Introduction to the Dutch education system

 

Higher education in the Netherlands is world-leading in many aspects, such as business management, agricultural research, engineering, and art and design. High level of research The level of scientific research and thesis in the Netherlands is among the best in the world. In fact, the Dutch international scientific research is in a leading position on the European continent. The number of papers and academic literature published by higher education scholars in the Netherlands ranks fifth in the world.

 

Elementary and secondary education

Elementary education in the Netherlands starts at the age of 5, and children can enroll at the age of 4, with a duration of 7 to 8 years. After graduating from elementary education, one should receive secondary education. Secondary education is from 12 to 16 years old and provides a variety of learning systems.

 

Those who want to obtain higher education qualifications must study general secondary education, which are:

Five-year general senior secondary education (Dutch: HAVO; English: senior general secondary education)
Six-year university preparatory secondary education (Dutch: VWO; English: pre university education)

Choose one of the two, and then grant higher education qualifications according to the student's level.

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However, VWO is more difficult. Only students who have obtained a VWO diploma can enter a research university.

 

Students who have completed the general high-level secondary education HAVO and those who have obtained the VWO diploma can apply to the University of Applied Sciences.

 

Taking the four-year primary vocational education (Dutch: VMBO) as an example, it includes general and vocational education. After graduation, MBO four-year intermediate vocational education and training (Dutch: MBO; English: senior secondary vocational education and training) can be carried out. Students who have completed MBO can apply to the University of Applied Sciences.

 

 

Higher education

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Higher education in the Netherlands is divided into three stages, namely bachelor, master and doctor. Higher education is divided into two major education systems, one is the research university (Universiteiten in Dutch; Research Universities in English), and the other is the University of Applied Sciences (Hogescholen in Dutch, Universities of Applied Sciences in English).

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There are 14 research universities in the Netherlands, including three universities of science and technology and one Wahningen Agricultural University funded by the Ministry of Nature Management, Fisheries and Agriculture. In addition, there are 36 professional universities in the Netherlands that offer more than 200 different professional courses.

 

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University of Applied Sciences

 

Mainly provide application-oriented courses. Generally speaking, the courses offered by universities of applied sciences are more practical than research universities.

 

The length of study for a bachelor's degree program at the University of Applied Sciences is four years. Students who complete this study can directly enter the job market or continue to study for a master's degree. Most universities of applied sciences offer master's courses. If you are willing, you can directly apply for a master's program offered by a research university after obtaining a bachelor's degree from the University of Applied Sciences, but you may still be required to take the conversion pre-course offered by the school. This requirement depends on the field of study and the original It depends on the content of the bachelor's course.

 

In terms of minimum credit requirements, the University of Applied Sciences requires 240 credits and four years of study. For the master's degree, the University of Applied Sciences requires 60 to 120 credits, and the length of study is one year, one and a half years, or two years.

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Research Universities

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Mainly provide research-oriented courses. Research universities offer bachelor's courses and graduate courses. Students spend three years to obtain a bachelor's degree, after graduation, they can directly find employment or continue their master's program.

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Research universities offer master's courses in various fields, with a duration of one to two years, and admission requirements and tuition fees are also different. Degrees awarded by higher education have minimum requirements for credits. For bachelor degrees, research universities require 180 credits and three years of study; for masters, research universities require 60, 90, or 120 credits, and the length of study is one year, one and a half years, or two years, respectively.

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PhD research

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For doctoral degrees, only research universities provide them. To study for a Ph.D. program, first look for vacancies for PhD students and apply. During this four-year period, the thesis will be researched under the guidance of the professor promoter.

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School system in the Netherlands

Source: EP Nuffic

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