It depends a lot on the programme. Most RUG bachelor's programmes have open admission, which means you are admitted if you meet the basic requirements (a recognised high school diploma, English IELTS 6.5, possibly maths for technical or economics programmes). For these programmes there is no strict competitive selection.

However, popular programmes have a Numerus Fixus (limited places), such as Psychology, International Business or certain medical and life sciences programmes. There, selection is based on criteria (grades, motivation letter, sometimes a test). For applicants, the recommendation is solid final grades (a strong average, ideally near the top for Numerus Fixus) and an IELTS above the 6.5 minimum.

As an EU citizen, you pay the statutory EU fee: around 2,694 euros per year for the 2026-2027 academic year, for a government-funded bachelor's degree. A student from outside the EU pays between 10,000 and 17,000 euros per year for the same bachelor's degree.

Total cost of living in Groningen: accommodation €400-€650/month, food €250-€350/month, insurance, transport and other expenses €150-€250/month. Total per year (tuition plus living): around 11,000-14,000 euros. Over 3 years of a bachelor's degree, tuition alone is around 8,082 euros. Note: the halving of the fee for the first year was abolished as of 1 September 2024.

The statutory EU fee (statutory tuition fee) is the reduced fee paid by students with EU, EEA, Swiss or Surinamese citizenship, for one bachelor's and one master's programme funded by the Dutch government. For 2026-2027 it is around 2,694 euros per year at RUG.

As an EU citizen you are automatically in this category, so you pay exactly what a Dutch student pays. Students from outside the EU pay the institutional fee, several times higher (10,000 to 17,000 euros per year). This makes a major Dutch university such as Groningen financially accessible for a family, especially compared with the United Kingdom or the USA.

Yes, to a large extent. RUG offers over 45 bachelor's programmes, of which more than 37 are taught entirely in English. This covers most of the fields students look for: Psychology, International Business, International Relations and International Organization, Economics and Business Economics, Computing Science, Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, International Law, Liberal Arts and Sciences (University College Groningen) and many others.

For these programmes you need proof of English (IELTS Academic 6.5 or equivalent), but you do not need to know Dutch for your studies. There are also programmes taught in Dutch (for example Dutch Law or Medicine), which require a level of Dutch. The recommendation is to choose an English-taught programme and learn Dutch optionally, for daily life and jobs. 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.

Studielink is the Dutch national portal through which all university applications pass. You create an account, choose the programme and RUG, then continue your application in the university's own portal, where you upload the documents.

The deadlines depend on the type of programme. Programmes with open admission usually have a 1 May deadline for EU citizens. Programmes with a Numerus Fixus (limited places, selection), such as Psychology or International Business, have an earlier deadline, usually 15 January, with no exceptions. Always check the exact deadline of your programme on rug.nl, because Numerus Fixus does not allow late applications.

Yes. The Romanian Baccalaureate is recognised as a qualification for access to Dutch higher education. You upload it in the RUG portal, alongside your transcript translated into English. For some programmes, RUG may require minimum grades in certain subjects (for example maths for Economics, Computing Science or technical programmes).

Recommended profile: a strong Baccalaureate average (ideally near the top for Numerus Fixus programmes), good grades in subjects relevant to the programme and IELTS Academic above the 6.5 minimum. If you are still in your final year when you apply, you upload a certificate and present the final diploma after the exam.

As an EU citizen you do not need a visa or study permit to study in the Netherlands. You move freely and automatically have the right to live and work.

After arriving in Groningen, you register at the municipality (Gemeente) as a resident and receive a BSN (Burgerservicenummer), the Dutch identification number. The BSN is required to open a Dutch bank account, for health insurance and for a part-time job. Bring your birth certificate, apostilled and translated. If you work part-time at least 56 hours per month, you can become eligible for Dutch student funding (Studiefinanciering) through DUO.

Yes, as an EU citizen! Unlike the United Kingdom or the USA, as an EU citizen you automatically have the right to work in the Netherlands without a visa or work permit. The Netherlands has a strong labour market, with high demand for graduates, especially in tech, engineering, life sciences, business and logistics.

The Netherlands has one of the highest levels of English proficiency in Europe, so you can work in many roles without Dutch, although knowing the language helps. Major economic hubs: Amsterdam, Eindhoven (tech and hardware), Rotterdam (logistics, port), plus the northern region around Groningen (energy, health, agritech). With a Dutch degree recognised across the EU, you can later work anywhere in the Union without a visa.