Below you will find more information on what you need to know and arrange before you start your studies at Tio Business School.
Visa information/Immigration
At Tio we submit residence permit (VVR) applications on behalf of our international students. Depending on your nationality, you may also need an MVV (entry visa) in addition to the standard residence permit. You can use the IND page for exemptions from the requirement for an MVV to determine if this applies to you.
Applying for a residence permit
In order to apply for a residence permit (VVR), Tio Business School will, with your help, fill out the application form and send it to the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service). You will collect the residence permit after arrival in the Netherlands. Use this tool to determine which procedure applies to you.
Already have a Dutch residence permit?
- If you already hold a valid Dutch residence permit for a purpose other than study (for family, partnership, etc.), you do not need to apply for a Dutch residence permit for study purposes.
Please be aware, however, that the residence permit has to be valid until at least the first day of your study programme: 1 September or 1 January, depending on in which semester you will start. If your current Dutch residence permit is not valid until the start of your studies, there may be a residence gap and you will need to apply for a study permit. - Do you already have a residence permit for study from another Dutch educational institution and do you wish to study at Tio Business School? Then, Tio Business School will need to send a new application to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to transfer your current residence permit to our university. We will become your new legal sponsor of your residence permit.
- If you already hold a valid Dutch residence permit for a purpose other than study (for family, partnership, etc.), you do not need to apply for a Dutch residence permit for study purposes.
Documents and Financial proof
Passport scan
- The passport needs to be signed.
- The passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months after the start date of your study programme.
- MVV students: Scan all pages of your passport, including the empty ones.
- VVR students: Scan the personal page of your passport, including your signature and any pages with stamps.
Antecedents certificate
- Download the Antecedents certificate form
- The document needs to be signed by hand
Financial proof and ways to show financial proof
One of the key requirements for obtaining and keeping your residence permit to study in the Netherlands is demonstrating that you have sufficient financial resources. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) recognizes several acceptable methods for proving financial means. Please refer to the following link for an overview of the available options and their specific conditions.
Housing
Studying in a new country is exciting, and where you live shapes your student experience. Whether you’re after the buzz of Amsterdam or a quieter spot nearby, we offer student housing to match your needs and budget. Housing is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. In the heart of Amsterdam or just outside the buzz, we have a guaranteed home for you.
Tio-housing for full degree students
We offer four types of accomodation:
Student Room
Looking for a place that’s budget-friendly and social? Student Rooms offer a private space in a shared house with other students. You’ll live in a community setting, sharing common areas like the kitchen and lounge. With rental prices tailored to student budgets, you can enjoy a practical and social living environment that supports both your academic and social life.
Price range: € 800 - € 1,000 a month
Suburban Living
Prefer a little peace and relaxation after a busy day? Suburban Living places you just outside the city in quiet neighbourhoods like Alkmaar or Zaandam. These homes are affordable, well-kept, and connected to Amsterdam by public transport. A great match if you value downtime and a little extra room to breathe.
Price range: up to € 1,000 a month
Cityscape residence
Want to be in the middle of it all? These modern apartments are found throughout the city in neighbourhoods full of cafés, parks, and nightlife. You’ll have your own place while still being close to everything that makes Amsterdam tick. This is ideal for students who thrive on city energy and want independence without leaving the action.
Price range: € 1,000 – € 1,400 a month
Heritage Housing
Like a bit of character in your home? Heritage Housing features apartments in older, typically Dutch buildings full of charm and history. With shared apartments, Heritage Housing is perfect for students who want to live in the heart of the city and enjoy social interaction.
Price range: from € 1,400 a month
How to get Tio-housing
During your introductory meeting, you can indicate what type of accommodation you prefer. For EU students, this will take place after signing your study agreement, and for non-EU students, after applying for your visa. Tio will then start working on your request and will come back to you with an offer as soon as possible. You have one week to accept this offer. Once you accept, we will ensure you receive the rental contract. In order for you to guarantee your housing you must sign the rental contract before the set deadline. We operate on a first-come, first-served policy.
Find your own housing
Via-via is still the most successful way of finding a room in Amsterdam. Make sure to let everybody in your social and professional network know that you are looking for a room in / near Amsterdam. For example post a public message on Facebook, LinkedIn and/or Instagram, in which you ask your network to share it with their network, and so on. You may find a perfect room via your fellow students, the barman, your current neighbor…
Facebook has several groups for finding a room. For example (some in Dutch only):
- Kamers Gezocht/Aangeboden
- Woningen te huur in Amsterdam
- Kamer gezocht in Amsterdam (from ASVA, the Amsterdam Student Union))
- Amsterdam Apartments (for shared apartments with more than 1 other student)
- Amsterdam Apartments 4 Rent
- Erasmus Amsterdam
On the following websites you can find different types of accommodation. Some websites might display unreliable offers, so please be aware of scams. Do not accept room offers that seem too good to be true! Check this website for tips on how to avoid scams. The National Student Union has also provided a catalogue for finding housing in Amsterdam that you can find here.
- Tio's International Office also recommends HousingAnywhere, the international housing platform for students and trainees. Through HousingAnywhere you can safely book your new accommodation.
- kamernet.nl offers a large number of rooms. You need to have a personal profile to respond to room adverts. They charge a fee for membership (Premium Membership 1 month: €19,95).
- kamer.nl
- room.nl
- thesocialhub.co
- xior.be
- funda.nl
- studentenwoning.mijndak.nl (only In Dutch)
- hotelcasa.nl
- thisisourdomain.nl
- ourcampus.nl
- rentslam.com
- ymere.nl (only in Dutch)
- intohousing.com
- hoteljansen.nl
Insurances
For European students
Check with your insurance company in your home country whether you are covered by your insurance when studying for a period of 5 months or more in the Netherlands. If necessary, Tio can also help with an (additional) insurance. It is essential that you bring proof of the insurance with you when you start your studies at Tio.
As most health insurances do not cover dentist costs, you are strongly advised to visit your dentist for a thorough check-up before leaving your country. You will also need a third-party (liability) insurance. Tio expects students to be covered sufficiently.
For non-EU students
If you require a visa and/or residence permit, Tio will arrange private insurance for you. This insurance will cover urgent medical care, repatriation, personal effects and liability. The insurance is provided by insurance company AON. At this website you will be able to read all about the insurance and its coverage. The type of insurance you will be getting is the student insurance ICS- Complete.
Please note: costs derived from any known illness prior to your stay in the Netherlands (among others: diabetes, chronic illness, allergies, birth-control) are not covered by insurances. This means you need to bring sufficient medication if you know you will need medication in the Netherlands.
Study necessities
Tio app
Download the MyTio App for free and you will always have your grade information and current class and exam schedule at hand.
Laptop specifications
- Windows-based laptop: No special requirements, all configurations comply with operating system Windows 10.
- Apple MacOS laptop: No special requirements, all configurations comply with operating system macOS High Sierra 10.13.
- Chromebook chromeOS: Not recommended due to software incompatibility.
MS-Office for free
- Log in to your e-mail via outlook.office.com.
- At the top left you have a "waffle menu", open this menu.
- In this menu you can choose to open one of the apps, such as Word or Excel, directly online.
- To download these programs, click on the Microsoft 365 link.
- Via Apps installeren or Install Apps you can choose to download and install the Microsoft 365-apps.
- The additional instructions are displayed on your screen. To activate the licence, log in with your Tio email address.