Study migration

International students at Maastricht University | Photo: Harry Heuts, 2015

Many students and researchers choose to study or research projects in a European country. The European Union (EU) wants to be attractive to these highly educated migrants who contribute to the knowledge economy. They often return to their home countries after their stay.

The Netherlands has its own national policy for knowledge migrants. With this, the Netherlands wants to facilitate the arrival of students and researchers, and keep them available for the Dutch labour market. The admission of a student or researcher is always guaranteed by an educational or research institution. This institution is then a recognised sponsor for the migrant, as stipulated in the Modern Migration Policy Act (2013). In the Netherlands, students are allowed to stay one year after completion of their studies to find work.