HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE NETHERLANDS: THE SYSTEM, INSTITUTIONS AND DEGREES

Since 2002, the higher education system in the Netherlands has been based on a three-cycle degree system, consisting of a bachelor, master and PhD. The Netherlands has a binary system of higher education, which means there are two types of programmes: research-oriented education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO), traditionally offered by research universities, and professional higher education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO), traditionally offered by hogescholen, or universities of professional education. The distinction between WO and HBO types of higher education is very important in the Dutch higher education system, and determines the admission requirements, content and length of degree programmes, as well as the degrees awarded. All higher education institutions may offer both types of programmes, but in most cases research-oriented programmes are offered by research universities and professionally-oriented programmes are offered by universities of professional education. In this description, the Dutch abbreviations WO and HBO will be used to indicate the type of higher education programme being discussed.

Institutions
Higher education in the Netherlands is offered at three types of institutions: research universities (universiteiten), universities of professional education (hogescholen) and institutes for international education (instellingen voor Internationaal Onderwijs).

Research universities (WO)

There are 14 research universities, which include general universities, universities specializing in engineering and agriculture, and the Open University. These institutions provide education and conduct research in a wide range of disciplines: language and culture, behaviour and society, economics, law, medical and health sciences, natural sciences, engineering and agriculture. Research universities vary in size, with enrolments ranging from 6,000 to 30,000. Altogether they enrol some 180,000 students.

Universities of professional education (HBO)

Universities of professional education include general institutions as well as institutions specializing in a specific field such as agriculture, fine and performing arts, or teacher training. These institutions prepare students for a wide variety of careers in seven sectors: agriculture, engineering and technology, economics and business administration, health care, fine and performing arts, education (teacher training), and social welfare. HBO programmes tend to be more practically oriented than WO programmes. The Netherlands has more than 40 universities of professional education. The largest enrol 20,000 to 25,000 students; others are much smaller. Altogether some 330,000 students are enrolled in this form of higher education.

Institutes of international education

International education is provided by 13 institutes, offering graduate courses in a wide range of fields. The courses are conducted in English and have been designed with international students in mind. The international education institutes have a total enrolment of several thousand students. Regular research universities and universities of professional education also offer a large number of international courses taught in English.

Degrees and curricula offered in higher education

Since September 2002, the Netherlands converted to the ECTS credit system as a way of quantifying periods of study. In the ECTS system, 60 credits represents one year of full-time study. Bachelors and masters degrees are offered both in WO and HBO; the PhD is offered only in WO and only by research universities. The same is true for programmes in the medical sciences (medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine), which, depending on the university, may be offered in a bachelor/master format or in an integrated programme lasting 300 credits/5 years (dentistry) or 360 credits/6 years (medicine and veterinary medicine).

Bachelors programmes offered in WO and HBO

A WO bachelors programme provides a broad, in-depth exposure to the discipline in question as well as a strong academic base for further study. Some institutions require students to complete the requirements not only for a major subject, but in a minor subject as well, outside the major discipline of study. A bachelors thesis is in many cases required to obtain the degree. A WO bachelors programme requires the completion of 180 credits (3 years) and graduates obtain the degree Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science (BA/BSc), depending on the discipline. An HBO bachelors programme requires the completion of 240 credits (4 years), and graduates obtain a degree indicating the field of study (for example, Bachelor of Engineering, B. Eng., or Bachelor of Nursing, B. Nursing). The first year of every programme, referred to as the propedeuse, consists of introductory courses fundamental to the discipline in question. In addition to lectures, seminars, projects and independent study, students are required to complete an internship or work placement (stage) which normally takes up part of the third year of study, as well as a final project or a major paper in the fourth year.

Masters programmes offered in WO and HBO

A WO masters programme is characterized by increased specialization and the development and implementation of research skills, resulting in a masters thesis. To obtain the degree, students are required to complete 60, 90, or 120 credits (1, 1.5, or 2 years), depending on the discipline and the particular masters programme. In engineering, agriculture, and math and the natural sciences, 120 credits are always required. Graduates are awarded the degree Master of Arts or Master of Science (MA/MSc). An HBO masters programme focuses on further specialization in a particular field of study. While the emphasis of HBO masters programmes is on professional competencies, most include instruction in applied research as well. To obtain the degree, students are required to complete 60 to 120 credits (1 to 2 years), depending on the discipline and the particular masters programme. Graduates are awarded a degree indicating the field of study (for example, Master of Social Work, MSW).

PhD
The third cycle of higher education, leading to the doctorate, is offered only by research universities. All research universities in the Netherlands are authorized to award the countrys highest academic degree, the PhD, which entitles a person to use the title doctor, abbreviated to dr. The process by which a doctorate is obtained is referred to as the promotie. This entails four years of full-time research under the supervision of a promotor, who must be a full professor at a university. The doctorate is primarily a

research degree, for which a dissertation based on original research must be written and publicly defended. Many PhD candidates work on their degree as research assistants (assistant in opleiding, aio or onderzoeker in opleiding, oio). The doctorate can also be obtained after completion of a proefontwerp, or technological design, demonstrating scientific competence. This also requires a minimum of four years to complete.

International education programmes

All programmes and courses that fall under international education are conducted in English. They vary in length from several weeks to 1 or 2 years. In most cases, students are required to have completed a programme of higher education in their own country, usually a bachelors degree or its equivalent, as well as several years of professional experience. The longer courses lead to a masters degree. Some of the international education institutes have arrangements with a Dutch university by which students can go on to pursue a doctorate after earning their masters degree. International education is subsidized by the Dutch government, which finances the institutes and provides scholarships to students.

Requirements for access to higher education

For access to WO bachelors programmes, students are required to have a VWO diploma, obtained after 6 years of university preparatory education, or its equivalent. Students who have completed the first year (60 credits) of an HBO programme are also eligible for admission to WO bachelors programmes. The minimum access requirement for HBO is a HAVO diploma, obtained after 5 years of general secondary education, or its equivalent. Some diplomas obtained after completion of secondary vocational education also qualify for admission to HBO bachelors programmes. A quota, or numerus fixus, applies for access to certain programmes, primarily in the medical sciences, and places are allocated using a weighted lottery. Potential students older than 21 years of age who do not possess one of the qualifications mentioned above can qualify for access to higher education on the basis of an entrance examination and assessment. The only access requirement for the Open University is that applicants be at least 18 years of age. For access to all masters programmes, a bachelors degree in one or more specified disciplines is required, in some cases in combination with other requirements. Graduates with an HBO bachelors degree may have to complete additional requirements for access to a WO masters degree programme. A masters degree is the minimum requirement for access to the PhD, in addition to other requirements set by individual universities themselves.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

Higher education in the Netherlands enjoys a worldwide reputation for its high quality. Quality is supported by a national system of statutory regulation and quality assurance. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is responsible for legislation pertaining to education. However, the ministries responsible for agriculture and public health play an important role in assuring the quality of study programmes in their respective fields. A new system of accreditation is aimed at guaranteeing that study programmes meet the highest standards. Quality assurance is of course nothing new in the Netherlands and has always played an important part in Dutch higher education, but this new system of accreditation was added in 2002. A new law the Accreditation of Higher Education Act 2002 requires that all degree programmes offered by universities and universities of professional education be evaluated against a specific set of criteria. Only programmes that meet all the criteria can be accredited. Once accredited, these programmes are eligible for government funding and can then be listed in the Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes. Furthermore, students can qualify for financial support only if they are enrolled in an

 Nuffic, September 2007 accredited degree programme, and they will be awarded a recognized degree only after completing such a programme. Responsibility for accreditation has been assigned to the Netherlands-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO) and all relevant information pertaining to accreditation is available to the public at http://nvao.net Both the old and the new systems of quality assurance and accreditation guarantee that education offered at all universities in the Netherlands meets the same high standards. There is no system of ranking. When Dutch students decide on where they want to study, they do not think in terms of `the best institution. Instead, they look for any particular features that may distinguish one university from another, such as specialization or academic tradition. For more information about quality assurance in the Netherlands, please visit www.qa-in.nl Nuffic is the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education. Our motto is Linking Knowledge Worldwide. This means linking people, because its knowledge that makes us unique as people. Nuffic works in line with Dutch government policy to serve students and higher education institutions in three key areas: Capacity Building & Scholarships Administrating international mobility programmes (scholarships) and institutional cooperation programmes. Communication Providing information about higher education systems in the Netherlands and in other countries; providing credential evaluation services; providing information in the Netherlands about studying abroad, and in other countries about studying in Holland; promoting Dutch higher education in other countries; encouraging international mobility. Knowledge & Innovation Conducting studies into international cooperation in higher education; providing information to expert groups and consultation forums; transferring our knowledge of international cooperation in higher education through courses and seminars. Nuffic Kortenaerkade 11 P.O. Box 29777 2502 LT The Hague The Netherlands t +31 (0)70 42 60 260 f +31 (0)70 42 60 399 www.nuffic.nl