Key facts
- You apply through Studielink. Fontys then emails you a request to upload your documents.
- For a September start Fontys' main deadline is 1 May, for both EEA and non-EEA applicants. For a February start it is 15 November.
- English-taught programmes usually ask for IELTS Academic 6.0 overall and per part, with one part allowed at 5.5. Online tests are not accepted.
- Tuition 2026-2027: statutory fee 2,694 euros; institutional fee 10,210 euros, or 13,080 euros for some programmes such as Engineering and ICT.
- For non-EEA students Fontys applies for the entry visa (MVV) and residence permit on your behalf.
What to do
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Requirements and some deadlines differ by programme. Fontys Academy of the Arts and a few Dutch-taught programmes have their own deadlines. The programme page also tells you which Fontys campus it is on.
Have your passport, diploma and transcript ready. Studielink messages go to the email address you used, and Fontys gives you a Fontys email account, usually within one working day.
Fontys emails you a request to upload documents. The sooner you upload, the sooner your application is processed. Checking your diploma can take up to three weeks.
EEA students authorise payment in Studielink, usually from 30 April. Non-EEA students get a payment letter for tuition and visa costs. For a September start, non-EEA students pay and send visa documents by 15 June.
For a September start the housing form opens on 1 May and must be in by 15 June. For a February start it runs from 1 October to 6 December. Places are limited.
If you applied with preliminary grades, send your final diploma and transcript before 31 August. Your enrolment is only complete once Fontys has checked the hard copy.
Deadlines
Fontys' pages for EEA and non-EEA applicants give these dates. The quick-answer boxes on the same pages say 1 June for a September start, and the FAQ says 15 June for non-EU students, so to be safe apply before 1 May. Fontys does not print a year next to the dates, but they repeat every year.
EEA applicants can in most cases still apply after the main deadline, until a final deadline in August. Do not count on this if you also need housing.
- September start, application: 1 May
- September start, non-EEA tuition payment and visa documents: 15 June
- September start, EEA tuition payment: 31 August (before 15 June if you applied for Fontys housing)
- February start, application: 15 November
- February start, non-EEA tuition payment and visa documents: 6 December
Documents
- Your final diploma in the original language, plus a certified English, Dutch or German translation
- Your final transcript of records, plus a certified translation
- Preliminary grades if you have not graduated yet; Fontys may then admit you on conditions
- An English test certificate for English-taught programmes, unless you are exempt
- A copy of your passport or ID card, only if Studielink could not fully verify your identity
English test scores
Fontys accepts the tests below, taken at an authorised test centre, not online. The test must be no older than two years when your study starts; Cambridge certificates do not expire. Master's programmes and Fontys Academy of the Arts may have different rules.
You may be exempt, for example with an IB or European Baccalaureate diploma, or if all your education was in English in Australia, Canada (outside Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US. Fontys can always ask for a test anyway.
- IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall and per part, one part may be 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: 4.5 overall and per part, one part may be 4.0
- Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: 169 overall and per part, one part may be 162
- Pearson PTE Academic: 61 overall and per part, one part may be 58
- LanguageCert Academic: 65 overall and per part, one part may be 60
Tuition and living costs
You pay the statutory fee if you have EEA, Swiss or Surinamese nationality and do not already have a higher education degree. Others pay the institutional fee. In 2026-2027 the statutory fee is 2,694 euros. The institutional fee is 10,210 euros for most full-time programmes and 13,080 euros for some, including programmes at Fontys Engineering, ICT, Technology and Logistics and Natural Sciences.
For 2027-2028, use the Fontys tuition fee indicator to find your rate. Non-EEA students pay the full first year at once; from the second year you can pay in instalments.
Fontys estimates living costs at about 1,100 to 1,500 euros a month. Non-EEA students must also show they can pay for their first year of living costs.
Visa and residence permit
Fontys applies for your entry visa (MVV) and residence permit on your behalf. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, the USA and Vatican City do not need an MVV, but still need the residence permit for a stay over 3 months.
The IND usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, but Fontys advises starting about 3 months before you plan to travel because collecting documents takes time. Fontys may ask you to fill in a questionnaire or join an online interview.
Students from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cameroon and Nigeria must transfer the proof-of-funds amount to Fontys; bank statements are not accepted for them. The amount is refunded after arrival.
Housing
Fontys has no housing of its own but can offer a room through partner landlords to a limited number of new international students. Apply on time through the Fontys form and look on the private market at the same time. Our housing guide explains how to spot scams.
Mistakes to avoid
- Relying on the later 1 June date and missing 1 May.
- Taking an online English test, which Fontys does not accept.
- Sending an uncertified translation of your diploma.
- Missing the 15 June payment date as a non-EEA student and delaying your visa.
- Forgetting to send the final diploma before 31 August after a conditional admission.
Useful links
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Sources we checked
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Sat 24 Oct · Bachelor sessions 10:00-15:30 (three slots); Master sessions 11:00-12:30 and 13:00-14:30
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We checked this guide against its sources on 12 October 2026. Rules change: the official source always wins. Spotted something out of date? DM @gone.with.us or email contact@gonewithus.nl.