Study in Europe for Indonesian Students
Europe isn't one destination; it's dozens of very different ones. This guide compares Germany, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands across courses, costs, visas, and career prospects to help Indonesian students choose the right European country, not just "Europe" in the abstract.
Choose your ideal European destination — get expert guidance for Indonesian students
What you'll learn in this article
Saying you want to "study in Europe" is a bit like saying you want to "study in Asia"; the reality spans nearly 50 countries with radically different tuition costs, visa systems, and academic cultures. Germany can offer near-free public university tuition; the UK is among the most expensive options on the continent; the Netherlands sits in between with a genuinely generous post-study work visa. For Indonesian students, a growing number are already making this journey work: the EU awarded Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships to 78 Indonesians this year, placing Indonesia among the top 12 countries worldwide for these awards, and the Netherlands specifically runs the StuNed scholarship, a Dutch government programme built for Indonesians, reflecting genuine historical academic ties between the two countries.
This guide covers five of Europe's most relevant destinations for Indonesian students: Germany, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, comparing them honestly on courses, cost, visas, and what happens after you graduate, before pointing you to dedicated country guides for the four that have them. Not sure which of these five actually fits your budget and goals? That's exactly what a free consultation is for - no pressure, just clarity.
Choose your ideal European destination — get expert guidance for Indonesian students
What Actually Makes "Europe" One Region for Study Purposes
"Europe" as a study destination only makes sense as a single topic because of a few genuine, practical frameworks that tie its countries together, not because the countries themselves are interchangeable. These three mechanisms are worth understanding before comparing anything else.
The Bologna Process and ECTS Credits
Most European countries participate in the Bologna Process, a framework that standardises degree structures (bachelor's, master's, PhD) and uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to make credits comparable and transferable across borders. The Netherlands was among the earliest countries to fully embrace this system while also building one of the largest English-taught programme catalogues in continental Europe, a combination that partly explains its popularity.
The Schengen Area (and Why It's Not the Same as the EU)
This distinction is worth getting right: the Schengen Area is a visa-free travel zone, not the same thing as the European Union. Switzerland isn't an EU member but is part of Schengen, while Ireland is an EU member but is not part of Schengen. The Netherlands is both an EU member and a Schengen country, and your Dutch residence permit grants Schengen zone access across 27 European countries, genuinely useful for internships or travel during your studies.
Multi-Country Study Through Erasmus+
The Erasmus+ programme, and specifically the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) track, allows students to complete a single master's degree across at least two different European universities in two different countries. Indonesia has a genuinely strong track record here, with 78 Indonesians awarded EMJM scholarships this year alone.
Top Courses to Study in Europe
Course choice often matters more than country choice alone, since specific fields cluster around specific countries, and this is especially true for one field in particular.
Medicine: An Honest Look
Medicine taught in English is one of the most searched topics for European study, but it's worth being direct about where that's genuinely accessible. Ireland is a strong option, with direct-entry medicine programmes at institutions like RCSI and UCD built specifically for international students. The UK also offers English-taught medicine, though places are highly competitive and often require additional entrance exams (UCAT, BMAT). Germany's medical programmes are overwhelmingly taught in German, a genuine barrier. Switzerland restricts medical school places heavily, even for domestic students. The Netherlands offers some English-taught health science and biomedical programmes. Still, direct-entry medicine (geneeskunde) is predominantly Dutch-taught and subject to a national numerus fixus (capped admissions) system, worth knowing before you commit to this path here specifically.
Business Administration and Management
A strong option across all five countries. The Netherlands stands out for programmes like International Business Administration, taught entirely in English with strong ties to Rotterdam and Amsterdam's business sectors.
Engineering and Technology
Germany and Switzerland carry serious global reputations here, but the Netherlands genuinely competes too, TU Delft ranks 48th globally (QS World University Rankings 2027), the highest-ranked university among all five countries covered in this guide outside the UK's elite tier.
Agriculture, Food Science, and Environmental Studies
A genuinely distinctive Dutch specialisation: Wageningen University ranks #1 globally for Agriculture and Forestry (QS Subject Rankings), making the Netherlands an unusually strong, specific choice for students in food technology, environmental science, or biotechnology, a field none of the other four countries compete with at this level.
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology
Ireland stands out specifically, home to European headquarters for major pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer and GSK.
Germany vs UK vs Ireland vs Switzerland vs the Netherlands: The Honest Comparison
Once you look past the shared frameworks above, these five countries differ enormously in what they'll actually cost you and what the process looks like, so treating them as interchangeable "European options" would do you a disservice.
Tuition and Living Costs
| Country | Tuition (Annual) | Approx. in Rp | Monthly Living Costs | Approx. in Rp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Often tuition-free at public universities; semester contribution only, roughly €150-350 | Rp 2,700,000 - Rp 6,300,000 (per semester) | €700 - €1,000 | Rp 12,600,000 - Rp 18,000,000 |
| United Kingdom | £10,000 - £20,000+ | Rp 208,000,000 - Rp 416,000,000+ | £1,500 - £2,500 | Rp 31,200,000 - Rp 52,000,000 |
| Ireland | €10,000 - €25,000 | Rp 180,000,000 - Rp 450,000,000 | €1,000 - €1,500 | Rp 18,000,000 - Rp 27,000,000 |
| Switzerland | CHF 500 - CHF 2,200 per semester | Rp 10,700,000 - Rp 47,080,000 (per semester) | CHF 1,800 - CHF 2,800 | Rp 38,520,000 - Rp 59,920,000 |
| Netherlands | €8,000 - €20,000 (bachelor's), €11,000 - €20,000+ (master's) | Rp 144,000,000 - Rp 360,000,000 | €1,000 - €1,500 | Rp 18,000,000 - Rp 27,000,000 |
Converted at approximate August 2026 rates (€1 = Rp 18,000, £1 = Rp 20,800, CHF 1 = Rp 21,400).
The honest pattern: Germany is genuinely the most affordable on tuition, close to studying in Europe for free. The UK carries the highest overall cost. Switzerland's tuition looks deceptively low, but its living costs are Europe's highest. The Netherlands sits in the middle on both counts, meaningfully cheaper than the UK, but genuinely charging tuition (unlike Germany), a detail worth knowing since the Netherlands is sometimes mistakenly grouped with Germany's "free education" reputation; it isn't the same model at all.
Visa Documents You'll Typically Need
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)
- University acceptance letter
- Proof of financial means (thresholds vary significantly by country, see table below)
- Proof of health/medical insurance
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Passport-sized photographs
- Visa or permit application fee payment proof
Visa and Immigration Basics
| Country | Visa/Permit Type | Key Financial Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | National (Type D) student visa, then residence permit | Blocked account (Sperrkonto): €11,904 for 2026 (12 months), confirm current figure with the German consulate |
| United Kingdom | Student visa (Route) | CAS, proof of funds, mandatory Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) |
| Ireland | Study visa (non-EU/EEA, courses over 90 days) | Letter of acceptance, proof of funds, private medical insurance |
| Switzerland | Residence permit for education (via cantonal migration office) | Proof of funds around CHF 21,000 to 24,000 per year, mandatory Swiss-compliant health insurance |
| Netherlands | Entry visa (MVV) plus residence permit, often combined via the TEV procedure, usually applied for by your university | Proof of funds around €13,100 to €14,200 per year (IND guidance), plus tuition fees |
Top Universities Across Europe
Rather than pretending there's a single "best universities in Europe" list, here's what each of these five countries is genuinely known for academically.
Germany
Home to the Technical University of Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and Humboldt University of Berlin, particularly strong in engineering, computer science, and business.
United Kingdom
Includes Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and others, with strength across nearly every discipline.
Ireland
Anchored by Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, with a genuine reputation in technology and pharmaceutical sectors.
Switzerland
ETH Zurich (ranked 8th globally, QS 2027) and EPFL (22nd) rank among the world's top universities for science, engineering, and technology.
Netherlands
TU Delft ranks 48th globally (QS World University Rankings 2027), the highest-ranked university among these five countries outside the UK's elite tier, and 13th in Europe. The University of Amsterdam ranks 60th globally. Wageningen University holds the world's #1 spot specifically for Agriculture and Forestry. The Netherlands also offers the largest catalogue of English-taught programmes in continental Europe, over 2,200 across bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels.
Separate from global rankings, AECC also works directly with institutions including Berlin School of Business and Innovation, GISMA Business School, and IU University of Applied Sciences in Germany, offering more direct, guided application pathways. These aren't necessarily the same institutions topping global rankings, but they offer genuine admissions support advantages through AECC.
Study in Europe: Intakes
| Intake | Typical Application Window | Classes Begin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn/Winter Intake | January - June (varies by country) | September/October | Primary intake across all five countries; widest programme availability. Dutch applications for non-EU students commonly close around 1 April to 1 May |
| Spring/Summer Intake | June - October | January/February | Secondary intake; more limited availability, especially at bachelor's level |
Always confirm the specific university's deadline; some German programmes and most Dutch non-EU applications have earlier internal deadlines than the general intake window suggests.
Student Life in Europe
Choosing a country and course is only part of the picture; day-to-day life varies meaningfully across these five countries too.
Housing and Daily Costs
University-affiliated housing is common in Germany and the UK. Ireland's major cities, particularly Dublin, have a genuinely tight rental market. Switzerland's housing costs sit at the high end across all five. The Netherlands faces a genuinely severe, well-documented student housing shortage, particularly in Amsterdam, Delft, Utrecht, and Leiden; apply for university-affiliated housing as soon as you're accepted; waiting lists commonly run 6 to 18 months in the most competitive cities.
Working While You Study
Germany caps non-EU/EFTA student work at roughly 120 full days or 240 half days per year; Switzerland allows up to 15 hours per week after an initial waiting period; the UK and Ireland generally allow around 20 hours per week during term time; the Netherlands permits 16 hours per week during term and full-time during summer, with STEM students at several top universities allowed up to 24 hours per week from 2025 onward.
Building a Community
Indonesian student associations (PPI chapters) exist across most major European destinations, including active PPI Netherlands and PPI Belanda networks, reflecting the size of the Indonesian student community there specifically.
Post-Study Work Rights: What Happens After You Graduate
Immigration policy in this area tends to change more often than tuition or admissions requirements, so treat this table as a starting orientation; always confirm current rules directly with each country's immigration authority closer to your graduation date.
| Country | Post-Study Work Option | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Job Seeker Residence Permit (§20 AufenthG) | Up to 18 months | Unrestricted work rights while searching; can transition to EU Blue Card |
| United Kingdom | Graduate Route | 2 years (3 for PhD holders) | No job restrictions; no job offer required to qualify |
| Ireland | Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) | 12 months (bachelor's), up to 24 months (master's/PhD) | Strong alignment with tech and pharma sectors |
| Switzerland | Limited options for non-EU/EFTA graduates | Typically 6 months, non-renewable | Considerably more restrictive; EU/EFTA graduates have unrestricted access |
| Netherlands | Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) | 12 months | No job offer required at point of application; unrestricted labour market access during the search period; genuinely one of the more generous post-study windows in Europe |
The Netherlands' Orientation Year in Detail
This is genuinely one of the strongest post-study pathways among all five countries. After graduating from a Dutch institution, you can apply for a 12-month Orientation Year permit without needing a job offer first, and work without restriction while searching. If you secure a qualifying role, you can transition to the Highly Skilled Migrant permit, with a lower salary threshold for recent graduates (approximately €37,440 in 2026) compared to the standard threshold (approximately €52,284), making this transition genuinely more achievable for new graduates than in most other European destinations.
The EU Blue Card (Germany)
For Germany, the EU Blue Card requires a job offer meeting a minimum gross salary threshold, generally around €50,700 annually, or roughly €45,934 for shortage occupations like STEM fields, engineering, and IT.
Career Prospects and Salary Expectations
Salaries vary considerably across these five countries, and comparing them directly only makes sense once you factor in cost of living and currency; a higher number on paper doesn't automatically mean more take-home value. Here's how starting salaries look by field and country, useful for weighing career prospects alongside the tuition and living cost figures covered earlier in this guide.
| Field | Germany (EUR/yr) | UK (GBP/yr) | Ireland (EUR/yr) | Switzerland (CHF/yr) | Netherlands (EUR/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business & Management | 45,000 - 55,000 | 28,000 - 38,000 | 35,000 - 48,000 | 70,000 - 90,000 | 40,000 - 55,000 |
| Engineering & Technology | 48,000 - 60,000 | 30,000 - 42,000 | 38,000 - 52,000 | 75,000 - 95,000 | 42,000 - 58,000 |
| IT & Computer Science | 50,000 - 65,000 | 32,000 - 45,000 | 40,000 - 55,000 | 80,000 - 100,000 | 45,000 - 62,000 |
| Agriculture & Environmental Sciences | Not a primary specialisation | Not a primary specialisation | Not a primary specialisation | Not a primary specialisation | 38,000 - 52,000, reflecting the Netherlands' genuine strength in this field |
Indicative 2026 starting-salary ranges. Switzerland's higher figures should be read alongside its correspondingly higher cost of living.
The honest takeaway: Switzerland's salaries look highest on paper but are offset by living costs. The Netherlands offers a solid, middle-ground balance, plus the added advantage of its unusually generous Orientation Year, which gives graduates real time to find the right role rather than rushing into the first available offer.
Scholarships for Indonesian Students in Europe
Funding is often the single biggest factor in whether "study in Europe" stays a plan or becomes a reality, and Indonesia's track record here is genuinely strong across multiple countries, not just theoretical.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)
78 Indonesians received this scholarship this year alone, among the top 12 recipient countries globally. Covers tuition, typically a monthly stipend, travel costs, and insurance, for a master's completed across at least two European universities.
StuNed Scholarship (Netherlands)
A Dutch government scholarship built specifically for Indonesian professionals and students, reflecting genuine, decades-long academic and institutional ties between the two countries. It's particularly strong for postgraduate students in development-related fields, law, social sciences, agriculture, water management, and governance, areas where Dutch-Indonesian academic ties run especially deep. This is a genuinely different kind of opportunity than the other scholarships in this list, purpose-built for Indonesians specifically, not a broader international scheme Indonesians happen to qualify for.
Holland Scholarship
A one-time €5,000 award for high-achieving non-EEA students (including Indonesians) starting a bachelor's or master's programme at participating Dutch universities, a genuine, if partial, offset against first-year tuition.
DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
Germany's DAAD offers scholarships for international students, including Indonesians, across various degree levels.
Country-Specific Scholarships
Germany, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands each run their own schemes through universities and government bodies. Coverage and deadlines change yearly, confirm current details with a counsellor.
Which Country Should You Actually Choose?
Given everything covered so far, here's a genuinely honest way to think through the decision, not "which is best" in the abstract, but which fits your specific situation and priorities.
- If cost is your primary concern: Germany's near-free public tuition makes it the strongest option on paper.
- If you want the broadest global brand recognition, or you're set on medicine: The UK offers strong options on both, at meaningfully higher cost.
- If you're interested in tech, pharma, or want generous post-study work relative to degree length: Ireland's combination of company headquarters and Stamp 1G rights is a genuine advantage.
- If your field is science, engineering, or research-heavy, and you can absorb a high cost of living: Switzerland's ETH Zurich and EPFL carry serious global weight.
- If you want the most generous post-study job search window, the largest catalogue of English-taught programmes, or you're specifically interested in agriculture, environmental science, or a field connected to Indonesia's own development priorities: the Netherlands, backed by the StuNed scholarship, is a genuinely strong, underrated option.
None of these is universally "correct," the right answer depends on your course, budget, and career goals.
Study in Europe for Indonesian Students FAQs
Neither is universally better. Europe (particularly Germany) offers lower tuition and Bologna Process credit portability; Australia offers proximity to Indonesia, an established Indonesian student community, and strong post-study work rights.
No single answer, Germany suits affordability-focused students, the UK suits those wanting global brand recognition or medicine, Ireland suits tech/pharma students, Switzerland suits science/engineering students who can absorb a high cost of living, and the Netherlands suits students who want a strong post-study work window and access to the StuNed scholarship built specifically for Indonesians.
Not entirely, but close in Germany's case, public universities charge only a modest semester contribution, though you'll still need to prove financial means for your visa. The Netherlands, by contrast, genuinely charges tuition for all students regardless of nationality, don't assume it follows Germany's near-free model.
Among these five countries, Ireland and the UK genuinely offer English-taught medicine, though competitive. Germany's medicine is largely German-taught, Switzerland restricts places heavily for non-EU/EFTA applicants, and the Netherlands' medicine programmes are predominantly Dutch-taught with capped national admissions.
StuNed is a Dutch government scholarship built specifically for Indonesian students and professionals, particularly strong for postgraduate study in development, law, social sciences, agriculture, water management, and governance, fields with especially deep Dutch-Indonesian academic ties.
Yes, though it varies significantly: Germany offers 18 months, the UK offers 2 years (3 for PhD), Ireland offers 12 to 24 months, Switzerland is considerably more restrictive at 6 months for non-EU/EFTA graduates, and the Netherlands offers a genuinely generous 12-month Orientation Year with no job offer required to apply.
Not for enrolment, all five countries offer English-taught programmes, and the Netherlands specifically has the largest such catalogue in continental Europe (2,200+ programmes). Local language proficiency can meaningfully affect job prospects and residency timelines after graduation in most of these countries.
Both are valid, but each country has its own process and deadlines, applying broadly without a strategy can become overwhelming, a counsellor helps focus effort effectively.
Trusted Expertise
About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Payal Chandra Roy
IELTS, Courses and Application Expert | 15 Years Advising Students from India
Payal Chandra Roy has 15 years of experience in international education, writing on three areas that students from India navigate regardless of which destination they are heading to: English proficiency tests, course selection and application documents. She covers IELTS and the Duolingo English Test, writes on standalone course guides across disciplines, and covers the application documents that accompany university applications including Letters of Recommendation, Statements of Purpose, academic essays and CVs.
Her background is practical in a specific way. She began as a student counsellor advising students from India directly, then moved into training and developing counsellors across AECC's network. That progression means she understands not just what Indian students need to know, but where the advice they typically receive falls short. Her articles address the specific challenges students from India face: IELTS band requirements for different destinations, how to approach course selection when the same discipline is available across multiple countries, and how to write an SOP that works for an Indian applicant at an international institution.
With over 1,000 students helped and more than 464,000 article views across the AECC platform, Payal's content covers the questions Indian students ask most consistently when preparing for English proficiency tests, choosing a course and putting together their application documents. She holds an MBA in Marketing and is based at AECC's offices.
