What needs to be done?
Before you can start with your study in the Arnhem Nijmegen Cool Region, there are many, many things you have to arrange.
First of all, you have to enrol yourself at your chosen educational institute. Next, you have to inform yourself about things like visa, staying permits and insurances. And how will you manage financially? Are you entitled to receive a scholarship? Are you looking for a job on the side? Are you allowed to do any work as a foreign student?
Visa en verblijfsvergunningen (for international students)
An entry visa is a sticker placed in your passport at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your own country, but it must be applied for well in advance.
For a stay of up to three months, you might need a ‘short stay visa’ (Visum Kort Verblijf), depending on your nationality. If you will be staying for longer than three months, you need a ‘provisional residence permit’ (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf, MVV). This requirement does not apply to citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Vatican City, Monaco or South Korea. The easiest way to find out what your requirements are is to fill in Nuffic’s Student Visa Wizard.
Insurances
In The Netherlands, it is compulsory to have a health insurance. Insurance for liability is not obligatory, but highly recommended. Make sure that your current health insurance covers your stay abroad. If not, it might be wise to request an IPS (International Insurance Passport for Students). IPS covers health costs as well as legal help, liability, luggage and home contents.
The website of Nuffic contains information about health insurance for students.
Study grants
A cheap way to study abroad is to make use of an exchange program. On the website of the Nuffic (Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education) you can find an overview of all exchange programs
In the Netherlands grants and government assistance are coordinated by Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) and they offer financial assistance for Dutch students and in some cases also for foreign students. To see if you might be eligible for financial assistance, go to their website, which is also in English.
Having a job as a foreign student
In the Netherlands you are allowed to have a job on the side while studying and it is possible to have an internship at a certain business. But the government has created a few rules for foreign students who work here. The Nuffic [Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education] has organised this information for you.
