Types of Masters
Master's degree programme for teaching
Post-initiële Master's degree programme
Research Master's degree programme
Non-follow-on Master's degree programme
Further information and links
Master's degree programme for teaching
A Master's degree programme for teaching is a one or two-year study programme (120 ECTS) at a university of applied sciences or research university leading to a first level teaching qualification (qualified teaching status in the Netherlands for teaching the specified subjects in all years and all types of secondary education). This means that you can obtain a teaching qualification after studying French or English, for example. The specific details vary at each institution. In some cases the programme is a Master's degree that you take after your normal Master's programme, whereas in others you can move straight on to the Master's degree programme for teaching after completing your Bachelor's degree.
Post-initiële Master's degree programme
Post-initiële Master's degree programmes are often professionally oriented study programmes primarily aimed at people who already have an HBO or WO title or degree, and/or the necessary practical work experience. These so-called 'non-funded' Master's programmes are not subsidised by the Dutch government: this means that different tuition fees apply and students are not eligible to receive a student grant or loan (unless you still have 'spare' entitlement to financial assistance for students left over). You do not necessarily need a corresponding Bachelor's degree to be admitted to this type of Master's programme. The number of places on the course is often limited, and candidates are selected. Another typical difference is that these programmes do not provide access to a doctoral degree. Post-initiële Master's degree programmes are offered at both universities of applied sciences and research universities.
Research Master's degree programme
A Research Master's degree has a strong research component and focuses on high quality. The admission requirements are strict. A Research Master's programme takes two years. Research Master's are indicated on Studychoice by the addition of ‘research' after the name.
There are a number of differences between Research Master's programmes and normal Master's programmes at a research university.
1. The objectives and programme are specifically aimed at ensuring that students acquire research skills;
2. The academic context is of an unquestionably high quality with a focus on excellence;
3. Only those students with an above-average academic performance and who are highly motivated are selected.
Simply put: a Research Master's degree focuses on research and high quality, and the admission requirements are strict. The course lasts two years.
You should also visit the university's website to find out the specific details of the course and the admission requirements.
Many students who take a Research Master's degree programme have a strong interest in research. The course allows you to take your studies further after your Master's degree and to pursue a doctorate. A doctoral degree takes four years, in which you write your doctoral thesis.
A Research Master's degree is good preparation for a doctoral degree, however you can also move on to other things after completing this type of Master's programme. There is also a demand for researchers in the corporate sector.
Non-follow-on Master's degree programme
Most students choose a Master's programme that follows on from their Bachelor's degree, however more and more students are now opting for a less obvious Master's degree: a Master's programme that does not directly follow on from their Bachelor's studies.
Why would you want to do this? A different Master's degree can be a great addition to your Bachelor's degree. It can broaden your knowledge and skills. It is also possible that your Bachelor's programme did not turn out to be exactly what you expected, or simply that you want to try something different. Choosing a non-follow-on Master's degree programme can mark a new start to your studies.
Your Bachelor's programme may have given you an idea of a field that you want to specialise in. Not all institutions offer the same Master's degree programmes. Not all institutions take the same approach to a field of study, and studying at a new institution can sometimes help you to view the subject in a different light. You may learn new ways of working or ideas.
However, there are some disadvantages to choosing a non-follow-on Master's programme. You are often required to undergo a preparatory year, particularly when progressing from an HBO Bachelor's degree to a WO Master's degree. During this preparatory year you learn the main skills you need before you can start the Master's programme. This type of preparatory year is often expensive, as you must pay most of the costs yourself. Master's programmes can also impose individual requirements on students. You should therefore always look carefully at the admission requirements for a Master's programme and what you need to do if you do not currently meet these requirements.
All Master's degree programmes
Further information & links
Interested in Research Master's degree programmes and research? See the following organisations and websites for further information.
Dutch Research Database (NOD)
You can use this database to find out where Dutch researchers work, what they specialise in and which field of research they work in. Click on each researcher to find out about their current and completed research projects.
NARCIS science portal
This portal features the data from the Dutch Research Database. You can also visit this site to find out where Dutch researchers work, what they specialise in and which field of research they work in. Click on each researcher to find out about their current and completed research projects, as well as their publications.
CWTS citation scores
One way of gauging the quality and impact of research is to keep count of citation scores. The more often a publication is cited by other academics, the greater its impact. The CWTS website provides information on the Leiden Ranking: a ranking of citation scores. The site also features further information on citations for each field of research, as well as the ranking method.
VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands)
The VSNU website provides further information on research and researchers. Visit the website to find out how many Innovation Incentive Grants each university has secured. You can also find out the number of publications and doctorates conferred within each field of research.
NVAO Report
This detailed report (in Dutch) looks at a study on research Master's degree programmes by the NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders). The report examines the history, the specific features and the added value of these programmes.