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 had a temporary Ukrainian residence permit before you came to the Netherlands, you are no longer covered temporary protection directive. Unfortunately, we cannot help you in this situation. If you want to study in the Netherlands, you 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 had a temporary Ukrainian residence permit before you came to the Netherlands, and you 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 fee rate applies to Ukrainian students for the 2024-2025 academic year. If you do not yet know which tuition fee rate applies to you, please contact the university directly.

The UAF can support Ukrainian students again in the coming academic year (2024-2025).

We can offer a limited number of students guidance and financial assistance for study-related costs during the academic year. We can also help you obtain an IELTS certificate if this is required for admission to a course starting in 2024.

From June 17, 2024 it is possible to request support from the UAF to finance IELTS and/or your studies. A contact form will be placed on this page on June 17 from 9.00:XNUMX am. You can make the request via the contact form. After you have submitted the contact form, you will receive a confirmation with additional information about possible next steps to complete your registration. Applications are processed in order of receipt. Be quick because we can support a limited number of students.

Conditions for registration:

• You fall under the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukraine;
• You have been conditionally admitted to study in higher education or scientific education in the Netherlands;
• Your level of English is around level B2 (a language level determined according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(Cefr).

As soon as more is known, that information will be added 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.

The UAF can support Ukrainian students again in the coming academic year (2024-2025).

We can offer a limited number of students guidance and financial assistance for study-related costs during the academic year. We can also help you obtain an IELTS certificate if this is required for admission to a course starting in 2024.

From June 17, 2024 it is possible to request support from the UAF to finance IELTS and/or your studies.

For more information, see the question: How can I apply for support from the UAF for my studies?

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. 

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:

• University of Maastricht
• University of Groningen

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 educational psychologist. 
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.

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. 

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.