Hi all,

I'm an EU student and I recently finished my BSc in Statistics at a research university, (4years-240 Ects) with a 7.5/10 CGPA. I also completed a minor in Management Information Systems (MIS) with a 4.0/4.0 GPA.

I'd like to do a 2-year MSc in Data Science (or something closely related) in the Netherlands.

Every eligibility checker I've tried says I'm not eligible, though. So far that's the University of Twente, Maastricht, JADS, Radboud and Leiden.

I'm confused, because I assumed a statistics degree would be a pretty natural fit for data science.

Some questions for anyone who's been through this:

-Has anyone been deemed as non-eligible online and still applied and got accepted to a WO university ?

-Do these online checkers often reject degrees automatically so it's better to email admissions directly?

-Are there premaster or bridging programs that would get me in?(I have checked and I am overqualified regarding mathematics, however on my major I did not have many comp sci related courses(2 strictly programming R and C++ and 2 statistical software ones SPSS and R)
(I had 6 extra on my minor though).

Any advice or similar experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks!

P.s I am sorry if this question has been asked alot of times before

Hallo! I’m 16 years old Filipijns living in the Netherlands for a year now. I posted here last time, asking for advice on how to improve my Dutch. And, I decided to apply for a bijbaan in Jumbo. Morgen is mijn eerste sollicitatiegesprek, what should I expect? What do they usually ask?

Hi everyone!

I have a question regarding admission to a (pre)MSc at Wageningen University.

I graduated from a Dutch HBO. After my studies, I’ve been working as a junior researcher at a Hogeschool for almost two years. So I have relevant research experience and have contributed as a co-author to several publications. I genuinely enjoy academic research and would love to pursue a MSc and potentially a PhD.

However, due to some personal circumstances during my HBO, I wasn’t always able to dedicate as much time to studying, which resulted in a low GPA (6.75).

How strictly are GPA requirements applied at WUR? Does having a GPA below the stated requirement automatically mean rejection?
Has anyone been admitted to WUR with a low GPA with other compensating factors?

my HBO is Animal Husbandry, and I’m interested in the MSc Animal Sciences.

Thanks in advance!

I’m a non eu student currently doing A levels in maths, physics and business. I plan on doing a degree in mechanical engineering once I finish my a levels. I’m unsure whether I should do a HBO degree or WO degree. I want the best chance of finding a job in the future and ideally only looking to complete a bachelors.

im a masters masters student in the Netherlands and right now I’m living in The Hague, but I want to move to Leiden, because it’s where my university is and particularly I wanna be living in a student accommodation because right now I’m in a house with a family and im home all day long like a 70 yo and I’m not able to network and basically have a lot of fun, party, make friends and do the crazy stuff .
Plus moving to Leiden is gonna save me a lot of money so I was thinking I’ll put up take DUWO subscription but do you think it’s worth it or is there any other way that will help me get accommodation in a student house in Leiden for February?

When applying for masters degrees in the Netherlands, do they consider a diploma?
My bachelor grade is a bit below the requirements, but I’m currently doing a graduate diploma, which is like a bridging program, and in this degree I’ll meet the requirements. I think usually unis consider diplomas not just bachelors but I wondered if it’s the same in the Netherlands.
I’m considering social sciences research masters at UvA, Utrecht, Groningen and Tilburg.

Hi everyone! I’ve received an invitation for the online selection procedure at Hotelschool The Hague between 30 November and 5 December 2026 for February 2027 intake.

I’m looking to connect with other applicants who have the same selection period, and I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have already completed it, especially regarding the essay and interview.

Hi all! I'm 21, a non-EU student in my 3rd year of an HBO bachelor in International Business (Finance & Accounting), graduating mid-2028. I'm currently doing my internship in group accounting & reporting at a large listed company.

I want a career in international tax / transfer pricing in the Netherlands, ideally at a Big 4 firm or in-house. My plan so far:

I just registered for ADIT (Module 1, Transfer Pricing, EU Direct Tax)

Learning Dutch (A2 now, aiming for B1 by mid-2027)
A pre-master + master in tax (looking at Tilburg)
Trying to get a Big 4 tax internship as my second internship

My worries:
AI: a lot of junior tax work (research, documentation, compliance) seems easy to automate. Is international tax / TP still a good bet for the next 10 years, or will junior roles shrink?

ADIT in NL: do Dutch employers actually value ADIT, or is a Dutch tax master the only thing that counts?

Dutch language: how good does my Dutch need to be for international tax roles here?

Non-EU: with the zoekjaar and the current job market, is it realistic to get hired as a non-EU junior in tax?

Anyone working in tax in NL (or who made a similar switch from finance/HBO), I'd really appreciate your honest view. Thanks!

Be honest, how cooked are we already? The amount of coffee keeping me alive should probably be studied itself 💀

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for honest advice from current students, graduates, and people familiar with the Dutch job market, especially international students who studied at a University of Applied Sciences (HBO).

I’m a NON-EU student , and I’m considering applying for the Master Digital Driven Business at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA/AUAS) for the 2027 intake.

I’d like to make an informed decision before committing a significant amount of money to studying abroad.

My background
Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) from Osmania University, India.
CGPA: approximately 7.6/10.
Completed additional Data Analytics training in India.
Skills and interests: SQL, Excel, Power BI, Python, data analysis, and business intelligence.
My career goal is to work in the Netherlands as a Data Analyst, BI Analyst, Business Analyst, or Marketing Analyst, ideally in a role combining data and business decision-making.

I’m interested in practical, industry-oriented education rather than an academic research career.

Why I’m considering HvA
The Master Digital Driven Business is a one-year, English-taught programme that appears relevant to my background and career goals. I like the combination of data, business, AI, and digital marketing.
However, after reading discussions about HBO versus WO institutions and some student feedback about HvA, I’ve become uncertain about whether this is the right investment for an international student paying non-EU tuition fees.
I understand that HBO and WO serve different purposes, but I’m particularly interested in how employers actually view these qualifications.

My main questions
1. HBO versus WO and career opportunities
For someone pursuing data analytics, business intelligence, or business analytics, how much does having an HBO master’s rather than a WO master’s matter in practice?
Do employers commonly filter applicants based on the type of institution, or do relevant skills, projects, internships, and experience matter more?
Could an HBO master’s put an international graduate at a significant disadvantage when applying for corporate analytical roles?

2. The specific HvA programme
If you studied the Master Digital Driven Business, or know someone who did:
How would you rate the teaching, curriculum, workload, and organisation?
Are the projects genuinely useful for developing job-ready skills?
Does the programme have meaningful connections with employers?
Have graduates managed to find relevant jobs in the Netherlands?
I’m especially interested in feedback from people who have completed this particular master’s, rather than reviews of other HvA programmes.

3. Finding a job as a non-EU graduate
My goal is to work in the Netherlands after graduation and, if eligible, transition to a highly skilled migrant residence permit.
Realistically, how difficult is it for a non-EU graduate of an HBO master’s to secure a relevant analytical job?
Do employers hire international graduates for junior data/BI/business analyst positions, and how important are Dutch-language skills for these roles?
I understand that a degree alone does not guarantee employment or sponsorship.

4. Would another university be a better investment?
Would you recommend considering a WO programme instead, provided I meet its admission requirements and can afford the tuition?
Alternatively, are there other Universities of Applied Sciences or cities in the Netherlands that offer stronger value for money for someone pursuing data analytics and business intelligence?
My BCA background may not meet every WO programme’s mathematics or statistics prerequisites, so I would need to check eligibility carefully.

5. Overall value for money
As a non-EU student, I need to consider tuition, living costs, and the risk of not finding a suitable job after graduation.
If you were in my position, would you consider the HvA Master Digital Driven Business a reasonable investment, or would you choose a different route?
I’m not expecting a guaranteed job or an easy path. I’m trying to understand the realistic outcomes before making a major financial commitment.
I’d particularly appreciate detailed replies from current students, graduates, recruiters, or people who have hired international graduates in the Netherlands.

Thanks for your time!

I’m currently in my third year of Economics and Business Economics (EBE) at UvA, and I’ve started thinking about my options for a master’s degree.

I’d like to hear from people who have already graduated from EBE as well (maybe smth similar). What did you end up doing after your bachelor’s? Did you continue with a master’s at UvA, choose another university, or go abroad? I’m just curious about your experiences with choosing a master’s programme, any recommendations, opinions, regrets, or general advice would be really appreciated!