🇳🇱 University of Amsterdam — Tuition, Scholarships & Visa Pathway for International Students
QS 2027 #60 · €15,730–34,500 a year · Amsterdam
Quick Facts
| Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Global Ranking | #60 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026). |
| International Students | Strong international cohort at the Amsterdam Science Park campus, a joint research cluster with AMOLF and Nikhef — Europe's densest concentration of research institutes on a single campus. Note: international Bachelor's enrolment has recently declined somewhat, part of a broader Dutch policy push to manage capacity. |
| English Requirement | Typically IELTS 6.5+ or equivalent, varies by programme |
Tuition for International Students (2026-27)
€15,730–34,500 per year (Non-EEA bachelor's institutional fee for 2027-28 (Economics to Medicine)). Source: UvA: tuition fees, checked 30 October 2026. Add at least €13,569 a year for living costs (study visa minimum; source below).
Real Scholarships — Not Just a List of Names
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship
Full tuition and €10,000/year for living expenses for exceptionally talented Master's applicants — selected by faculties after admission, not a separate application.
Where UvA Is Genuinely World-Leading
The overall ranking undersells UvA's real strength in specific fields. It has held the #1 global position for Communication Science and Media Studies for 9 consecutive years in QS Subject Rankings — not a marginal lead, but a sustained, dominant position in that specific field. Its joint Dentistry programme with VU Amsterdam ranks #3 globally, and Geography, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology all sit inside the world's top 20. For applicants choosing between UvA and a higher-overall-ranked university, these subject-specific positions matter more than the institutional headline number if your field is one of UvA's genuine specialties — a sustained 9-year dominance in one field says more about departmental strength than a single year's overall placement.
Visa & Post-Study Work Pathway
UvA's Amsterdam location gives graduates direct access to the Netherlands' densest concentration of multinational corporate headquarters, particularly relevant for economics, law and data science graduates targeting the Highly Skilled Migrant visa pathway.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is UvA good for international students?
University of Amsterdam is ranked #60 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, 2nd of the 2 universities in the Netherlands covered on VisaCalc. International tuition runs €15,730–34,500 a year depending on the program. After graduating: orientation year (zoekjaar): 12 months after graduating. Whether it is a good fit depends on your program, budget and career plans; use the cost calculator and comparison charts on this page.
What tuition does UvA charge international students?
€15,730–34,500 per year (Non-EEA bachelor's institutional fee for 2027-28 (Economics to Medicine)), checked 30 October 2026.
What IELTS score do I need for UvA?
Typically IELTS 6.5+ or equivalent, varies by programme
Can I work in Netherlands after graduating from UvA?
UvA's Amsterdam location gives graduates direct access to the Netherlands' densest concentration of multinational corporate headquarters, particularly relevant for economics, law and data science graduates targeting the Highly Skilled Migrant visa pathway.
See the full Netherlands university landscape and visa pathway.
🇳🇱 Study in Netherlands Guide 🔗 Official UvA Website
Worked example: a full degree at University of Amsterdam
An international student starting a 3-year bachelor's at the lowest fee shown, budgeting the official visa living-cost figure. Rates are converted at the 29 Oct 2026 reference rates; use the calculator above to change any assumption.
| Tuition | €15,730 a year (lowest rate in the published range: Non-EEA bachelor's institutional fee for 2027-28 (Economics to Medicine)) |
| Living costs | €13,569 a year (IND means-of-support norm for university students in 2026: €1,130.77/month) |
| Years | 3 (typical bachelor's length) |
| Total, fees flat | €87,897 ≈ ₹93.4 lakh ≈ $97,968 |
| Total if costs rise 4% a year | €91,460 ≈ ₹97.1 lakh |
| Most expensive programme, same assumptions | €144,207 ≈ ₹1.53 crore |
The visa living-cost figure is a legal minimum, not a comfortable budget. Scholarships are not deducted.
Sources
- UvA: tuition fees
- UvA: rankings
- IND: fees and required amounts for 2026
- Exchange rates: open.er-api.com reference rates, 29 Oct 2026
How we checked this page
Fees for University of Amsterdam come from the UvA: tuition fees; the QS 2027 position from UvA: rankings; living costs from IND: fees and required amounts for 2026. Checked on 30 October 2026. Course-level fees vary, so confirm your exact program on the official University of Amsterdam website before paying anything. VisaCalc is independent of University of Amsterdam. Not admissions or immigration advice.