Application procedure

Register on Studielink

You can apply through Studielink, the application and enrolment portal provided by the Netherlands Ministry of Education. You can find the frequently asked questions regarding Studielink here. Complete the following steps:

1. Go to the Studielink website. (Do you not know what this is? Watch their video on why you need Studielink)
2. Is this your first time using Studielink? Click on ‘Create Studielink-account without DigiD'. 
3. Fill out your personal details, address and contact details. You will then be asked to check this information and to agree to the general terms and conditions of Studielink. 
4. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you filled out. Use this to activate your account. 
5. Log in without DigiD, using your email address and password.
6. Add the previous education that provides admission to the study programme that you wish to follow and click 'next'.
7. Select NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences as the 'Educational institution'. 
8. All available study programmes will be listed. You can use a range of filters to find your preferred study programme on the list. Select the study programme you wish to follow.
9. Select the start date and choose ‘Next’. Choose ‘Next’ on the following page as well. 
10. Check all the details you filled out. If you need to make any changes, choose ‘Back to previous page’. If all information is correct, check the box to confirm this and then click ‘Confirm’.
11. You are now on your personal homepage for Studielink. Every time you log in to Studielink, this is where you can check the status of your enrolment application.

Submit application documents

A few days after you submit your application, you will receive an email request from the Central Student Administration to activate your iGO-portal and submit your application documents via this portal.

In the attachment to this email, you will find instructions on how to create a password for the online portal and a list of documents to be submitted.

Admission requirements check
Once we have received all the required documents from you, we will verify that you meet all the admission requirements. We will notify you if we find that you still need to take an English-language proficiency test or send any additional documents. You can trace the application status via the online portal.

Letter of Admission
Once you have sent us all the required document and we have established that you meet all the admission requirements, we will send you a formal letter of admission confirming that you have been accepted as a student at our institution. 

Study Matching

Because of new Dutch legislation, this is now a mandatory part of the application process. In the Study Matching Questionnaire, you are asked to review the reasons for choosing your preferred study programme.

Based on your answers, you will receive non-binding study advice: either positive or conditionally positive. A positive study advice confirms that you have considered your choice well.

Please note: if you have applied to more than one study programme, you will be asked to participate in a Study Matching Questionnaire for each one of them.

Finalise your application

Payment (EU students)
If you are from an EU/EEA Member State:

• Check that your bank is able to process international (SEPA) payments.
• Go to your personal Studielink page and follow the instructions provided on the Payment tab.

When will the automatic tuition fee payment take place?
When you have issued the digital direct debit authorisation for NHL Stenden to automatically collect the tuition fee from your bank account, it works as follows:

First option: yearly payment
If you pay the tuition fee in its entirety, the automatic transaction will take place around 25 September. You will need to re-issue the direct debit authorisation before the start of each academic year.

Second option: payment in instalments
If you choose to pay in instalments, the tuition fee will be automatically withdrawn from your bank account in 9 instalments. All instalments will take place on or around the 25th of each month, starting in September, May being the last instalment. 

Payment and student visa (non-EU students)
If you are from a non-EU Member State, you must transfer the necessary fees to NHL Stenden; the last page of your Letter of Admission contains the invoice for this purpose.

Once we have received your full payment and have verified that you meet the visa requirements, we will apply for a student visa on your behalf. After approximately three to six weeks, we will notify you by email whether your visa application has been approved. This email will also inform you about collecting your visa from the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country. For additional information about applying for a student visa, please visit the website of the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic).

Proof of sufficient financial means (non-EU students)
As a student from outside the European Union, you are obliged to provide NHL Stenden with proof that you will be able to finance your stay in the Netherlands. You may do so in one of the following two ways: