The first intake usually starts in September. Most leading universities in the Netherlands offer maximum courses in this intake, which is why it is popular with international students. Let us look at the timeline for this intake.

• March – April of the previous year: Research the universities, courses, application deadlines and start arranging the required documents.
  
  
• May – June: Appear for English proficiency exams and standardized exams like GRE and GMAT or any other exam as per the course requirement. It is always better to appear for these exams a little earlier because you may be required to re-test if the scores are low.
  
  
• July – September: Work on your essays, resume, transcripts and other documents.
  
  
• October – December: Start applying to the colleges with all necessary documents through Studelink.
  
  
• January – March: If your application is accepted, then an offer of placement will be sent. You have to accept it within two weeks and pay the tuition fee through Studelink. If you do not accept the offer within two weeks, the place will be automatically assigned to another student.
  
  
• April – June : Start applying for the VISA as soon as you receive the acceptance letter. This is also the time to arrange for your finances, like applying for student loans or scholarships.
  
  
• August / September: Prepare to start your semester in the Netherlands.