Tuition fees will rise to 2,771 euros in 2027

Statutory tuition fees, the ones paid by Dutch and EEA students, are linked to inflation. As the cost of fuel and groceries rise, so do tuition fees – albeit with a slight delay. CBS has released an initial projection for April. Although the figure may still change, this will have little impact on the new tuition fees.

The Ministry of Education determines the new rate based on inflation over a one-year period, in this case from May 2025 to April 2026, when inflation averaged 2.85 per cent. The tuition fees will therefore rise by 77 euros.

This academic year, students are paying 2,601 euros in tuition fees. Come September, that will rise to 2,694 euros and, a year later, to 2,771 euros. If CBS arrives at a different percentage, the difference will be no more than 1 or 2 euros. The Ministry of Education will announce the official rate at some point in the coming months.

Image: HOP. 2027 rate based on inflation figures by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

April only
Until 2022, tuition fees were based on the inflation of a single month, April. The difference was usually just a few tens of euros. However, in April 2022, inflation was exceptionally high (almost ten per cent), and politicians were alarmed that tuition fees would rise by more than 200 euros.

The then Minister of Education, Robbert Dijkgraaf, quickly amended the scheme, determining that the Ministry would base its calculations on annual inflation, which would result in fewer peaks and troughs. A year later, that substantial increase did eventually materialise.

Statutory fee
Please note, this only concerns the statutory rate. In principle, the Dutch government funds one bachelor’s and one master’s degree per person. Those who wish to pursue a second degree pay the institutional rate, which universities and universities of applied sciences are free to set at their own discretion and which is usually thousands of euros higher. This is also the rate that international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) pay.

There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. People looking to change careers into healthcare or education are exempt from paying the institutional fee, as the Netherlands faces staff shortages in those sectors. Students undertaking two degrees simultaneously are also permitted to complete both courses at the standard rate.