Student Consultancy
We consultant students from Pakistan to the Netherlands with full guidance.
We consult Pakistani students
Are you an Pakistani student or a graduate currently in an orientation year and you are in need of advice about your situation? This is where our consultation service for students comes in handy. We noticed that information about studying or working in the Netherlands after a study is hard to find and not always clear. Help from your school, employer or even the Dutch government proves to be insufficient in many occasions.
How our Consultation service works
Are you currently experiencing difficulty taking the next steps of your stay in the Netherland? Do you need advice about the possibilities that are available for you or just want to explore your options? We can offer you a one-on-one consultation session for a fair and affordable price.
Choose programme and University
To be eligible for admission to a University, you will need to meet certain requirements depending on the University. These include your educational background (secondary school diploma), level of English and maths.
Accommodation in The Netherlands
The Netherlands is currently facing housing shortage, but we assist students in finding suitable accommodation in their respective student cities, making their transition to university life smoother and more comfortable. Whether it's shared housing, studios, or student apartments.
University Colleges
Gerrit Rietveld Academie
Student Housing Platforms
Certified student housing platforms
The list below features certified student housing platforms with accommodations under their own management. Additionally, due to waiting times, these platforms are highly recommendable to students who are planning ahead or intend to stay for at least one year.
ROOM.nl is a waiting time-based platform; the waiting time for a room on average is around 2,5 – 3 years. It is beneficial for all incoming students to apply as soon as they have received a student number – please consult the ROOM registration page to apply directly and find additional information. Due to priority regulations for international students, this waiting time can be shortened. Please do note that these priority rooms are different from our regular rooms, so be sure to read the information on their page closely.
Studentenwoningweb.nl is also a waiting time-based platform, with an average waiting time of 2,5 – 3 years. Please check the Studentenwoningweb registration page for more information on how to apply.
Creating an account is free of charge. You can then sign up for fully furnished studios that are allocated through a lottery system.
Offers self-contained apartment rooms at their location in Diemen with several additional amenities. Registration requires a fee of EUR 100,-, with an estimated waiting time of 12-14 months.
Offers short-stay rooms from October to June every year. The waiting time for these rooms is currently 2 years.
UvA student housing (limited availability)
The University of Amsterdam has agreements with several housing providers to reserve a limited number of accommodations for newly incoming international students. These rooms are strictly short-stay accommodations for a maximum of one academic year and minimum of one semester. Please consult our UvA student housing webpage for more information.
Other, third-party housing platforms
For a list of third-party housing platforms that offer housing solutions on potentially shorter notice, please consult our webpage with additional tips. That page also contains important information regarding scammers, legal help and recordings of our previous webinars on how to find housing in Amsterdam.
You can rent through DUWO University Housing if you are enrolled at, or accepted by, one of these educational institutions. Select your educational institution for more information:
Our Consultation Services for students
Before the start of the session, we will ask you about your personal situation, the study you follow and your immigration status.
During the session we will offer you a tailored advice that will include:
- Advice based on your current residence status.
- Pro’s and con’s between continue studying or finding a job.
- Administrative help & guidance.
- Guidance in overall cost of living in The Netherlands.
- Guidance in Dutch lifestyle & Culture.
- Short Dutch course before arriving in The Netherlands.
- How to increase your chances to get a residence permit and avoiding residence gaps.
- Solutions for the IND sponsorship if you find a company who is not (yet) a sponsor.
- Answering all your questions regarding immigration and working in the Netherlands.
Student Job
We’re here to help you find the perfect student job, so you can earn while you learn. Whether you’re looking for flexible hours or experience in your field, we’ll support you in balancing work and study with ease.
If you reside in the Netherlands on a student residence permit, you are allowed to work up to a maximum of 16 hours per week throughout the year, or fulltime in the summer months (June to August).
Costs of living
Budgeting your student life
Your lifestyle determines how much money you will need as a student. We strongly recommend you to make a budget plan to manage your finances effectively.
Estimated monthly expenses
Experience has shown that students living and studying in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague spend approximately €1000 – €1800 a month. This covers everyday expenses like food, housing, insurance, study materials, and more. Keep in mind, the estimate below does not include tuition fees and unforeseen costs, so it is wise to use it as a rough indication. Housing costs can vary considerably, and if you are planning to travel during your stay, you will need extra budget for that too.
Tips & know-hows
- Groceries at LidlOpens external, DirkOpens external or AldiOpens external are less expensive than the same products at Albert Heijn;
- Keep track of grocery discounts, all weekly discounts (‘aanbiedingen’ in Dutch) are advertised on the websites of the supermarkets too;
- You can find Halal butchers in every city across the Netherlands. Stores also offer a wide variety of spices and groceries needed to cook Pakistani and Indian dishes.
Average living expenses per month
| Accommodation (furnished, including (shared or individual) utilities) – on average | €700 – €1000 |
| Healthcare insurance (compulsory) | €150 |
| Books and study materials (may vary per study programme) | €50-150 |
| Monthly expenses (food, drinks, clothes, going out, public transport, phone & sport subscription etc.) | €450 |
Other (non-recurrent) expenses
| Visa and residence permit fees (for non-EU students) | €243 |
| Bicycle (secondhand) | €100 |
A number of items with their average prices
This is a gross indication of prices.
| Cup of tea or coffee in a café | €3.75 |
| Meals (cheeseburger, chickenburger, hamburger etc.) | €11-12 |
| Drink | €2 |
| Meal | €13 |
| Cinema ticket | €14 |
| Hairdresser (haircut) | €15 |
Average prices for travelling to nearby European cities
| Trip to Paris* | €70 |
| Trip to Brussels* | €58 |
| Trip to London* | €70 |