Studielink Application for International Students: How to Apply to a Dutch University

TL;DR: Studielink is the national enrolment system every Dutch bachelor's application starts in. A Studielink application for international students needs no DigiD: you create an account with your passport details, choose up to four programmes, and meet the deadline, 15 January for numerus fixus programmes and 1 May for most others. Then the university's own portal asks for your documents, and the university applies for your residence permit.

Many students think they have applied once they press submit in Studielink. They have not. Studielink is the front door. The real application, with your documents, selection steps and any portfolio, happens in the university's own system afterwards, often with a separate deadline only days later.

Not sure your qualifications fit a Dutch bachelor's or master's? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What Studielink is, and what it is not

Studielink is run for Dutch higher education institutions as a single place to request enrolment. It records which programme you want, your personal details and your prior education. It does not assess you. Each university decides on admission in its own process.

You can apply for a maximum of four programmes per academic year in Studielink, and no more than two of them can be numerus fixus programmes, which are courses with a fixed number of places and selection.

The Studielink application, step by step

1. Create an account without DigiD. Go to Studielink.nl. DigiD is the Dutch digital ID, and students living abroad do not have one. Choose the option to create an account without DigiD and enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport.
2. Add your enrolment request. Search for the programme by its English name, pick the right university, start month and study mode, and submit.
3. Watch your email. The university sends login details for its own application portal, usually within a few days.
4. Complete the university portal. Upload what it asks for. Breda University of Applied Sciences, for example, asks international applicants for a CV, a passport copy and a secondary school diploma with grades and a translation if needed, by 4 May.
5. Take part in the study choice check. Universities invite applicants to a matching activity: a test, a questionnaire or a meeting. The advice you get is not binding, but take it seriously.
6. Confirm and pay. Once admitted, you finish enrolment from your Studielink "To do" list, including how you will pay tuition.

Want a view on which Dutch programme and deadline fit your grades before you start in Studielink?

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The dates that matter

These are national dates. Many universities set earlier deadlines for applicants who need a residence permit, so treat the programme page as the final word. For master's programmes, each university sets its own deadline.

After Studielink: the residence permit

Students from outside the EU need a residence permit to study in the Netherlands, and here the Dutch system works differently from the UK or Australia. You do not apply yourself. Only recognised sponsors, which are the accredited universities, can submit the application on a student's behalf.

The university will ask you for proof of funds and the permit fees, then file the application. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) says it usually decides within two weeks of receiving an application from a university. The permit lasts for your study period plus three months, up to five years, and you must earn at least 50% of your credits each year to keep it.

Keep copies of everything you upload to the university portal, because the same documents often come back when the university prepares your permit file. Reply to its emails quickly, since a missing document pauses the whole process.

For the money side, see our guide to Netherlands student visa proof of funds.

Mistakes that cost places

• Stopping at Studielink. If you never complete the university portal, there is no application to assess.
• Missing the portal deadline. It can fall days after the Studielink date.
• Using a different name spelling. Your name in Studielink must match your passport, or the residence permit file will stall.
• Leaving it to May. A 1 May application leaves little time for the permit before a September start.
• Choosing the wrong type of university. Research universities and universities of applied sciences suit different goals. Our comparison of research universities and universities of applied sciences explains the difference.

Applying from Sri Lanka

Universities list their own requirements for Sri Lankan qualifications, usually based on GCE A/L results, so check the entry page of each programme before you choose your four. Have your A/L and O/L certificates ready in English before you start, since the portal asks for them within days of your Studielink request.

FAQ

Do I need a DigiD to use Studielink? No. Students living outside the Netherlands create an account without DigiD.

How many programmes can I apply to in Studielink? Up to four per academic year, with no more than two numerus fixus programmes.

What is the Studielink deadline? 15 January for numerus fixus programmes and 1 May for most bachelor's programmes. Universities can set earlier dates for non-EU applicants.

Is submitting in Studielink the same as applying? No. It starts the process. You must then complete the university's own application portal.

Who applies for my Dutch residence permit? Your university does, as a recognised sponsor. You provide the documents and fees it asks for.

Can I apply to Dutch universities with Sri Lankan A/Ls? Many programmes accept them, but requirements vary by university and programme, so check each one.

PS: The students who get places in the Netherlands are usually the ones who start early, finish the university portal the same week and leave room for the residence permit. If you want help choosing between programmes before you commit your four Studielink choices, check your eligibility with Prosper.

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