Question on education

ToEricFromTheNetherlands · Post by **ToEricFromTheNetherlands** » Fri, 14 Oct 2005 9:10 pm

I would like to know if education is free for foreigners (including non EU citizens) in the Netherlands, like it is in Germany, France, Belgium, and some Nordic european nations (not all but many of them).

Thanks

dot dot dot · Post by **dot dot dot** » Sat, 15 Oct 2005 2:19 pm

Hi there,

It depends what education you are referring to. The compulsary language course Dutch and Dutch culture (the 'integration course' or ' inburgeringscursus' as it is called) is free of charges, but if you chose to do any course or education apart from that, it is not free if not related to employability.

Depending on the kind of course, you might get subsidized or even in some cases it will be paid. For the latter, go to CWI (centrum werk en inkomen) and talk to them, in case you want a course, training or regular education. This will only be paid for when it is officially confirmed by CWI that it is needed for you to get a job and thus enhance your employability.

Hope this helps a bit? In case you have some more questions, shoot!

Eric

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat, 15 Oct 2005 7:14 pm

Hi,

I was referring to university education. I know it is free for foreigners in Germany, Belgium and France in State-run universities. Is that the same in the Netherlands?

However, in private schools, tuition fees are higher, but still far cheaper than in the US.

Vaucluse · Post by **Vaucluse** » Sat, 15 Oct 2005 7:19 pm

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I was referring to university education. I know it is free for foreigners in Germany, Belgium and France in State-run universities. Is that the same in the Netherlands?

However, in private schools, tuition fees are higher, but still far cheaper than in the US.

I believe you are misinformed about free tertiary education in Germany and France - definitely not for non-citizens.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat, 15 Oct 2005 7:44 pm

Hmm..there are actually quite a number of public universities in Germany that do not charge you a cent except for the standard student union fee of course. For example, check out http://www.cse.tum.de/applying/financial.html
Probably a lot harder to find something like that in France. Haven't seen any so far...

Many universities in Sweden and Finland too offer international masters programmes in English which are free for non-citizens.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat, 15 Oct 2005 9:43 pm

Vaucluse.

You do not know what you are talking about. Do a search yourself. Only private for-profit school charge higher fees for foreigners.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat, 15 Oct 2005 9:45 pm

Education is free for foreigners in French State-run universities, just like in Germany.

You can check with their Embassy. They will confirm.

Vaucluse · Post by **Vaucluse** » Sat, 15 Oct 2005 10:08 pm

I will certainly check - if I'm wrong then I will definitely take it on the chin.

dot dot dot · Post by **dot dot dot** » Sun, 16 Oct 2005 11:02 am

In Holland foreigners do not enjoy any free education, as for those courses or training I described. No free university in Holland for foreigners (also not for Dutch btw, studying in Holland is an expensive case these days...).

Eric

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun, 16 Oct 2005 7:27 pm

I was looking for the countries that offer free education for foreigners (including non EU-citizens) in State-run universities.

So far, this is the case in Germany, France, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Italy (though there are some quotas).

Does anyone know about Denmark? since other Nordic nations provide free education to foreigners, what about Denmark? Any Danish able to answer that?
Thanks?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun, 16 Oct 2005 9:49 pm

Not a Dane but I've heard that education is no longer free in Denmark for non-EU citizens. Think they just changed that this year or something and apparently they're thinking of doing the same for Sweden as well.

Vaucluse · Post by **Vaucluse** » Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:39 am

Confirmed that education is not subject to course fees in Germany, but several States are on the way to changing this, ( http://www.bmbf.de/de/3207.php )

On has to have the necessary educational, and in Germany accepted, requirements. Details of which can be obtained from the Embassies and Consulates.

Of course you should be aware that classes are taught in German (except for foreign language course, of course.

(Though why a government would offer free tertiary education to non-locals is beyond me!)

dot dot dot · Post by **dot dot dot** » Mon, 17 Oct 2005 5:42 pm

Vaucluse wrote:(Though why a government would offer free tertiary education to non-locals is beyond me!)

and me...

Eric

Plavt · Post by **Plavt** » Mon, 17 Oct 2005 6:01 pm

Dear Guest,
I think you have what can only be described as 'high hopes'. I cannot speak for most of the EU but here in the UK there is no such thing as free University education anymore. Students used to receive a grant in full to cover their living expenses while they were studying and years ago were eligible for unemployment benefit during the summer vacation (if memory serves me correctly). However, nowadays there are no grants only repayable loans and tuition fees are added in many cases.

Although I live in the UK you can be dammed sure things will be more expensive in the countries to which you refer. All of them enjoy higher standards (at least that's our view) and you can expect them to be far more demanding in many ways including cost.

I cannot say I am clear about what you are looking for, but if you are looking for a 'free lunch' forget it, some of your information may be out of date. I haven't been able to access the website you mentioned but I would be very sceptical indeed.

Plavt

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon, 17 Oct 2005 6:10 pm

You are right: UK and Switzerland are two countries in Europe that charge very high university fees.

Why Singaporeans flock to UK universities despite their very high costs goes beyond me.

And, yes, I was able to access the websites mentionned earlier.

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