Netherlands September Intake: Application Deadlines from 15 January to 1 May

TL;DR: For the Netherlands September intake, applications open on Studielink from 1 October. Fixed-quota (numerus fixus) bachelor's programmes close on 15 January. Most other bachelor's close on 1 May, but many universities set earlier dates for non-EU applicants. Master's deadlines run from 15 January to 1 May depending on the university and programme, and scholarship deadlines come first.

The Netherlands September intake looks far away, but the first hard deadline is only three months out. International students from outside the EU often plan around 1 May, the national date they read about first. For many programmes that date is too late, because universities add their own earlier cut-offs for students who need a residence permit.

This guide sets out the deadlines in the order they arrive, with real dates from Dutch universities, so you can see which one is yours.

Not sure whether your degree and grades fit a Dutch master's or bachelor's? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

How the Netherlands September intake works

Almost every application to a Dutch research university or university of applied sciences starts in Studielink, the national registration system. You create an account, choose your programme and submit an enrolment request. The university then invites you into its own application portal, where you upload transcripts, your English test and any motivation letter.

Two points catch international applicants out:

• A Studielink registration alone is not an application. Erasmus University Rotterdam says plainly that registering in Studielink does not meet its deadline. You must also complete the application in the university's own portal.
• Applications open early. Radboud University and the University of Twente both open September applications from 1 October. You can apply now.

The University of Amsterdam advises submitting your Studielink request at least one week before any deadline. If you live abroad, you can register without a Dutch DigiD by uploading a copy of your passport.

Netherlands September intake deadlines at a glance

Deadlines differ by programme even inside one university, so always confirm the date on your programme's own admissions page.

Want a view on which Dutch programmes fit your degree and timeline before the first deadline arrives?

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The 15 January fixed-quota deadline

Some bachelor's programmes limit how many first-year students they take. These are numerus fixus programmes, and Studielink sets one national deadline for all of them: 15 January at 11:59 PM.

At the University of Amsterdam, the fixed-quota bachelor's are Business Administration, Economics and Business Economics, Political Science and Psychology (English track). Political Science has 325 first-year places and uses an unweighted lottery. Selection methods differ by programme, so read how yours chooses students. If you receive a place, the University of Amsterdam gives you two weeks to confirm it in Studielink.

The rule is simple: if your programme is fixed-quota, 15 January is your deadline, with no extension.

Master's deadlines: 15 January to 1 May

There is no national master's deadline. Each university sets its own, and the spread is wide:

• TU Delft: 15 January for 11 high-demand MSc programmes, 1 April for all others.
• Radboud University: 1 April for regular master's, 31 January if you want to be considered for a scholarship, then enrolment by 1 June.
• University of Groningen: 1 May for most master's, with earlier dates for some, such as Psychology on 1 March and Marine Biology on 15 March.
• University of Twente: a complete application, with all documents uploaded, before 1 May for non-EEA applicants.
• Erasmus University Rotterdam: 1 April for non-EEA Economics and Business applicants, with applications opening on 1 November.

Applying weeks before the deadline also helps with what comes after an offer.

Why non-EU applicants should aim earlier

After you accept an offer, your university applies to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for your residence permit. You cannot apply for it yourself. The IND says a complete application from a recognised university is usually decided within two weeks, but the legal maximum is longer, and you need your documents ready first. The IND advises starting the legalisation of documents several months in advance.

That is why the University of Amsterdam urges bachelor's applicants who need a visa to apply by 1 April and asks non-EU applicants for their English test by 1 April. Radboud asks non-EU bachelor's applicants to complete extra certificates and enrolment by 1 June. Treat 1 May as the last possible date, not the target.

Scholarships come first

Scholarship deadlines usually fall before admission deadlines. The NL Scholarship, formerly the Holland Scholarship, is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science with Dutch institutions, and 47 institutions award it to students from outside the EEA. Each institution sets its own deadline. Radboud's 31 January date shows how early these can be. If you want funding, plan to apply by January.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Dutch deadlines use Central European Time. 15 January at 11:59 PM CET is 4:29 AM on 16 January in Colombo.
• From late March the Netherlands moves to summer time, so 1 April and 1 May at 11:59 PM CEST are 3:29 AM the next morning in Colombo.
• Submit at least a day early. A late-night upload from Colombo that slips past midnight in the Netherlands counts as late.

FAQ

When does the Netherlands September intake open? Studielink opens for September applications from 1 October. Radboud University and the University of Twente both accept applications from that date.

What is the deadline for numerus fixus programmes? 15 January at 11:59 PM CET, nationally, through Studielink. There is no later round for these programmes.

Is 1 May the deadline for every programme? No. 1 May is the national Studielink date for bachelor's programmes without a fixed quota. Many universities set earlier dates for non-EU applicants, and master's deadlines are set by each university.

Is a Studielink registration enough to meet a deadline? Not always. Erasmus University Rotterdam says a Studielink registration alone does not count; you must also complete its own application portal.

Who applies for my Dutch residence permit? Your university applies to the IND on your behalf after you accept your place. You supply the documents.

Can I apply for a September master's from Sri Lanka now? Yes. Applications are open, and applying early leaves time for scholarships, document legalisation and the residence permit.

PS: The deadline that matters is the earliest one on your programme's page, not the national date. If you want help matching your degree to Dutch programmes and building a timeline that clears every cut-off, check your eligibility with Prosper and we will map it with you.

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