File Ukraine
The situation in Ukraine leaves no one unmoved. There are many questions, uncertainties, messages of support and actions to help. In this file you can read what the UAF does, which organizations you can contact if you want to help, and we answer questions about studying or working in the Netherlands.
Note: There are still many uncertainties and unfortunately we do not yet have an answer to every question. We will update this information when something changes. Check this website regularly for up-to-date information.
Remove barriers
Nearly 8,2 million people have now fled the war in Ukraine (source: UNHCR). Nearly 95.000 refugees from Ukraine are registered with Dutch municipalities. These are not only Ukrainians, but also Afghans, Yemenis and people from African countries who studied or worked in Ukraine when the war started.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has determined that the tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year for refugee students from Ukraine, who fall under the European Protection Directive,will not be reduced. This academic year they will have to pay the high tuition fees at most educational institutions. For Ukrainian students who started last academic year, the lower rate will continue to apply this year. Ukrainian students are also not entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses or other study-related costs, nor to student financing from the Dutch government.
All schools and universities independently decide which tuition fees apply to Ukrainian students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
It is important to ensure access to higher education for students who have fled Ukraine, including third-country nationals. This requires the right information, but above all financial barriers must be removed. We have called on the Ministry of Education several times for these barriers to dispel. The government remains silent. This leads to even more insecurities in areas such as work, study and language.
We will keep you informed about the discussions with the Ministry via our website and hope that educational institutions will be flexible with the admission of these students.
FAQ
General
The UAF focuses on educational and work opportunities for refugees. Our services are in addition to existing government facilities. We help refugees from Ukraine who currently contact the UAF, for example with questions about study and work, with information and advice. See 'For refugees from Ukraine' below.
The UAF received dozens of questions every week from refugees from Ukraine who would like to start an English-language education in the Netherlands. These refugee students could turn to the UAF for financial support. The UAF paid for an IELTS course and exam for Ukrainian students conditionally admitted to higher education courses. More than 60 refugee students have taken advantage of this.
The UAF believes that every refugee has the right to follow higher and vocational education. We remain committed to making this possible for all refugees by, among other things, supporting them in preparing for their studies. As UAF, we advocate equal treatment and access to facilities for all refugees.
The costs we incur because we reimburse the English courses are not at the expense of opportunities for refugees who are preparing for a course at the UAF. Refugees in the Netherlands with a residence status have access to higher and vocational education under the same conditions as Dutch nationals and can be eligible for reimbursement and guidance in study preparation via the UAF.
In order to actually make study possible, provisions must be made to cover tuition fees and associated study costs, such as reimbursement of textbooks and travel expenses. We therefore continue to call on the government to provide educational institutions with these costs, so that refugee students in the Netherlands can get back to work. For the time being, prospective students can discuss the options for funding with the educational institution where they have registered.
The European Union Temporary Protection Directive gives the right to shelter, medical care and education for minor children in the Netherlands. In addition, it gives the opportunity to work.
However, refugees from Ukraine who did not have permanent residence in Ukraine before coming to the Netherlands will probably no longer fall under the Temporary Protection Directive after 4 September 2023.
Refugees from Ukraine can study at a university or college in the Netherlands, provided they have the required prior education level and meet the admission requirements for the course they want to follow. You can read more information about studying in the Netherlands for refugee students from Ukraine below.
Op RefugeeHelp refugees from Ukraine can also find the latest information about shelter, permanent housing and working in the Netherlands.
- Goods, clothing and actions for Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands:
We are affiliated with 'Support Ukrainian refugees' en RefugeeHelp en refer here for questions about shelter, collecting things, voluntary activities, local initiatives and so on. People who approach the UAF via both platforms, for example with questions about study en work, we help you on your way with information and advice. - Goods, clothing and actions for refugees in neighboring countries/Ukraine:
There are many organizations that provide (emergency) aid abroad. We would like to point out the collection campaign of the cooperating aid organizations Giro 555.
For refugees from Ukraine
Refugees from Ukraine can study at a university or college in the Netherlands, provided they have the required prior education level and meet the admission requirements for the course they want to follow.
- Go to nuffic.nl to see how your previous education in Ukraine compares to the Dutch education system.
- Request a free credential evaluation from IDW.
- Study in NL provides more general information about Dutch education system and to seek training.
- If you have found a suitable course, please contact the educational institution directly about your registration. Please note that the deadline for applying for a course at a university or college is generally May 1st. For MBO courses, the deadline is usually April 1st. The deadline may be earlier for certain courses with additional requirements.
The Dutch government brochure also provides information about studying at an institution of higher education in the Netherlands.
Refugees from Ukraine can also follow a MBO course, but most MBO courses require a high level of Dutch.
The brochure from the Dutch government provides information about study on MBOlevel in the Netherlands.
The above information applies to refugees from Ukraine who fall under the Temporary Protection Directive. If you did not have a permanent place of residence in Ukraine before you came to the Netherlands, you will probably no longer be covered by the law after September 4, 2023. temporary protection directive. Unfortunately, we cannot help you in this situation. If you want to study in the Netherlands after September 4, 2023, you will need a residence permit for study purposes. The IND provides more information about it applying for a residence permit for study. The tuition fees for international students therefore apply to you. We advise you to contact the international office of the educational institution of your choice to discuss your situation and the options for a residence permit for study purposes.
If you did not have permanent residence in Ukraine before coming to the Netherlands, but have now applied for Asylum in the Netherlands, please view our information for asylum seekers and refugees.
If you need assistance at this time, we recommend that you contact your university's international office or student counselor directly.
You can also contact it Nuffic (Dutch Organization for Internationalization in Education).
Check the information regularly Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) for updates.
Go to nuffic.nl to see how your diploma or previous education in Ukraine compares to the Dutch education system.
You can also use a request a free international credential evaluation at IDW. A diploma evaluation shows which level in the Dutch education system is comparable to your diploma. This information will help you apply for training or look for a job.
In the 2022-2023 academic year, most Dutch universities reduced tuition fees for refugee students from Ukraine to the legal minimum, €2.209. This also applied to some colleges (HBO/University).
For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has not reduced tuition fees for Ukrainian students. Ukrainian students are also not entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses or other study-related costs, or to student financing from the Dutch government.
All schools and universities independently decide which tuition fees apply to Ukrainian students for the 2023-2024 academic year. If you do not yet know which tuition fee rate applies to you, please contact the university directly.
The UAF's services are always a supplement to existing government facilities. We currently offer information and advice about studying and working.
Previously, we provided support for IELTS preparation courses and exams in 2022 and 2023. We are also supporting approximately 50 Ukrainian students in their studies for the academic year 2023-2024. Due to limited capacity and funds, it is no longer possible to register for this form of support.
As soon as more options become available, we will communicate this here.
Previously, we provided support for IELTS preparation courses and exams in 2022 and 2023. We are also supporting approximately 50 Ukrainian students in their studies for the academic year 2023-2024. Due to limited capacity and funds, it is no longer possible to register for this form of support.
As soon as more options become available, we will communicate this here.
You can inquire about available Dutch courses at the municipality where you are registered. Our website also provides some tips to practice and learn Dutch.
UAF Academy
The UAF has developed the online learning and development platform the 'UAF Academy'. Here you can start learning the Dutch language and find information about study and work in the Netherlands. The e-learning courses at the UAF Academy are free. Click here for more information and registration conditions.
At the moment, the UAF can only help scientists who have an asylum residence permit in the Netherlands and speak Dutch at B1 level to find PhD/research/teaching positions in the Netherlands.
As more becomes clear about the type of residence permits that Ukrainian refugees will receive in the Netherlands and the conditions (for work and study) attached to these residence permits, we will know more about the type of support that the UAF can provide.
As soon as we know more we will publish this information on this page.
- More information for researchers will also be shared at euraxess.
- The Organisation Scholars at Risk may be able to help you find a job at a Dutch university. You can contact them directly about the possibilities.
- You can also search for available PhD positions at Dutch universities via academictransfer.com. If you find an interesting position or department, you can contact the university directly to discuss the possibilities.
It is possible to follow the Bachelor's program in Medicine at Maastricht University and the University of Groningen in English. The master's programs required to qualify for Medicine in the Netherlands are only taught in Dutch and therefore require you to speak Dutch at B2 - C1 level. During the bachelor's program in Groningen you are required to learn Dutch in order to qualify for the master's degree.
It is not certain that you will be able to pick up your studies where you left off. You may have to redo part of the program. Maastricht University and the University of Groningen can best advise you on this and on the options for obtaining exemptions.
Also with regard to the registration deadline, because it has already passed for students who want to start in September 2023.
If you live near one of these cities, there may be opportunities to attend colleges as a guest student while awaiting next year's selection process. Click here for more information:
To be allowed to work as a medical professional in the Netherlands, you need BIG registration. The BIG register is a legal, online and public register for professions in individual healthcare.
BIG registration is mandatory for 12 healthcare professions in the Netherlands: clinical technologist, dentist, doctor, healthcare psychologist, midwife, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, physician assistant, psychotherapist, registered dental hygienist (temporary BIG registration) and orthopedagogue.
Only healthcare professionals who are registered in the BIG register may use the protected professional title and independently perform the reserved actions associated with the profession. Click here .
Obtaining a BIG registration is an intensive procedure with many steps. Here you can read more about the procedure.
Before you start the procedure, you must speak Dutch at B2/C1 level. This probably also applies to a residence permit.
It may also be useful to check the website of the Association of Foreign Graduate Physicians for more information relevant to your situation.
Regarding learning Dutch, you can inquire about available Dutch courses at the municipality where you are registered.
You can also do so on our website find tips for learning the Dutch language.
The UAF can only help refugees find work once they have reached B2 level of Dutch. For more information about finding work see Refugee Help.
If you have any questions about your situation, please visit RefugeeHelp the latest information in your own language.
On RefugeeHelp you can find information about the asylum procedure, return to your country of origin, family reunification, integration, finding work, education and healthcare in the Netherlands. RefugeeHelp also has articles about current events that are important for you to know.
For educational institutions
Local initiatives can be passed on to the platform "Refugee Help" from Refugee Work Netherlands. Many initiatives are listed there. There is a great need for opportunities for refugees from Ukraine to learn the Dutch (or English) language.
The UAF is involved in RefugeeHelp and will refer you if there is no (accompaniment) trajectory together with the UAF.
This is indeed a distressing situation. The UAF has already heard such disturbing noises from a few educational institutions. Sometimes it concerns a few hundred students at one college or university. Whether or not it is wise for these students to apply for asylum in the Netherlands is a question that the UAF cannot answer. We will pass on the signals to the umbrella organisations: Universities of the Netherlands and the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences. They can report this to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. We request educational institutions to also report this.
Asylum applications are processed by the IND. Given the number of students in this situation, we expect that the cabinet will consider this and come up with a solution.
For companies and organizations
We experience a lot of involvement, solidarity and willingness to take action and we appreciate that enormously. The UAF focuses on educational and work opportunities for refugees living in the Netherlands. Our services are in addition to existing government facilities. It is currently unclear what measures the government will take.
As soon as the UAF is called upon for additional support, we appeal to our donors to help make this possible. Meanwhile, the UAF supports nearly four thousand refugees from other conflict areas such as Syria, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Yemen and Eritrea.
We recommend for emergency assistance to contribute to the action of the Collaborating aid organizations Giro 555.
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