Netherlands vs Sweden for Indian Students 2025: Comparison of Top Colleges, Cost of Studying, Student Visa, Scholarships, and Career Prospects

Aspect

Netherlands

Sweden

Tuition Fees

- Bachelor's: €9,000–€20,000 per year

- Master's: €12,000–€30,000 per year

- Bachelor's & Master's: SEK 80,000–150,000 per year

Living Expenses

Approximately €800–€1,200 per month, depending on the city.

Approximately SEK 8,000–10,000 per month.

Top Universities

- Delft University of Technology

- University of Amsterdam

- Eindhoven University of Technology

- KTH Royal Institute of Technology (#89 QS 2024)

- Lund University

- Uppsala University

Language

Over 2,100 English-taught programs are available.

Many programs are offered in English, facilitating ease for international students.

Post-Study Work Visa

A one-year "Orientation Year" permit will be required for job search after graduation.

A six-month residence permit to seek employment post-graduation.

Scholarships

- Holland Scholarship

- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

- Swedish Institute Scholarships

- University-specific scholarships

Field of Study

Netherlands

Sweden

Business & Management

Business Administration, International Business, Entrepreneurship

Business Management, Finance, Marketing

Engineering

Renewable Energy, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical Engineering

Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental Engineering

Computer Science & IT

Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering

IT, Cybersecurity, AI

Life Sciences

Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Science

Life Sciences, Biomedicine, Public Health

Social Sciences & Humanities

International Relations, Economics, Psychology

Political Science, Sociology, Development Studies

University in the Netherlands

QS Ranking 2025

University in Sweden

QS Ranking 2025

Delft University of Technology

49

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

74

University of Amsterdam

55

Lund University

75

Utrecht University

105

Uppsala University

103

Eindhoven University of Technology

136

Stockholm University

128

Leiden University

141

Chalmers University of Technology

139

Wageningen University & Research

155

University of Gothenburg

194

Criteria

Netherlands

Sweden

Academic Requirements

- Bachelor’s: Higher secondary education equivalent to Dutch pre-university diploma

- Master’s: Bachelor's degree in a related field. Some programs require a minimum GPA

- Bachelor’s: Upper secondary education

- Master’s: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Language Proficiency

- English-Taught: IELTS / TOEFL 

- Dutch-Taught: NT2-II exam required

- English-Taught: IELTS / TOEFL iBT - - Swedish-Taught: TISUS exam required

Required Documents

Academic transcripts, language test scores, SOP, letters of recommendation

Academic records, proof of language proficiency, statement of purpose, recommendation letters

Application Deadlines

- Fall Intake: October – May (Courses start in September)

- Spring Intake: Limited programs, deadlines by November (Courses start in February)

- Autumn Semester: October – January (Courses start in August)

- Spring Semester: Limited programs, deadlines from June – August (Courses start in January)

Application Fees

Varies by institution

SEK 900 for non-EU/EEA applicants

Visa Requirements

- Residence permit required for studies longer than 3 months

- Proof of admission, financial means, and health insurance required

- Residence permit required for studies over 3 months

- Requires admission offer, financial proof, and comprehensive health insurance

Expense

Netherlands

Sweden

Tuition Fees (Bachelor’s)

€9,000 – €20,000 per year

SEK 80,000 – SEK 295,000 ($7,703 – $28,405) per year (INR 6,28,000 – INR 23,16,451)

Tuition Fees (Master’s)

€12,000 – €30,000 per year

SEK 90,000 – SEK 295,000 ($8,678 – $28,405) per year (INR 7,08,000 – INR 23,16,451)

Cost Variation

Varies by university and program.

It depends on the university and level of study.

Expense

Netherlands (Per Month)

Sweden (Per Month)

Accommodation

€500 – €1,200 (shared or private housing)

SEK 4,000 – SEK 8,500 

Food & Groceries

€200 – €400

SEK 2,500 – SEK 4,500

Public Transport

€35 – €100 (student discounts available)

SEK 570 – SEK 1,000 

Health Insurance

€100 – €150

SEK 300 – SEK 800 

Internet & Utilities

€150 – €250

SEK 800 – SEK 1,500 

Miscellaneous

€100 – €300 (entertainment, shopping, etc.)

SEK 1,000 – SEK 3,000

Total Estimated Cost

€1,100 – €2,400

SEK 9,000 – SEK 16,000 

Criteria

Netherlands

Sweden

Allowed Work Hours

16 hours/week (during term) & full-time in summer

20 hours/week (during term) & full-time in summer

Work Permit Requirement

Yes, for non-EU students. Employers must apply for a work permit.

No work permit is needed for students

Minimum Wage 

€13 per hour (varies by age and job)

SEK 130 per hour 

Popular Student Jobs

Hospitality, retail, delivery services, tutoring

Retail, restaurants, IT, customer service

Language Requirements

Dutch language skills are preferred, but English jobs are available

English-speaking jobs are available, but Swedish preferred

Criteria

Netherlands

Sweden

Visa Type

MVV (Provisional Residence Permit) & VVR (Residence Permit)

Residence Permit for Studies

Application Fee (2025)

€243

SEK 1,500 

Processing Time

60 days

1-3 months

Work Rights on Student Visa

16 hours/week (during term), full-time in summer (work permit required)

20 hours/week (during term), full-time in summer (no extra work permit needed)

Health Insurance

Mandatory

Required

Post-Study Work Permit

1-year search visa for job hunting

1-year extension for job hunting

Language Requirements

IELTS 6.0-7.0 (varies by university)

IELTS 6.5-7.0 (varies by program)

Factor

Netherlands

Sweden

Job Market Demand

High demand in IT, Finance, Sales, Marketing and Customer Service, Healthcare, Education, Food Processing, Chemicals and Petroleum Refining.

Strong demand in Services (Telecommunications, IT, Biotechnology), Manufacturing (wood pulp and paper products), Machinery and metal products (iron and steel), precision equipment (telephone parts), processed foods and the automotive industry.

Average Graduate Salary

€35,000 - €50,000 per year

SEK 350,000 - SEK 500,000 per year

Work Permit After Studies

Employer-sponsored visa after Zoekjaar

Employer-sponsored visa after 1-year job search

Major Companies

ING Group, Royal Dutch Shell, ABN-AMRO Group, Unilever, Aegon, Philips, Heineken, Amstel, Rabobank, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, KPN

AstraZeneca, Volvo Group, IKEA, Ericsson, Electrolux, H&M, Atlas Copco, Scania, Skanska, Tetra Pak

Scholarships in the Netherlands

Scholarships in Sweden

Holland Scholarship 

Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP) 

Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS) 

Lund University Global Scholarship 

Erasmus+ Scholarship

KTH India Scholarship 

TU Delft Excellence Scholarship 

Chalmers IPOET Scholarship 

Utrecht Excellence Scholarship 

Karolinska Institutet Global Master’s Scholarship