Study in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country devoted to its education and has long recognised the importance of promoting an international third-level system. Since the 1950s the Netherlands has offered programmes in English and has focused strongly on promoting international cooperation, which has been successful in attracting more and more foreign students to the Netherlands. It was the first non-English speaking country to offer courses taught in English and now offers 1,300 courses in English – 940 degree programmes and 360 non-degree programmes, making it the front-runner in continental Europe.

The Dutch government aims to make higher education as accessible as possible to everyone and even offers significant financial aid to both national and international students. The Dutch educational institutions provide grants for promising students as well as offering government loans – both of which international students can benefit from. Higher education in the Netherlands opens up many opportunities to graduates.

Third-Level Education System

The Netherlands is renowned for its excellence in international teaching and for the quality and regulation of its education system. Its third-level course curricula are extensive and intensive placing a strong emphasis on the importance of self-study and self-discipline.

The Netherlands enjoys international acclaim for its groundbreaking learning system, making it a very popular choice for international students. It boasts a total enrolment of 580,000 students with some 49,750 of these being international students. International education caters largely for postgraduate students who already have some professional experience. Students enrolling on a postgraduate programme can sometimes apply for a scholarship.

The Netherlands has two main types of higher education: universities and universities of professional education known as hogescholen (or HBO). Universities focus on the independent practice of research-orientated work in an academic or professional setting. Universities of professional education are more practical-based, preparing students directly for specific careers. At both universities and hogescholen the formal length of most postgraduate programmes is 4 years. A third, smaller branch of higher education is provided by Institutes for International Education, which offer programmes designed specifically for international students.

The Netherlands has 13 universities – nine offer education in a broad range of disciplines; three specialise in engineering; and one specialises in agriculture. Altogether they enrol some 215,000 students. Higher professional education is practice-orientated. There are 70 higher professional education institutions (HBO) enrolling a total of 260,000 students and offering a range of full-time and part-time programmes across a range of disciplines. Since 1991, university research schools have been founded to cater for young researchers and to centralise research activities.

In 2002 the Dutch Higher Education system was converted to the bachelor and master degree system, which was implemented to give students greater international mobility. Most study courses lead to a bachelor, masters or PhD degree, diploma or certificate. There are many postgraduate opportunities for international students already in possession of a bachelor degree. Admission to PhD programmes requires a good master degree. A doctorate degree usually takes a further four years of study and requires students to carry out their own independent research, leading to the submission of their final thesis. HBO study programmes usually take four years and consist of an introductory first year known as propedeuse and a three-year main phase during which the student will fulfil a compulsory work placement or internship as well as complete a research project and thesis.

Many Dutch universities have partner institutions in other European countries and students are able to study part of their course in another European institution.

The Dutch education system can be separated into two categories: government-funded institutions, and government-approved institutions. The latter are not funded by the government but retain the right to award officially recognised degrees, certificates and titles.

The Netherlands plays a leading role worldwide in a number of academic disciplines including management, business, agricultural sciences, medicine, civil engineering, remote sensing, and arts and architecture. According to The Financial Times three of the top full-time global 100 MBA (Masters in Business Administration) course providers are based in the Netherlands.

Application Process

To be admitted to a higher-level education programme at a Dutch university, foreign students should first contact the institution offering their proposed programme of study. The main requirement for admission to a bachelors programme is a secondary school diploma at the appropriate level. For entry onto a masters degree programme students must have a bachelors degree (or its equivalent). It is also essential for foreign students to have a good level of proficiency in English and Dutch. Students are required to pass an English language test for entry onto any programme in a Dutch university and may need to take several other admission tests and attend an interview. International students also need a residence permit.

Fees and Costs

Annual tuition fees for enrolment on a degree programme or course at a Dutch university start at around €1,500 for EU students. Tuition fees in the Netherlands are reasonable, especially when compared with the cost of tuition fees at UK and US universities.

Career Prospects

Despite its relatively modest size, the economic growth and integration into the international economy of the Netherlands is impressive. It continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting direct foreign investment and its geographic location makes it a gateway to Europe, as it is central to France, Germany and the UK. It is a prosperous economy that depends heavily on foreign trade. It has low inflation rates and stable industrial relations. The success of the Dutch socio-economic policy is largely down to the government, unions and employers working in conjunction with one another.

Candidates with the right language proficiency, skills and experience will find ample employment opportunities in the Netherlands. Thousands of international companies are based in the Netherlands and they continue to flourish. Strong areas of employment include the services, finance, sales and marketing. The financial services and engineering sectors are actively recruiting employees all of the time.

To work in the Netherlands a basic level of Dutch is required – even when you are employed in companies where English is the working language. The opportunities are definitely there in the Netherlands – you just need to know where to find them!

More Resources

For everything you need to know about studying a postgraduate programme in the Netherlands, visit the excellent NUFFIC website at www.nuffic.nl

The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science also provides a wealth of information about the education system in the Netherlands as well as useful tips for foreign students at www.minocw.nl

You can find a useful overview of what to expect studying at a university in the Netherlands at www.internationalstudy.nl

The Netherlands student Grantfinder is an online search engine for those who want to study in the Netherlands and would like to benefit from financial aid. Go to www.grantfinder.nl to see if you are eligible to apply for financial support.

For information about life and living in the Netherlands and ideas about what to do and see there visit www.holland.com