How much do you need to pay for your master's? Find out about the tuition fees and other expenses as a student.
Before you start with your master's, it is important to properly map out and arrange your financial situation. There are various forms of financial assistance such as student grants and allowances available.
The tuition fee you will need to pay depends on two factors: your nationality and the type of programme you have chosen to follow.
If you are a national of an EU/EEA country, you will most likely pay the statutory tuition fee. This fee is set and subsidised by the Dutch government and may change each academic year. The statutory tuition fee applies to most, but not all, students from EU/EEA countries. If you do not meet the conditions for the statutory tuition fee, you will be required to pay the institutional tuition fee.
Also, note that you might have to pay an application fee.
2025-2026 (Sep-Aug)
2026-2027 (Sep-Aug)
All master's (full-time)
€ 2,601
€ 2,694
All master's (part-time)
€ 1,903
€ 1,971
For detailed payment conditions, visit the website of Student Services.
If you start in February, your first academic year will run from February to August. You will therefore pay tuition fees only for the period from 1 February to 31 August, covering 7 months in total. The tuition fee for the February intake is therefore 7/12 of the annual tuition fee.From September onwards, you will pay the full annual tuition fee at the rate applicable for that academic year.
1 February - 31 August
2025-2026
2026-2027
Fulltime
€ 1,517.25
€ 1,571.50
Parttime
€ 1,110.08
€ 1,149.75
If you are a national of a non-EU/EEA country, you will pay the institutional tuition fee. This fee is higher than the statutory tuition fee, as Dutch universities do not receive government funding for non-EU/EEA students.The institutional tuition fee you pay depends on the programme you choose. Check below to find out whether your programme is subject to the lower or higher tuition fee rate.
Also note that you might have to to pay an application fee.
Fulltime lower rate master's
€ 15,800 per year
€ 18,200 per year
Fulltime higher rate master's
€ 18,900 per year
€ 21,700 per year
If you start in February, your first academic year will run from February to August. You will therefore only pay tuition fees for the period from 1 February to 31 August, covering 7 months in total. The tuition fee for the February intake is 7/12 of the annual tuition fee.
From September onwards, the full annual tuition fee applies.
1 February 2026
€ 9,216.67
€ 10,616.67
€ 11,025.00
€ 12,658.33
There is no fixed tuition fee for a pre-master's programme at UT, since the length and study load of a pre-master's may vary per student. Programmes can vary from 15 to 60 EC. To follow a pre-master's you have to pay an amount per EC. The total amount is based on the number of ECs from your pre-master's.
This regulation applies to all students who only have a pre-master’s enrolment, regardless of nationality. You pay a single, upfront fee for your entire pre-master’s programme. You can choose between two payment methods:
No right to a refund for pre-master’s programmes
The pre-master’s fee is based on the number of ECTS credits (hereinafter referred to as EC) that your programme comprises, not on the number of months you need to complete your pre-master’s programme. As a result, refunds differ from those for regular programmes. You are not entitled to a refund of the pre-master’s fee if you drop out, unless:
Your pre-master's is 30 EC: you will pay € 44.90 x 30 EC = € 1.347Your pre-master's is 45 EC: you will pay € 44.90 x 45 EC = € 2.020,50
Student workload at Dutch universities is expressed in EC, also named ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), which is widely used throughout the European Union. In the Netherlands, each credit represents 28 hours of work.
In some cases, you can choose to follow (part of) the pre-master's during your current bachelor's, as a transfer minor. In that case, you can avoid (part of the) extra costs; you already pay tuition fees for your current bachelor's. Find out more about this option for Dutch HBO- and WO-students.
There are different types of financial aid available.
Applying for a scholarship is separate from applying for admission to a programme and is entirely your own responsibility. The University of Twente is not involved in the scholarship application process and cannot secure funding on your behalf.
For most University of Twente affiliated scholarships, you need to have fully completed the UT application procedures before applying for the scholarship! Because of strict deadlines, you are required to apply for admission to the master’s at least two months before the scholarship deadline. External scholarships have their own rules - so check them carefully.
If you apply for a scholarship for a two- or three-year programme, bear in mind that the institutional tuition fees for the following year are not the same. The fees for the subsequent years increase yearly and are therefore higher than the first year. Take this into account when applying for a scholarship. This can prevent you from having to co-finance the difference in tuition fees for the following years.
According to Nibud, the Dutch National Institute for Family Finance Information (nibud.nl), studying and living in the Netherlands will cost you, on average, about 1,300 euros a month, excluding tuition fees. Here is the calculation behind that estimate:
Monthly living costs
Rent
€ 561
Food
€ 244
Textbooks
€ 41
Transport (excluding a railcard)
€ 67
Recreation, going out, sports
€ 239
Shoes and clothing
€ 60
Health insurance
Supplementary insurance
€ 23
Telephone
€ 16
Total average per month
€ 1,311
Keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Luckily, housing in Enschede is generally cheaper than in other Dutch student cities. Furthermore, your rent depends on the type of accommodation you choose.
Costs are subject to change: typographical errors may occur.