.g. lectures / tutorials)
  • Fewer contact hours & more independent study.
  • Applying existing knowledge
  • Generating new knowledge
  • Goal‐oriented, practical assignments
  • Research assignments
  • Solving a problem and implementing a solution
  • Analysing a problem and, possibly, solving it
  • Work placement usually mandatory starting from the first year
  • Concluding research work placement (not always mandatory)
  • Competence‐oriented: much group work
  • Various forms of instruction

While your child is at The Hague University of Applied Science (THUAS)

Our campuses

Our main campus is located in The Hague. Life on campus revolves around the magnificent oval atrium hall, with its soaring glass ceiling. Nearly 25,000 students and 2,000 staff pass through here every day. There are always events happening here, from celebrations, social gatherings to conferences and symposia, both local and international.

We also have satellite campuses in the cities of Delft and Zoetermeer as well as a new sports orientated campus at Zuiderpark.

Our host city

The Hague, is a cosmopolitan city with global business and justice links that attracts over 40,000 students, making it a truly international student city. The city offers an all-round academic, cultural, professional and experience. As the International City of Peace, Justice and Security, The Hague is bursting with international legal institutions. The city boasts around 131 international institutes and 80 justice organisations and together with New York, Geneva and Vienna it is one of the United Nations cities.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands offers a high standard of living at a fairly low cost. Dutch society is liberal and open-minded with a vibrant cultural scene. Your child will be part of a dynamic, cosmopolitan and multi-cultural community right in the heart of Europe. Although a small country in size, the Netherlands has a big international presence. It is the 21st largest economy in the world. Some of the world’s biggest multinationals, including Philips, Heineken, KLM, ING Bank and Unilever, are Dutch. In addition, companies such as Sony, Sara Lee and Microsoft all have their European headquarters in The Netherlands.

Helping your child choose a study programme

As a parent, you have a significant influence on your child's choice of study programme. Here are some things to consider while helping him/her.

  1. Fields of interest
    Our bachelors programmes are divided into subject areas or ‘fields of interest’. It may help to first identify which field of interest appeals most to your child, before deciding on a degree programme.
  2. Online study choice test
    This online study choice test can help your child find a programme that matches his/her interests by making suggestions based on their answers. It takes just 5 to 10 minutes and is available in different languages.
  3. Open days and guided tours
    You are more than welcome to accompany your child to an open day or attend a guided tour. It is can be very useful for our future students to visit the university before deciding on a study programme. You will also get an idea about the school’s atmosphere and have a chat with the our lecturers.
  4. Trial study days
    Your child can get an impression of a ‘day in the life of a THUAS student’ by attending a Trial Study Day. He/she will get to attend adapted lessons and do assignments. Ask your child to register for a trial study day.
  5. International fairs and events
    Throughout the year we tour international education fairs and events across the globe. You can meet us in your home country (or one that’s close) to learn more about our study programmes. Here is a list of the fairs, events and representatives available in each region.

Practical matters

Visas and residence permits

We shall apply for your child’s entry visa and/or a residence permit on his/her behalf. We use the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service's (IND) fast track-procedure to speed up the application process. More information will be provided during the enrolment process.

Tuition fees and Scholarships

  • EU bachelors students will pay € 2.083,- per year and most non-EU students will pay € 8.140,-.
  • Tuition fees vary between € 16.750,- and € 21.500,- for a master.
  • The English Language Preparatory School programme costs around € 4.250,- for the half-year and € 8.250,- for the full year course.

We appreciate that sending your child off to university is hard enough as it is. Here are a few financial aid and scholarships possibilities available to our students.

Living costs

Students living and studying in The Netherlands generally spend between €800 and €1,100 a month. These expenses include food, public transport, books, clothing as well as housing and insurance. On this website you can find more information about the type of costs a student is facing to avoid undesirable financial circumstances.

Accommodation

We acknowledge that it may be difficult for your child to arrange housing on his/her own. We have therefore, put support procedures in place. THUAS cooperates with agencies that offer accommodation to incoming international students. THUAS can assist approximately 50% of the first year incoming students through our service. More information about the THUAS Housing Service can be found on our housing page.

The application process

Once your child has chosen a study programme, he/she must first meet the admissions requirements stated below and then begin the application process. To start the programme in September, please note that the application should be completed no later than May 1st. Find more about application process.

Admission requirements

If your child has a non-Dutch diploma
We’ll need to assess your child’s secondary school certificate, before we decide on his/her eligibility. To make sure the certificate is judged fairly, we work together with NUFFIC, an organisation specialised in comparing international qualifications.

If your child has a Dutch diploma
Please check our page entry requirements for more information.
Note: if your child has obtained a HAVO/VWO/MBO 4-diploma in ArubaBonaireCuracaoSabaSt. Eustatius or St. Maarten, this will be treated as a Dutch diploma.

English language requirements
Because international programmes are taught entirely in English, students need a good command of spoken and written English.