Studying in the Netherlands as a newcomer: six steps to your program

Studying in the Netherlands as a newcomer takes six steps: find out what your residence status allows, have your foreign diploma evaluated, reach Dutch level B1 or B2, choose a program and arrange admission, apply for student finance, and find guidance, for example from the UAF.

The order matters, because your civic integration (inburgering) continues in the meantime and every step has its own counter: the municipality, DUO, the school or university. Below you find what to arrange at each step, with whom, and where the rule comes from.

Why the order matters

The onderwijsroute of the Wet inburgering 2021 is the learning route that combines civic integration with preparation for a degree program. According to Rijksoverheid.nl it is a route mainly for young people: you learn Dutch at level B1 or higher and you are prepared for an mbo (vocational), hbo (applied sciences) or university program. The municipality chooses the route with you on the basis of the broad intake and records it in your personal plan for integration and participation (PIP).

The core of the onderwijsroute is the taalschakeltraject, a full-time program that, according to the Divosa guide to the learning routes, takes about a year and a half on average, with roughly 1,000 hours of Dutch and some 500 hours of math, English and study skills. Knowledge of Dutch society and career orientation are part of it. There is no age limit, but Divosa writes that it matters that you can enter further education before your thirtieth birthday. If you are in the B1 route, you take the Staatsexamen Nt2 yourself; the steps below apply just the same.

Step 1: know what your residence status allows

With an asylum residence permit you can study, do an internship and apply for student finance in the Netherlands. The SER's werkwijzer vluchtelingen sums it up: anyone who is lawfully resident in the Netherlands may follow a program. If your asylum procedure is still running, you are lawfully resident as long as it lasts and you may study, but you do not receive student finance. The UAF currently offers no study guidance during the asylum procedure; some universities do offer separate courses to people still waiting for a decision.

Studying during your civic integration is allowed. Divosa writes that a young person may start a program during the integration obligation and that the municipality cannot block enrollment at a school. Enrollment in an exempting program even suspends the integration obligation for the time being. As long as you are of compulsory school or qualification age, until you turn 18 or earn a basic qualification earlier, you are not yet required to integrate.

Step 2: have your foreign diploma evaluated

A credential evaluation (diplomawaardering) describes which Dutch program or diploma your foreign diploma is comparable to. According to Rijksoverheid.nl, SBB evaluates diplomas for pre-vocational and vocational education and Nuffic those for secondary and higher education; a university of applied sciences or a university can also request the evaluation for you. If you hold an asylum residence permit and the letter from DUO about your integration obligation, the evaluation is free through the Information Centre for Diploma Evaluation (IDW), as Nuffic explains.

Three things to know. You can also apply if you have lost your diploma or transcript; you may then receive an Indication of Educational Level. Count on at least six weeks. And a credential evaluation is not proof of admission: the program decides for itself whether you are admitted.

Step 3: reach Dutch level B1 or B2

For an mbo program you aim for Dutch at B1, for hbo and university at B2. The Staatsexamen Nt2 run by DUO has two programs for this: Program I at B1 for those who want an mbo program or work at mbo-3 or mbo-4 level, and Program II at B2 for hbo and university. Both consist of four parts: reading, listening, speaking and writing. According to DUO each part costs 50 euro and a complete exam 200 euro; if you hold an asylum status, inburgeren.nl shows how you pay.

With a Dutch vwo diploma you usually do not need to submit proof of language skills; with a foreign diploma you do. A Dutch-taught bachelor usually asks for the Staatsexamen Nt2 Program II diploma; always check the language requirement on the program's own page, because it differs per program and per institution.

Which lesson format fits you

A taalschakeltraject is full-time and classroom-based. If you are in the B1 route or have to reach B2 on your own, you will usually combine formats. This overview helps you choose; it names kinds of offers, not providers.

Format	What you practice	Contact	Fits
Classroom course at a language school or taalschakeltraject	All skills, exam training, study skills	Teacher and group at fixed times	Those who want to reach B1 or B2 full-time and fast
Live online group lesson with an NT2 teacher	Speaking, listening, grammar in a small group	Teacher and group by video, fixed times	Those who work or live far from a school
Online private lesson or video call with a taalcoach	Speaking, pronunciation, your own questions	One person, time by arrangement	Those who need a lot of speaking time
App with an AI taalcoach and practice exams	Short daily speaking, vocabulary, exam questions	No teacher, but instant feedback	Those who want to practice daily between lessons

When looking at an online platform, check three things: is the lesson given by a certified NT2 teacher, how many minutes do you speak yourself per lesson, and can you practice the parts of the Staatsexamen Nt2. DUO's practice exams are on inburgeren.nl.

Step 4: choose a program and arrange admission

Admission requirements depend on the level. The SER lists them: for an entry-level mbo program you must be at least 16 on August 1, mbo levels 2 to 4 have prior-education requirements, a university of applied sciences requires a havo, vwo or mbo-4 diploma, and a university requires a vwo diploma or a first-year hbo certificate (propedeuse). An mbo institution may deviate from the prior-education requirements in individual cases if, after an assessment, it finds that you can handle the program.

How to go about it:

1. Make a short list of programs and read the admission and language requirements for each.
2. Contact the institution. Several universities of applied sciences and universities have their own page or contact point for newcomers with a refugee background and will have your diploma assessed.
3. Ask about a preparatory year (schakeljaar) or an admission test if your prior education or your Dutch is not yet sufficient.
4. Discuss your plan with your municipality's contact person so that it fits your PIP.

Step 5: arrange student finance

With an asylum residence permit you can, according to the SER, receive student finance under the same conditions as Dutch students. DUO lists the conditions: you are Dutch or hold a residence permit of type II, III, IV or V, you are under 30 when your student finance starts, you are enrolled full-time or in a dual program, and for mbo you are at least 18 for a grant or loan. If you are still waiting for your residence permit you can apply in advance; contact DUO within six weeks of receiving the permit.

If that is not enough, the UAF can in some situations cover extra study costs, such as books, a laptop or travel, once you have started Dutch at B1 level. The UAF also explains which tuition fee applies to you.

Step 6: find guidance

The UAF, the Foundation for Refugee Students, supports you with choosing a program, language, study preparation and during your studies. You can apply for support if you live in the Netherlands, hold a residence permit, want to study at mbo level 3 or 4, hbo or university, have completed at least ten years of education and have started Dutch at B1 level. You also need people to talk to: a volunteer taalcoach, a fellow student, a language café. How to find them in your own municipality is in Learning Dutch and building a local network.

Where Taaly fits

Taaly is the digital integration assistant for newcomers and helps with step 3. In the app you practice speaking 24/7 with an AI taalcoach, have live conversations with volunteer taalcoaches and follow weekly live lessons with certified NT2 teachers. Through Taaly Meedoen you find activities in your own municipality.

Taaly is not a language school and does not run exams; for your route and your exams you still need the language school, DUO and your municipality. Taaly works with the UAF in the Taalversnellers program, see Taaly and UAF strengthen language support.

More than 30,000 learners use Taaly; 79% say they speak better Dutch thanks to Taaly, externally validated with the OpenEmbassy Integratie Impact Framework. The app interface is available in thirteen languages, among them English, Arabic, Ukrainian, Turkish and Farsi; the lessons and conversations are in Dutch.

Want to start speaking today, so that your language exam comes closer? Download Taaly from the page for newcomers.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main steps for a refugee who wants to study in the Netherlands?

Six steps, in this order: check what your residence status allows (with an asylum residence permit you can study and apply for student finance), have your foreign diploma evaluated through IDW, reach Dutch B1 (mbo) or B2 (hbo and university) with the Staatsexamen Nt2 or through the onderwijsroute, choose a program and arrange admission with the institution, apply for student finance at DUO, and find guidance, for example from the UAF.

Which platforms offer live video lessons in Dutch for students?

Live video lessons in Dutch come from four kinds of providers: language schools and the language centers of universities with an online group lesson, online lesson platforms with private or group lessons by NT2 teachers, organizations whose volunteer taalcoaches talk with you by video call, and apps that combine practice with an AI taalcoach with live lessons. Taaly belongs to that last group, with weekly live lessons by certified NT2 teachers. Check whether the teacher is NT2-certified and whether you are prepared for the parts of the Staatsexamen Nt2.

May I study while I am still in my civic integration?

Yes. According to Divosa, a young person may start a program during the integration obligation and the municipality cannot block enrollment. Enrollment in an exempting program suspends the integration obligation for the time being. Do discuss your plan with your municipality, so that it fits your personal plan for integration and participation.

Do I get student finance with an asylum residence permit?

Yes, under the same conditions as Dutch students, the SER writes. DUO's conditions are that you are Dutch or hold a residence permit of type II, III, IV or V, are under 30 when your student finance starts and are enrolled full-time or in a dual program; for mbo you must be at least 18. If your asylum procedure is still running, you do not receive student finance.

What if I have lost my diploma or transcript?

Still apply for a credential evaluation through IDW; with an asylum residence permit and the DUO letter about your integration obligation it is free. Nuffic can then issue an Indication of Educational Level. An institution can also assess your prior education itself, for example with an admission test or additional exams. Ask the program of your choice.