Onterra Tutor🇳🇱 Netherlands student visa
The Netherlands issues a combined entry visa and residence permit for study once a recognised institution has admitted you, and admission is where the English requirement actually lives. English-taught bachelor's programmes commonly ask IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, and master's programmes commonly ask 6.5, both usually with no skill below 6.0.
The requirement at a glance
| Residence permit itself | No separate IELTS minimum; the admission letter is the evidence |
|---|---|
| Typical bachelor's requirement | IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, no skill below 6.0 |
| Typical master's requirement | IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, no skill below 6.0 |
| Competitive programmes | 7.0 overall, particularly for business and law |
What people miss
- Universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) and research universities sometimes set slightly different floors for the same subject; check the specific institution's page.
- A number of Dutch universities accept TOEFL iBT or the Cambridge exams as alternatives to IELTS; if you already hold one of those, check before booking IELTS specifically.
- Applicants who completed a prior degree taught fully in English are sometimes exempted from the language test; ask the admissions office directly.
- The residence permit application is usually handled by the institution on your behalf once admission and the language condition are met.
Are you already there?
Find out before you pay the exam fee. Check a real essay or record a speaking answer and get examiner-style bands in about a minute, free.
Questions people ask
What IELTS score do Dutch universities ask for?
Typically 6.0 overall for a bachelor's and 6.5 for a master's, both English-taught, usually with no individual skill below 6.0. Always confirm on your specific programme's page, since requirements vary by faculty.
Does the Netherlands student visa itself require IELTS?
No separate score is set by the visa or residence permit process. It relies on your university's own admission decision, which is where the English requirement is actually enforced.
Figures reflect commonly published requirements, checked September 2026, and can change. Confirm against the official government or regulator source before you book.