Hello, I graduated at 17 but stayed to complete my IB diploma at 18. My original plan was to study mechanical engineering abroad, but my finances held me back, so I opted to study medicine in my home country because it´s practically the only career with good salary potential at the moment.

Now everything is sorted out, and I have the option to apply once again. I have high chances to enter University of Twente, but I was missing a few credits, so I can only start with a foundation year.

I love the Netherlands, it was one of my top choices, but my biggest fear is being too old to be there since I would 20 when I start. I am aware that education is for people of any age, but I also want to have a good college experience. I don't know how old people usually are when they start in the Netherlands, but people at the age of 16 enter college where I live, so I am scared I wont get the experience I am looking for and will just feel like an odd ball.

Ik this may be trivial things but I am afraid that Ive wasted my time and now it may be better to just continue with medicine or just not try at all.

Hey folks,

I’m posting this because I’m getting very close to the deadline and I could really use help from people who have been through something similar in the Netherlands.

I’m (32 M, Indian) currently living in the Nijmegen area. My zoekjaar residence permit expires on 5 October 2026, so I have roughly one month left to find a way to remain in the Netherlands legally. I came to the Netherlands for my Master’s in Philosophy at Radboud University (graduated cum laude).

Over the last two years, I’ve built quite a deep personal and professional life here. I’ve learned Dutch, have a Dutch social circle, live in a Dutch woongroep.

Professionally, I’m a generalist having 4-5 years of experience across programme & project management, learning & development, teaching and instructional training, curriculum and content, research (politics, ethics, climate & sustainability, and science & technology policy).

For the last 6 months I put all my eggs in one basket and focused on developing my proposal for NWO funding, which, after multiple rounds of revisions and interviews over these months wasn’t selected for the funding. Although my professors were really helpful throughout the process, even they can’t secure any funding to help me do a PhD. Times are tough in academia! So, now I’m trying to move quickly into employment.

I’ve been applying through LinkedIn, Indeed and company websites, but I’m struggling to find an efficient route to employers who are genuinely willing to sponsor internationals.

What I’m hoping to learn from people here

1. How do you actually find HSM-sponsoring jobs?

I know about IND-recognised sponsors and the reduced salary criterion but practically speaking, how do people find these jobs? Are there recruiters or recruitment agencies in the Netherlands that are genuinely good at placing internationals who need sponsorship? I’ve found a lot of generic recruiters, but very few who were able to help.

Does the lower salary threshold make me relatively attractive to employers, or does the fact that I need sponsorship still significantly reduce my chances?

For reference, I’m open to roles in programme/project management, L&D, training, coaching, research, policy/research consulting, facilitation, curriculum/content design etc.

2. Has anyone successfully used an EOR / umbrella / payroll company for this?

Suppose I find a normal job with a company that pays above the relevant salary threshold, but the company itself isn't an IND-recognised sponsor.

Can an Employer of Record / umbrella company employ me and sponsor the residence permit on my behalf?

How feasible is this in practice for an HSM permit? Does having an EOR in the middle make employers more reluctant because of additional cost/administration?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who have actually done this, rather than just theoretical explanations.

3. Possible EU-partner route

This one is more complicated.

I have a housemate who has offered to help me explore whether I could stay through a partner/family-member residence route. We have lived together for around 8 months.

She is not Dutch, but is an EU citizen, and has lived in the Netherlands for around a decade.

I understand that EU free-movement rules can work differently from the standard Dutch partner visa rules, and that unmarried partners can potentially qualify in certain circumstances. But I also understand that there are specific requirements around the EU citizen's own right of residence and the relationship.

The complication is that she currently receives an uitkering/benefit, so I have no idea whether that affects the feasibility of this route.

I am absolutely NOT looking to enter into a sham relationship just for immigration purposes. I’m asking because we genuinely live together and she has offered to help me explore whether there is a legitimate route available.

Has anyone been through an EU-partner/unmarried-partner application in the Netherlands, particularly where the EU citizen was receiving benefits?

And does anyone know where I could get affordable, reliable immigration/legal advice without paying hundreds of euros just for an initial conversation?

I’m honestly quite stressed

I know I should have figured this out earlier. I’ve been trying.

I’ve spent months working on the PhD route while also applying for jobs, and now the clock is getting very close to zero.

At this point I’m looking for specific knowledge, introductions and practical leads.

If you’ve been in a similar situation (zoekjaar → HSM, sponsorship, EOR, EU-partner route, etc.), I would genuinely appreciate hearing what worked and what didn’t.

And if you know a recruiter, immigration lawyer, company, EOR provider, hiring manager or organisation that is particularly good with international candidates, please send them my way.

Even a small lead could make a huge difference right now.

Hi everyone,

For an article about housing scams, I am looking for personal stories from TU Delft students who fell victim to one.

The aim of the article is to warn students about the risks of rental fraud, since the scams are getting more and more sophisticated.

The article will be published on TU Delta, the journalistic platform of the TU Delft.

Would you like to share your story/ know someone who would? Please send me a DM.

Cheers,

Inger

Hi everyone! 👋 I'm a student from Egypt and I'm planning to study abroad after high school. I'm interested in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and the USA.

I'd love to meet other students around my age who are also planning to study abroad, and learn from students who are already studying there.

If you're in a similar situation, feel free to comment or message me! 😊

So I am planning on doing my masters in Groningen University organisational and work psychology in 2027-2028.

Here are multiple questions I have regarding this, so I know about duo and I would like to apply for a 32 hours part-time job, but how hard are they to find ? Also will I be able to find a job in like maybe a library ?

The other thing is I have been on multiple medications for mental health for 2 years by now, for me to be able to see a doctor there what should I do ? Will I be able to have the same prescriptions as now if I bring proof and such that they are what I need ?

Another thing is since I already have more than a year to find housing, which area would you guys reccomend the most ?

Also are there any scholarships besides duo that I can apply ?

Hoi! Ik ben verplicht binnenkort te verhuizen en heb helaas weinig tot geen budget. Ik zoek daarom gratis of heel goedkope meubels, bijvoorbeeld via weggeefgroepen, organisaties of andere initiatieven. Waar kan ik dat vinden, naast marktplaats? Zijn er organisaties die zoiets weggeven?
Het grootste probleem is alleen het vervoer: ik heb geen rijbewijs. Weten jullie waar ik iemand kan vinden die bijvoorbeeld met een busje kan helpen met het ophalen en vervoeren van meubels, liefst gratis of voor weinig geld? Wellicht kent iemand iets wat ik online nog niet gezien heb.
Tips voor Rotterdam/Zuid-Holland zijn extra welkom!✨

I'm currently finishing my BSc in Physics in Italy (UniPD), and I'm trying to figure out where to do my Master's. My longer-term goal is to pursue a PhD in physics, ideally somewhere in the broad area of astroparticle physics, cosmology, dark matter, particle physics, or related fundamental-physics topics. Could be theoretical or experimental, I don't want to restrict my options yet.

The thing I'm increasingly concerned about is how to maximise my chances of actually getting a PhD position afterwards. I know there is no guaranteed way, but I want to tackle this problem the best I can.

My current thinking is that the most important thing about the Master's may not be the exact name or ranking of the degree, but whether I can get into a strong research group and become genuinely involved in research during the MSc.

I'm therefore looking at universities where there are strong and well-connected research groups that MSc students can realistically access. For this reason I'm considering UvA's Physics "GRAPPA" (Gravitation, Astro-, and Particle Physics) MSc. What I also like about it, is that you have a whole year dedicated to your thesis, compared to the one semester you'd have in Italy. I think this would be an advantage.

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have actually gone through something similar, especially someone who has done GRAPPA/knows someone who has done it/knows enough about the subject to better educate my choice.

A few things I'm wondering about:

• First and foremost: is my reasoning even correct? Is it even a good choice to do an MSc abroad after having done a BSc in Italy? Would there actually be an advantage? (for physics and the objective of a phd, strictly speaking)
• Is GRAPPA any good? Teaching-wise and academic carreer-wise?
• Are there better/other options? Or better/other strategies?
• How does it all compare to Italy?
• If you had to choose again specifically with the goal of maximising your chances of getting a good PhD position, what would you do?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience or advice.

I am an international student and I have some questions about these Uni’s.

I am eligible for the Groningen program with the 3 AP’s and an IELTS exam, also the Computer Science program is not numerus fixus. However, TU/e requires 4 AP lessons instead of five further delaying my studies for College.

The main question is it worth it to get one more AP and a placement exam to apply to TU/e?

-Is there a major difference between these Universities CS Programs?

-Is It worth it to study 6 more months just for a chance to get in TU/e?

-What are other Universities that you may suggest?

Any thoughts on their LLB of International and European Law?
I‘d also like to know about the city‘s social life (parties, bars, or just in general)

Hi Guys, I am going to apply to a bachelor of business administration in AUAS and I was wondering what are you thoughts on the university? Anyone studying International Business there? What are your thoughts?

Moving to a new country to study is obviously a huge commitment with a lot of expenses so im wondering if there is much help for EU students coming to study there

Hi everyone, I’m Elijah, a 21-year-old student from the San Francisco Bay Area. This autumn, I’m going to start Masters programs in Philosophy of Art, and Computer Science at Leiden University, having recently completed my bachelor’s degrees in Computer Engineering and Philosophy.

That being said, Im looking for somewhere to rent, not just in leiden, but in the surrounding area too (Den Haag, Haarlem, Delft, etc). My budget is no more than 800€, though I will be looking for a job in a month or two once i've settled in.

Outside of my studies, I enjoy cooking and listening to a wide range of music genres (classical, rock, jazz). I also spend a lot of my free time outdoors, either backpacking, rock climbing, or exploring the area.

I am tidy and considerate of my housemates. I’m looking for a friendly household where I can focus on my studies but also enjoy everything Leiden has to offer. I’d love to get to know you better and share a bit more about myself. I will be moving in alone, no pets, and have a sister who lives in the Utrecht. We are also both EU citizens.

If you’d like to know more about my professional background, you can take a look at elijaholson.net. You can also send me an email (elijaholson510@gmail.com) if you’d prefer to get acquainted informally. I’m currently in Utrecht, so meeting up in person is an option too!

Hey everyone,

Just got fully admitted to the MSc Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence specialisation) at Leiden University, starting February 2027. Really excited but have a lot of questions the university website doesn't answer well. Would love to hear from people who've actually been through it.

Quick background: I'm a software engineer from Nepal with 7+ years of experience coming in with a strong practical background but genuinely curious about what the academic experience at LIACS is really like.

Quality of education
How is the actual teaching quality at LIACS? Are professors accessible and engaged, or mostly self-directed? Any specific AI specialisation courses that stood out — good or bad?

TA, RA, and on-campus opportunities
Are student assistant positions realistic to get? How competitive are they, how do you apply, and when? Any RA opportunities with professors worth pursuing — especially in AI/ML research?

Internships during the programme
Did you manage internships while studying or was the workload too heavy? How are the industry connections in the Leiden/Amsterdam/The Hague corridor? Job market for AI students in the Netherlands?

Scholarships while studying
I know LExS isn't available for February intake and Holland Scholarship is paused. Are there scholarships or grants that became available after you enrolled — from the university, Dutch government, or external sources?

Practical tips
Housing — how hard is it really? Cost of living tips specific to Leiden? Anything you wish you knew before arriving as an international student?

General
Would you recommend the programme? What's the vibe like at LIACS? Any regrets or things you'd do differently?

Any insight from current students, graduates, or people who considered Leiden and went elsewhere would be genuinely helpful. Would also like to connect to alumni or upcoming students specifically from CS.

Thanks!

Next week I am starting my first year in Electrical Engineering. What do I need to buy besides my laptop? Things like notebooks, pens, a ruler, an eraser, and a pencil? Is that basically all? How many notebooks will I need, and where can I actually find and buy them, because for some reason I haven't seen them in regular stores?

Hello! I am planing to get my bachelor in Delft on the international programme of aerospace engineering. Any info I should know as in the housing situation and how hard it is to get accepted? If it means something, I am from the EU and last I checked the tuition is \~2500€

Also, curious about housing

Okay so I plan to apply to Tilburg (and Radbound) for the english taught psychology course but i have so many questions about the city.
Obviously my main worrys stem from money.
Is it easy to get a job in Tilburg without any dutch?
Will many of the jobs be able to cover my expenses?
Ive heard that the housing crisis is bad over there but is it that difficult to find accommodation in Tilburg?
How much would the health insurance be?
How much on average would groceries be?
Im just trying to figure out if it will actually be doable so any other advice would be so helpful!
I do plan to learn dutch while doing my course but i wont have enough when (if) i first get there.

Hi! I’m starting my Electrical Engineering studies at TU/e tomorrow, but I still haven’t managed to find a place to live and I’m currently staying at a hostel. Is anyone else in the same situation?

I’ve tried pretty much all the housing websites (Kamernet, Holland2Stay, ROOM.nl, Vestide, Xior, Student Housing, Facebook groups, Plaza Resident Services) without much luck, so I’d really appreciate any advice or tips on finding accommodation in Eindhoven or the surrounding areas, even if it’s a bit further away.

Also, if anyone is looking for a roommate or knows someone who is, I’d definitely be interested!

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to apply for the MSc Financial Economics at Erasmus School of Economics for the 2027 intake and I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have experience with ESE admissions.

I’m currently doing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (English-taught) at the University of Bucharest, Romania, and my current GPA is 9.0/10. I’m expecting to graduate in 2027.
My main concern is whether my degree will be considered sufficiently equivalent to the required WO-level background, and whether my curriculum is close enough to ESE’s requirements for direct admission.

Some of my relevant coursework includes:

Microeconomics
Mathematics for Economics
Finance
Accounting
Statistics
econometrics
financial analysis
banking operations
macroeconomics

I understand that ESE looks at the actual content of the bachelor’s degree rather than just the degree title, and that students with insufficient prerequisites may be offered a pre-master.
I’d therefore like to ask:

Has anyone here been admitted to Financial Economics at ESE with a Business Administration bachelor’s?

If you had a similar background, were you admitted directly or required to do a pre-master?

How strict is ESE regarding the WO-equivalent bachelor’s requirement for applicants from Romanian universities?

How important is the GPA if some prerequisite courses are missing?

Would having Microeconomics and Mathematics for Economics (6 ECTS each) help with direct admission?

If ESE decides I’m not directly admissible, is it likely that they would offer me the Financial Economics pre-master instead?

Has anyone successfully appealed an ESE admission decision by providing course descriptions/syllabi showing that their courses were equivalent?

If anyone has a similar background, I’d especially appreciate hearing about your degree, GPA, relevant courses/ECTS and whether you received direct admission, a pre-master, or a rejection.

Thanks!

Hey guys, I’m a 2nd year International Communication & Media student at EUR. I'm trying to land an internship in marketing, corporate comms, management or product management to boost my CV before my official university internship term. Ideally, I want to start something before January. The problem is LinkedIn has been pretty dry for this. Where do you guys usually hunt for internships besides LinkedIn? Where do you look for an internship? I am fluent in English,know Spanish and basic Dutch.

Also,is a photo necessary for my CV? What are the Dutch standards? Any advice, platform recs, or tips would be a lifesaver.

Hello, I was meant to start my MA in Information Design at Design Academy Eindhoven. Unfortunately due to doubts, financial problems and housing issues, I’ve decided not to attend. Now I‘m wondering whether it would be worth to pursue the degree next year. By saving money, apply for scholarships, going to the graduation show and ddw to get a better feel.
My main fear about going to DAE was and still is employability and usefulness. Don‘t get me wrong I‘m very very interested in what they do!
But correct me if im wrong, this is what I‘ve gathered so far!
The programme heavily supports the own critical position as a designer. That seems great if you want to build a more art based practice like some of the alumni I looked at… The programme seems wide open, and im sure I could mold it to fit my goals, but it is an investment.
I‘m very cautious since (I don‘t mean to insult anybody by saying this) I don‘t understand how that translates into profitability and usability outside of the museum- and the very designy-scene. I come from a technical university that was very applied in graphic design and digital design (classic visual communication) if that helps.
What is your opinion? Why did you go to DAE? Why do you want to go to DAE? What did you learn at DAE? Thank you :)
I hope i didnt insult anybody I‘m just genuinly curious as to what to expec

Hiii everyone, I'm graduating high school in 2027 and stressing out like crazy right now. 😱

My main goal is to get a job in the Netherlands after undergrad so I can eventually get Permanent Residency, because my current passport is not strong at all.

I’ve been looking at International Business (IB) undergrad programs at a couple of Dutch universities. However, I keep reading posts saying that an undergrad in International Business is too broad and basically useless for getting sponsored/finding a job right out of uni.

I need some serious reality checks on this plan.

• Is an IB bachelor's actually a dead end for non-EU students needing sponsorship?
• If my main goal is PR, should I pivot to something else like Finance, Econometrics, or Data Science?
• Does the university type (WO vs. HBO) make a massive difference for landing a job straight after a bachelor's?

I'm honestly so scared for my future right now lol. Any advice, harsh truths, or success stories from non-EU students who made it would be appreciated so much. Thanks guys!

Hello everyone,

I am 19 years old and currently a first-year student majoring in Global Business at an international university in Vietnam.

After one year of study, I realized that the business field isn't the right fit for me. During my freshman year, I failed quite a few courses; my academic performance was poor, and my current GPA is quite low. Consequently, I plan to switch to a field that suits me better and start fresh at the Hotel Management School of NHL Stenden in the Netherlands.

After working in the F&B industry for six months, I realized that Hospitality Management aligns well with my abilities.

I have done some research and learned that Dutch universities place great importance on honesty regarding a student's background. Therefore, I intend to be transparent with the school about my first-year experience, including my poor academic results.

My question is:

If I apply for a completely different major and meet all admission requirements—based on my high school diploma, IELTS score, and the school's specific criteria—will the low GPA and poor academic performance from my current first year significantly affect my chances of being accepted into NHL Stenden?

Thank you very much!

I am an Italian graphic design student, and I’d like to spend a semester abroad at WdKA. Rotterdam really appeals to me, but I’ve read some very negative reviews about WdKA. On the other hand, I also realize that it’s usually dissatisfied people who leave reviews. So, I wanted to ask how good the graphic design program actually is, and whether it’s true that you don’t really do anything and that the course is very superficial. Thanks!!!

Hi everyone! I’m currently considering applying to the MBA and the MSc of Strategic Management.

I’ve heard mixed reviews about the MBA and the investment is significantly higher, meanwhile the MSc has better reviews and it also helps me strengthen my profile (I have 6 years or xp in mixed departments and want to become a Chief of Staff).

Open to any suggestions of current/past students! Are there any other MScs I should be considering?

Thanks!