Netherlands Universities and Colleges

Overview

Overview of Higher Education in the Netherlands

The Netherlands provides high quality higher education degree programs at public and private universities and universities of applied sciences. Additionally, institutes for international education offer post-graduate programs specifically designed for foreign students from lesser developed countries.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is the government agency that sets policy for higher education. Programs that offer bachelor's and master's degrees must be acccredited by the Flemish Accreditation Organization in order for the degrees to be recognized in the Netherlands. Some schools are accredited by an accrediting organization in another country, although those degrees may not be recognized in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has two different secondary school paths that qualify students to attend a university or a university of applied science. In order to attend a university, a student must have completed the six-year university prep secondary program or have completed a year at a university of applied sciences. To attend a university of applied sciences, students must complete the qualifying five-year secondary school program. Students that complete the four-year secondary school program are not qualified for either type of school without first completing additional education at a vocational institution.

Higher education is subsidized by the government but students must also pay a relatively low tuition fee which was about 1700 euros a year in 2010.

Types of Schools and Degrees

As of 2010, there were 13 universities, including three engineering schools, that are attended by over 200,000 students a year. The universities offer academic programs that result in bachelor's degrees which take three years to complete, master's degrees which take one to three years and doctoral degrees that vary in length.

The over 40 universities of applied sciences offer career-oriented programs which include internships and result in bachelor's or master's degrees. About 350,000 students attend these schools each year. There are a number of institutes for international education in the Netherlands which provide post-graduate programs that are targeted at mid-career professionals from developing and transitional countries. Degrees from all of these institutions conform to the Bologna Agreement guidelines which provide standards for degrees earned in the 29 European countries that participate.

International Students

Foreign students can enroll in courses taught in Dutch if they have the language skills necessary but there are many programs now offered in English at many universities and universities of applied sciences. A list of programs taught in English can be found at the NUFFIC website.

Admission of international students is decided at the institutional level with advice as to secondary school equivalency given by the national organization, NUFFIC. The secondary school systems in many countries are not on par with the Netherlands' secondary school programs that prepare students for higher education. For students who don't qualify to enter directly into a university or university of applied sciences, an option to spend a preparatory year in the Netherlands studying and taking entrance exams may be offered.

Tuition for EU students is the same as for citizens while non-EU students will pay 6000 to 9000 euros a year with some programs costing significantly more. Studying in the Netherlands through an exchange program is usually a less expensive way to attend school there. Most international students will need to obtain an entry visa and a residence permit. It is also mandatory for students to have health insurance and it is recommended they have liability insurance.

About the Netherlands

The Netherlands, also referred to as Holland, is a Dutch speaking country of over 16 million people. It's capital Amsterdam is home to five international courts and is the fifth busiest tourist destination in Europe. The Netherlands is bordered by Germany, Belgium and the North Sea and has a moderate maritime climate. The Netherlands is famous for its tulips, wooden clogs and famous painters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer. It has the 16th largest economy in the world and ranks 10th in GDP per capita.

The structured education system guides students to a specific level of higher education when children are about 12 years old, based on teacher recommendations and test scores. Students attend a designated type of secondary school program that prepares them for a distinct path whether that be a job directly after secondary school, vocational school, professional university or academic university.

Resources

NUFFIC - Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science