It depends a lot on the programme. Many of the sought-after English-taught bachelor programmes have numerus fixus (limited places) plus selection, so you compete on a ranking of candidates. IBA at Rotterdam School of Management has approximately 750 places, and IBEB at Erasmus School of Economics approximately 700 places. Selection looks at high school grades, motivation and, for some programmes, an online test or written assignment. Recommended profile for Romanians: a general Baccalaureate average of 8.5 plus, solid mathematics for quantitative programmes (IBEB requires mathematics at the appropriate level) and a well-constructed motivation letter. The application deadline for numerus fixus is 15 January, with no extensions.

As an EU citizen, you pay the statutory EU tuition: approximately €2,694 per year in 2026-2027, identical to that of a Dutch student. Across the full 3-year bachelor, EU tuition comes to approximately €8,082. For comparison, a non-EU student pays the institutional tuition of approximately €8,100-€12,700 per year, depending on the programme. When applying with a non-Dutch diploma there is also a processing fee of €100 (one-off, non-refundable). Cost of living in Rotterdam: accommodation €500-€900 per month, food €250-€400 per month, transport and insurance €150-€250 per month. Estimated total per year: ~€13,000-€18,000, dramatically below the UK or USA.

Numerus fixus means the programme has a maximum number of places set by law (for example ~750 at IBA, ~700 at IBEB). Because demand exceeds the places, selection applies: the university evaluates all candidates against announced criteria (high school grades, motivation letter, CV, sometimes an online test or written assignment) and ranks them in a ranking. Places are offered in the order of this ranking. Important: for numerus fixus programmes, the application deadline is 15 January, earlier than for programmes without numerus fixus, and the result generally comes by 15 April.

Yes, EUR has a wide range of 100 percent English-taught bachelor programmes, designed for international students. The best known: International Business Administration (IBA) at Rotterdam School of Management, International Bachelor Economics and Business Economics (IBEB) at Erasmus School of Economics, International Bachelor of Psychology, plus programmes in social sciences, communication, health and management. For these you need an English test, generally IELTS 6.5-7.0 or TOEFL iBT 90-100, depending on the programme. There are also programmes taught in Dutch, but for Romanians the natural route is the English-taught programmes. WIB note: the Dutch Wet internationalisering in balans law, currently being phased in, aims to rebalance internationalisation and may gradually reduce some English-taught programmes; check the exact language of your programme when you apply.

EUR is recognised globally first and foremost in business, economics and management. Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) holds triple accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) and ranks very high in QS by subject in Business and Management. Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) is one of the most highly regarded in Europe in Economics and Econometrics. Beyond these, EUR has Erasmus MC, one of the largest university medical centres in Europe, plus strong schools of law, social sciences, philosophy, history and communication, public health and management. For Romanians interested in business, finance, economics or medicine, EUR is one of the best choices in continental Europe.

Studielink is the Dutch national portal through which you enrol at any public university in the Netherlands. Steps: you create an account on Studielink, select the EUR programme, then complete the detailed application in the university's application portal (grades, motivation letter, CV, English proof). With a non-Dutch diploma you pay a processing fee of €100. Deadlines: for numerus fixus programmes, applications close on 15 January, without exception. The selection result generally comes by 15 April. For programmes without numerus fixus the deadline is later (usually 1 May), but for the popular bachelor programmes at EUR you almost always deal with numerus fixus, so 15 January.

Yes, as an EU citizen. Unlike the UK or USA, as a Romanian (EU) citizen you automatically have the right to work in the Netherlands without a visa, both during your studies (part-time) and after graduation. The Netherlands has a strong economy and high demand for graduates in finance, consulting, logistics, tech and health, with many jobs available in English. Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, plus its proximity to Amsterdam and The Hague, offers access to international employers (Unilever, many banks, consulting firms, logistics and transport companies). With an EUR degree and EU citizenship, you can later work anywhere in the EU without a visa.

Bachelor degrees at EUR last 3 years (180 ECTS), in line with the European Bologna system and the Dutch model, one year shorter than in Spain or Germany on many programmes and the same duration as in the UK. ECTS (European Credit Transfer System): 1 ECTS means approximately 25-30 hours of total study (lectures plus individual work), and a standard academic year has 60 ECTS (2 semesters x 30 ECTS). To obtain the degree you must accumulate 180 ECTS, including a final project (bachelor thesis). Advantage: ECTS credits are recognised across Europe, useful for Erasmus+ mobility and for continuing to a master's degree anywhere in the EU.