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Postgraduate (e.g. master):
30 courses ~ 1 750 €  (rok)

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Wageningen University: For Quality of Life!

Wageningen University is one of the leading international universities with courses in the field of healthy food and living environment. It aims to improve the quality of life by focusing on three main themes: Health, Lifestyle & Livelihood; Food & Food Production and Living Environment.

Studying at Wageningen University guarantees you premium quality education and an international quality benchmark on your curriculum vitae. Here, you will focus on current and future global issues that are of increasing importance to both industry and government. Wageningen University is listed in the top 150 of all universities in the world as published by the Times Higher Education Ranking. Furthermore, it holds a top five position in the worldwide publication index in the field of food, agriculture, plants, animals and environment. In 2010, Dutch students voted Wageningen University as the best university in the Netherlands for the fifth year in a row. You are ensured personal guidance throughout your student career here with a teacher-student ratio of 1:10 which allows you to make the most of all the study options provided.

International character

Wageningen University has an excellent international reputation. Study programmes and research are followed by students from over 100 countries. Through partnerships with numerous Dutch and international companies and governments, Wageningen University has become the largest university in Europe and one of the best universities worldwide in the field of Life Sciences. As a result, Wageningen University students have no problems finding internships, challenging work experience posts and career opportunities around the world. 

Campus and student facilities

The campus is 11 soccer fields large with 70.000 m2 and offers excellent student facilities. The library is open 14 hours per day, there are multiple student associations and sports centre “De Bongerd’ offers 60 different sports ranging from tennis, squash, football, rugby, athletics and badminton. Each study programme has its own study association that organises a wide range of activities and services for students. Approximately 7000 students study at Wageningen University. Wageningen is a real student city with 20% of the population being students.

Programme outline

Wageningen University offers 30 MSc programmes and the language of instruction is English. Most programmes offer various specialisations. All programmes start in September, are full time, have a duration of two years and are comprised of 120 ECTS credits. A few MSc programmes also start in February. Credits are measured in terms of the hours of study involved: one credit is equivalent to a study load of 28 hours.

Future career
The knowledge gained and research performed during your study at Wageningen University is very much in demand. Twenty percent of our professors are financed by companies such as Shell, Nestlé, Unilever, and institutions including the Institute for Food safety (RIKILT) and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM). As a result many of these business and institutions regularly offer positions to graduates from Wageningen University.

You will have a wide range of career options after acquiring your MSc at Wageningen University, including positions in industry, Dutch and international governments, consultancy firms, universities, research institutes and medical institutions. Although each MSc programme is different, 85 percent of all Wageningen graduates find a position within three months of graduating.

About the Netherlands

“The rest of the world is a big place”, say the Dutch, well aware of how small their country is. Although small in size, Holland has a rich cultural tradition.

The Netherlands is a kingdom. Its official name is the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today, the Netherlands is also sometimes called 'Holland', a name that is derived from the names of the two western coastal provinces, North and South Holland.

For centuries the country has had an attitude of openness towards the rest of the world. Its cultural diversity has made Holland a place where knowledge, ideas and cultures from all over the world come together.

Although Dutch is the national language, the majority of the population (about 87%) also speaks English and very often another foreign language, such as German or French.

Holland lies on a flat, low delta and a quarter of the land lies below sea level. Because of its precarious location, it has one of the best barrier dams in the world. Several Dutch companies are involved in water conservation and land reclamation projects throughout the world.

Holland has a dense railway network that offers frequent service and is the quickest way to travel between city centres. If you live in a city the bicycle is the cheapest and easiest way to get around. Most Dutch people, regardless of their profession or status, have a bicycle.

Once you have arrived in Holland, you will discover that many European capitals are within easy reach. Berlin, Brussels and Paris are just a few hours away by train, and a short flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will take you to London, Madrid or Rome.

Holland is a ‘self-service country’. The Dutch try to manage most things themselves, which makes them very independent and organized. Another distinctive characteristic of the Dutch is their openness and direct manner of acting and speaking. You will notice that you can say exactly what is on your mind. The Dutch are not easily offended.

Education in the Netherlands

The Dutch system of higher education enjoys a worldwide reputation for high quality. Experience shows that people who have studied at a Dutch higher education institution perform very well in other parts of the world. In addition, the Netherlands was the first non-English-speaking country to offer courses taught in English.

The Netherlands has two main types of higher education institutions: universities and universities of applied sciences. Universities focus on the independent practice of research-oriented work in an academic or professional setting. Universities of applied sciences are more practically oriented, preparing students directly for specific careers.

The Times Higher Education Supplement ranks 11 universities in Holland among the top 200 in the world. Holland has also received international acclaim for its groundbreaking Problem-Based Learning system. This system trains students to analyze and solve practical problems independently through emphasis on self-study and self-discipline.

The Netherlands systems of teaching and learning is based on “student-led learning”, with more practice and more career orientation. The Dutch education system is interactive and focuses on teamwork, which makes it easy to meet other international students. Studying in Holland means developing an open mind and increasing your international orientation.

The majority of the programmes which are offered involve: real work placement, team projects, guest lectures and cases from the work field. It is believed that experience is the best teacher.

Financing your studies in the Netherlands

Education in Holland is not free, but tuition fees are reasonable compared with other countries.

The annual tuition fees for enrolment on a degree programme or course at a Dutch higher education institution start at approximately €1,600 for EU students. In general, tuition fees are higher for non-EU students.

Experience shows that to live and study in Holland, students need between €300 and €400 per month + accommodation which is around €300 per month.

Foreign students that would like to take paid work alongside their studies are allowed to do so.

Why study in the Netherlands?

1. More than 1,450 programmes in English. Holland is the first non-English speaking country which has been offering study programmes conducted in English and especially designed for foreign students who came to study in Holland.

2. Internationally recognized diplomas. The Netherlands has been recognized as the knowledge centre of long study traditions and well- known universities. Dutch international scientific research is placed in the very top ranks. Thanks to its high quality the Dutch education meets all standards and is acknowledged worldwide.

3. Multicultural environment. International students from all over the world come to study in Holland. The Netherlands is a unique non-English speaking country where 95% of the inhabitants speak English. This makes communication during your study in Holland comfortable and pleasant.

4. Low study costs. The tuition fees and other expenses for those who come to study in Holland from EU/EEA countries are relatively low compared to other European countries.

5. Holland — a gateway to Europe. Due to its central position, the Netherlands has been described as the Gateway to Europe. In reality, all famous European capitals are within easy reach: Paris and Berlin, Brussels and London are all situated within an hour flight from the Dutch capital - Amsterdam.

More information about studying in the Netherlands:
http://www.studyinholland.nl

Currency: €

Education: Please find this information on the left side of this page.

Accommodation: from €250 up to €350 per month.

Living expenses: experience shows that to live and study in Holland, students need between 300 and 400 € per month in addition to accommodation costs. The cheapest way to eat is to do your own cooking

Other expenses: leisure, books, travel and other expenses. Bus tickets cost around €1.60 for a single fare in the city. You can consider buying a discount card for train tickets, which gives you 40% reduction in off-peak times. Many other discounts are offered to students by bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas.

Additional information regarding studying in the Netherlands:

http://www.ib-groep.nl

In the Netherlands, students usually have their own room. Depending on the house where you are staying you may have to share the shower, lavatory, kitchen and living room with other students. It is common for men and women to live together in a shared house.

It is advisable to check what bills are included in the rent, as this may have a large impact on your budget. Some accommodations include gas, electricity, TV and internet in the rent, for others you are expected to pay them separately.

The website Studychoice.nl gives you information about average room rents in student cities. It also provides information about what quality to expect in which city.

Accommodation in Wageningen

There are 4500 student rooms in Wageningen. Most students live in one of the student apartment buildings managed by an independent housing corporation, Idealis. Rooms contain basic furniture and fast internet connection. Usually, you share a kitchen and bathroom with 7 other students. There is a room guarantee for all international students if you apply before the application deadline.

Each year a large number of students arrive in August and September. This means that the demand for rooms in this period is very high. Be aware that it is difficult to find a room in this period and that you have to start searching for a room long before you arrive in Wageningen.

1) Renting an apartment on the free market (there are several commercial providers in Wageningen), e.g. http://www.kamertje.nl or http://www.easykamer.nl could be helpful.

2) Renting a furnished room via the Student Service Centre (SSC)

When the SSC has received your confirmation of the arrival date and your request for accommodation a furnished room will be reserved for you at Idealis. The SSC only intermediates at the start of your stay, to make sure that you will have a place to live. Please see www.idealis.nl for the types of accommodation.

You will be accommodated in a single study-bedroom in one of the student apartment buildings of Idealis. The buildings are divided in "corridors", groups of 6 to 18 rooms. In most cases the international students live together with Dutch students sharing common facilities such as kitchen, toilet and bathroom. Only the ’Bornsesteeg’ building has been designed especially for international students. The furnished rooms have

• bed (complete with mattress, duvet and pillow)
• desk
• chair
• wardrobe
• curtains
• wall-to-wall carpetting
• central heating
• electricity
• internet connection

Upon arrival in Wageningen, we will inform you about your address and you will receive the key to your room. It is not possible to receive the address of your room in advance. You have to sign the tenancy agreement at Idealis. At the same time you will have to pay the first month’s rent, the administration costs and the costs for the service set.

Rent
The rent for furnished accommodation varies from € 250.00 up to € 350.00 per month depending on the type of room. Be aware that rent will be charged from the date of reservation even when you arrive later than scheduled. Only once: administration costs of € 20.00 will also have to be paid to Idealis. The rent includes heating, electricity, water, access to the Internet and a minimum maintenance fee and is due before the first day of the month. You can pay your rent automatically by a standing order through bank or cash or through a pre-printed giro credit slip. This can be arranged at Idealis after arrival in Wageningen.

Service Set

You are obliged to buy a basic service set which consists of a packet of bed-linen (containing a duvet cover, pillowcase and mattress sheet). The service set is for furnished rooms only. The costs for the service set are € 27.00 and you have to pay it only once.

Cleaning

The costs for cleaning depends on your address. For rooms at Haarweg, Dijkgraaf, Asserpark and Hoevestein Idealis will charge you € 40.00, for a room with shared facilities at Bornsesteeg € 68.00 and for self contained rooms at Bornsesteeg € 85.00. You have to pay it only once.

As an international student in Holland, you might want to take a part-time job, just as Dutch students do. Besides helping to cover your costs, a job can also give you useful work experience, allow you to participate in Dutch society and make it easier for you to learn the language.

Citizens from EU/EEA member states, do not need a residence permit in order to be allowed to stay in the Netherlands, while doing their MSc. With the exception of Bulgaria and Romania and Non-EU/EFTA students, citizens from the rest of the EU-member states do not need a work permit to do a part-time job. Non-EU / EFTA should register with the IND once they have been in the Netherlands for more than 3 months. For more information consult the IND website, http://www.ind.nl. On this website you will find a “residence wizard” through which you can find out about the rules for residency in the Netherlands for yourself.

Even if not directly needed, a residence permit can come in handy: sometimes employers ask for it before they enter into a contract with you, banks also ask for it when you open a bank account and other official institutions ask for this document as well. You may find a part-time job, but you have to keep in mind that you would not neglect your studies. You should keep in mind to have at least 4 months’ money before arriving as it may be difficult to find a student job.

How do I find a part-time job?

The easiest way to find a job is through an employment agency, or uitzendbureau. Some agencies specialize in jobs for students. The student affairs office at the Dutch institution where you are enrolled can provide addresses or may even have their own job agency. Of course you can also respond to advertisements or search for a job on the Internet.

The following websites may be helpful:

• www.undutchables.nl

• http://international.monsterboard.nl

• www.dutchisnotrequired.nl

Additional information about working in the Netherlands:

http://www.werk.nl

http://www.nuffic.nl