Educational System

University of applied sciences or research university
Private education
Bachelor's programmes and Master's programmes
Part-time and work-study programmes
Associate Degree

University of applied sciences or research university
A university of applied sciences (hogeschool) offers professionally oriented study programmes: after a four-year study you are ready to enter the labour market. At a university of applied sciences you acquire knowledge that will be of practical use to you. Gaining work experience is an important part of a higher professional education (HBO) study programme. Work placements give you the opportunity to learn how to apply theoretical knowledge in practice. The entry requirement for a university of applied sciences is at least a senior general secondary education (HAVO) diploma or a level 4 senior secondary vocational education (MBO-4) diploma.

At a research university (universiteit), you learn how to analyse complex issues and how to conduct your own academic research. Studying at a research university is very different to learning at school. Compared to an HBO study programme, research universities offer less structure and more freedom. You yourself are responsible for the course that your studies take. You have a great deal of freedom when choosing your main and subsidiary subjects. As well as lots of independent learning, you must have the self-discipline to ensure that you attend your lectures and pass your exams. WO is a common abbreviation for academic higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs): this refers to the study programmes offered at a research university. The entry requirement for a research university is at least a university preparatory education (VWO) diploma or a certificate of completion of the first year of a degree programme for higher professional education (HBO propedeuse).

Private higher education
There are a few dozen private universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, such as Hogeschool Schoevers, NTI and LOI, and a number of private research universities, the best known being Nyenrode Business Universiteit. Private institutions are not funded by the government, however they can have their study programmes approved (accredited). Students taking accredited study programmes may be eligible to receive a student grant or loan. The tuition fees are higher than those of government-funded study programmes. All of the programmes listed on Studychoice.nl are accredited. On the Studychoice.nl website, all private study programmes are identified as such with a (P).

All other study programmes (i.e. non-private programmes) fall within the category of government-funded higher education. In the case of government-funded universities of applied sciences and research universities, the government pays (funds) the institute to provide study programmes. If you take one of these study programmes you are eligible for financial assistance for students.

Bachelor's and Master's programmes
The Bachelor's-Master's structure was introduced at universities of applied sciences and research universities in the Netherlands in 2002. This means that the study programme consists of two phases: a Bachelor's phase and a Master's phase. The Bachelor's phase at a university of applied sciences lasts for four years. At a research university the Bachelor's degree programme takes three years, and a Master's programme is a logical continuation. This Master's phase lasts for one or two years (or sometimes up to 3.5 years). Most Master's degree programmes are offered by research universities, however some are also offered by universities of applied sciences.

Progressing from a Bachelor's programme to a Master's programme
Once you have obtained a WO Bachelor's degree, you can immediately move on to a WO Master's degree. You can choose from a range of Master's programmes, at the same research university or at another research university in the Netherlands or abroad. An HBO Bachelor's degree also enables you to progress to a Master's programme at a research university, however in many cases you must first take a 'transitional programme' or preparatory programme.

Titles
Bachelor is an international title that you are awarded following the successful completion of a Bachelor's study programme at a university of applied sciences or research university. You can use the title of bachelor after your name, for example: BEc (Bachelor of Economics), BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science). Master is also an international title that you use after your name: MSc (Master of Science).

Why was the Bachelor's-Master's structure introduced?
The European education ministers wanted to make it easier to compare higher education study programmes within Europe. They signed the Bologna Declaration in 1999 to this end, resulting in the introduction of a single education system across Europe consisting of two phases: a Bachelor's phase and a Master's phase. The advantage is that you have more options. A Bachelor's diploma gives you access to a wide range of Master's degree programmes in the Netherlands and abroad. As it is easier to compare the diplomas at an international level, it is also easier to spend a period studying or working abroad.

Bachelor-masterdossier of the ministery of Education (in Dutch)

Part-time and work-study programmes
With a part-time study programme you spend one, two or three evenings per week or Saturdays studying at a university of applied sciences or research university as well as holding a job. This means that you study for around 20 hours each week. You are not entitled to financial assistance for students. At Studychoice.nl, you can specifically search for and compare part-time study programmes. The website also allows you to compare the specific student reviews of part-time programmes.

Work-study programmes alternate between, or combine, studying and paid employment. Your work and studies tie in together and you have more time to gain work experience than you would during a full-time course. While you are working, you are a normal employee and receive a salary (you are therefore not a student trainee). You are entitled to receive financial assistance for students for the period you are studying. Work-study programmes at research universities usually mean that your course is extended by one year of working in industry.

Visit www.studychoice.nl to find out which courses can be taken as a part-time or work-study programme.

Associate Degree
The Associate Degree programme (AD programme) is a new type of higher education with its own statutory degree. It is primarily aimed at those who hold a level 4 senior secondary vocational education (MBO-4) diploma and the employed. The pilot currently being carried out at a number of universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands was launched following calls for this type of programme from the labour market. There is a demand for employees who are educated to somewhere between MBO-4 and HBO level. It is often possible to combine studying with employment.

An AD programme forms part of an HBO Bachelor's degree and ties in well with MBO study programmes. The study load is essentially 120 ECTS (more if desired), and the course is therefore designed to be completed within two years. After this, it is also possible to complete the HBO Bachelor's degree within two years.

The educational entry requirements for an AD programme are the same as those for the HBO Bachelor's degree that the programme falls under. If you meet the requirements for financial assistance, you can obtain a student grant or loan when taking an AD programme.