Medicine is a demanding field of study. Many young adults are interested in pursuing careers in this challenging, innovative, and rewarding field.
Most universities in the Netherlands are publicly funded. However, tuition eligibility is not determined solely by nationality. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the statutory full-time tuition fee is €2,694 for students who meet the applicable nationality or residence, previous-degree, and program conditions. Students who do not qualify for the statutory rate must pay an institutional tuition fee set by the university and program. Non-EEA students generally pay institutional tuition.
The list below uses 2026–2027 non-EEA institutional tuition rates unless otherwise stated. The University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, and the University of Groningen offer clinical Medicine programs, but these programs are taught in Dutch. Let’s take a look at these medical schools!
Affordable Medical Schools in the Netherlands
1. University of Amsterdam
- Tuition Fees
- Non-EEA Institutional Tuition Fees for Medicine: €34,700/year (Bachelor’s) | €37,400/year (Master’s)
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) traces its history to the Athenaeum Illustre, which opened in 1632, and received university status in 1877. The university currently reports more than 34,000 students. Amsterdam is also home to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool van Amsterdam, HvA).
UvA’s Faculty of Medicine offers a physician-qualifying Medicine program at Amsterdam UMC. Both the bachelor’s and master’s programs are full-time and taught in Dutch.
The bachelor’s program takes three years and includes four themes, two longitudinal learning tracks, a thesis, and an internship. The three-year master’s program consists of clinical rotations, elective education, and a scientific internship. Students who complete the master’s program are trained as basic medical doctors in the Netherlands.
2. Utrecht University
Utrecht University (UU) was established in 1636. Its Faculty of Medical Sciences works closely with UMC Utrecht and currently offers two bachelor’s programs and four master’s programs, including Medicine.
The bachelor’s program in Medicine is a three-year, full-time, Dutch-taught program. It includes academic medical education and practical experience, including an early clinical clerkship in the third year.
The Dutch-taught master’s program also takes three years and includes extensive clinical education and clerkships. Together, the bachelor’s and master’s programs form the six-year university route toward qualification as a basic medical doctor.
3. University of Groningen
Closing our list is the University of Groningen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, RUG). Its Faculty of Medical Sciences is closely associated with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG).
The bachelor’s degree in Medicine is a three-year, Dutch-taught program with 400 places available each year. Admission is selective. The program introduces students to patients from the first year and includes a two-week care internship in a hospital or nursing home.
The current bachelor’s curriculum is organized around the causes of disease, medical-knowledge development, and professional competency development. International applicants must meet the applicable Dutch-language requirement and should verify the separate language and admission requirements for progression to the master’s program.
The Netherlands offers high-quality opportunities in clinical medicine, medical technology, biomedical engineering, and the life sciences. However, non-EEA tuition for clinical Medicine programs can be substantial, and most physician-qualifying programs are taught in Dutch. Prospective students should therefore compare the program type, teaching language, admission process, and tuition category before applying.
We hope this article on affordable medical and medicine-related programs in the Netherlands was helpful. If you are interested, make sure to also check out the Study in Netherlands and Available Programs in Europe!
