Why Study MBA in Netherlands: Top Universities & Guide 2025

The country that is known for famous artists like Van Gogh, Rambrandt, and Vermeer is also a place that has a rich academic legacy. We are talking about the Netherlands. The country is known for having various top universities in the world that offer world-class education. It is also a country with some of the top global businesses, making it the ideal place to study Business Administration.

In this article we will take a look at the MBA courses offered by various top universities in the country, the reasons why international students should study, the universities they can study at, and how students can apply to them. This article will give students an idea of how and why to pursue an MBA abroad.

Why Study an MBA in Netherlands as an International Student?

Here are a few reasons to study MBA in Netherlands as an international student in 2025:

1. Top Universities: The country has 13 of the top 500 countries in the world.
2. Innovation-Based Education: Universities in the Netherlands offer innovation-based MBA programs that focus on sustainability.
3. English-Taught Courses: Despite Dutch being the official language of the country, many universities in the Netherlands offer English-taught courses for international students.
4. High Quality of Life: The quality of life for international students in high in the Netherlands, the country ranks 6^th in terms of happiness in 2024.
5. Global hub for Business: The country is home to some of the behemoths of industries like Philips, Unilever, Heineken, Shell, and more.

These are a few reasons that studying MBA in Netherlands a smart choice for international students. Now let’s see the universities that offer the course in the upcoming section

List of Universities in Netherlands for International Students to Study MBA

These are many universities that offer the course in the Netherlands for international students, but we will be focusing on the top 5 popular choices that are:

1. University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam is a place that nurtures boundless curiosity and excellence in learning, research, and innovation. It ranks 55^th in the world according to QS Rankings 2025. The university has more than 40,000 students from more than 100 countries. The university offers one of the largest catalogues of English-taught courses in Europe with various unique choices. The research university has roots going as far as 1632.

The MBA course offered by the university focuses on helping students to become independent leaders with the right skills and knowledge. The course focuses on sustainable growth to build businesses. The benefits of studying MBA at the university are things like 1-1 career guidance, flexibility to customize the course based on needs, a globally recognized MBA and international trip to South Africa to help students explore the various aspects of international business.

2. University of Groningen

The University of Groningen ranks 159^th in the world and has an academic history dating as far back as 1614. The university has had a glorious history with the first female student and lecturer in the country as well as the first Dutch astronaut and the first president of the European Central Bank as the alums.

It is a university that is known for its research in energy, aging and sustainability. The research is done on a collaborative basis with various public and private institutions. The University of Groningen offers students a wide range of courses. Among them is their MBA course.

The MBA course at the university equips students with knowledge and skills to solve real world problems across industries. Students will explore decision-making in various situations. This will help students to develop critical thinking skills to help them prepare for the real world.

3. Maastricht University

Maastricht University is ranked 230^th in the world according to QS Rankings 2025 due to its unique problem-based learning system and diverse classroom. The international classroom concepts of the university bring students from around the world together. The university’s challenging learning environment with small, interactive sessions makes the learning experience unique for international students.

The MBA course offered by Maastricht University gives students the essence of organizational leadership and entrepreneurial management in the ever-evolving business environment. The program creates a stimulating environment in and outside the classroom.

4. University of Twente

University of Twente is an entrepreneurial research university with excellence in the field of new technologies and their impact on society and humanity. The university ranks 233^rd in the world. The students and researchers come together to develop technologies that can impact the future in various fields. The entrepreneurial spirit of the university’s courses has helped it to support more than 1000 start-ups and create value for students.

The MBA course offered by the University of Twente is innovative and highly sought after, that can prepare businesses for the challenges of tomorrow. In this course, students learn how to help businesses evolve. They will learn through challenges to make companies more sustainable for the future. This may improve economic performance, develop new markets, manage large projects, implement digital solutions and improve corporate responsibility or manage talent.

5. Radboud University

Radboud University is among the top 1% of universities in the world. It ranks 272^nd in the world according to QS Rankings 2025. The university is also home to 2 professors who are Nobel Laureates. It is an international university with students from more than 100 countries offering more than 30 Masters and more than 10 Bachelors programs.

The MBA course offered by the university is designed to give students skills to design and implement organizational strategies and structures to create socio-economic change. The course emphasizes how a company interacts with its stakeholders when it comes to sustainability. There are many choices for students to choose from, to shape their studies.

After looking at the list of universities in the Netherlands for international students, it’s time to see how students can apply for courses in the country.

How to Apply for an MBA Abroad?

Here is how students can apply for an MBA Netherlands in 2025

• Step 1: Look for universities that offer the course
• Step 2: Find and shortlist universities based on the availability of the course, its eligibility, the application deadline, and more
• Step 3: Gather the documents required to apply for the course
• Step 4: Fill out the course application and submit the documents

In conclusion, this article covers the MBA course in the Netherlands, including reasons to study, universities, and application process.

For more information on this, students can reach out to abroad education experts near them. These experts help students to make the right decisions. They make the process easier from the get-go and structure everything so students do not have to worry about the various steps they need to take to reach their dream destination. These experts know various aspects of studying abroad. Students planning to study in New Zealand and seeking scholarship information can inquire about available Netherlands scholarships. They can ensure success through their years of experience and make a student’s dream come true.