General FAQs
17 Jan 2011
You can download a Chinese translation of these FAQs at the bottom of the page.
Does Nuffic itself draw up the application criteria for the Nuffic Certificate?
No. The application criteria are drawn up by the Dutch higher education institutions.
Is the procedure not a form of discrimination against Chinese students?
No. On the contrary, the Dutch government and the Dutch higher education institutions are eager to welcome qualified Chinese students. In fact, the number of Chinese students in the Netherlands has risen considerably since the introduction of the Nuffic Certificate.
Are there any other organizations that can issue Nuffic Certificates?
No. Nuffic is the only organization appointed by the Dutch Government to issue the Nuffic Certificate to students from China.
Do students who are already in the Netherlands and who decide to switch to a different Dutch school or programme need to register for a Nuffic Certificate?
No.
Do Chinese nationals who live outside China have to apply for a Nuffic Certificate too?
Yes, you will need a long stay entry visa to enter the Netherlands, and it is not possible to apply for the visa without a Nuffic Certificate. This requirement also applies to Chinese nationals currently living in another Schengen country. Your residence permit for that country only entitles you to stay in the Netherlands for a maximum of three months.
Do applicants for PhD programmes also need to apply for a Nuffic Certificate?
No. Under Dutch immigration law, PhD candidates are not considered to be students and therefore need a different type of visa.
What about students who plan to study in the Netherlands through an exchange programme?
The requirement applies to all Chinese students who intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than three months. This includes exchange students and those with Dutch scholarships (such as Huygens and NFP). Scholarship recipients are advised to indicate this on their Nuffic Certificate registration form.
Do Chinese students who want to apply for courses taught in Dutch need to apply for a Nuffic Certificate?
No.
