Higher education in the Netherlands. Living expenses in Holland

Associated with cheese, tulips, legal prostitution and tolerance for soft drugs. However, this state is also quite famous for the quality of education, which is considered one of the best in Europe. Let's learn about the features of the education system in the Netherlands, as well as what properties foreigners need to have in order to be able to study in this country.

Kingdom of the Netherlands and its features

Speaking about this country, it is often called "Holland", which is not entirely true. The fact is that this is the name of the combined territory of the two provinces of this state - North and South Holland. Here are just ten other similar provinces in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In this regard, such a name can be used only when it is about this part of the country.

As for the political foundation, the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. At the head of the state is a king or queen from the Orange dynasty. In the hands of the monarchs - all executive power. At the same time, the main law of the country is the Constitution, adopted back in 1815 (edited in 1847, 1887 and 1983).

The official currency, as in most European countries, is the euro.

As for the economy, this country is one of the most developed. It has one of the best social systems in the world, albeit a very expensive one. A third of the country's entire budget is spent on providing for the social sphere. Despite this, parasites in the country are not in honor and the unemployment rate is only 4.7%.

It is worth noting that in the Netherlands such industries as mechanical engineering, aviation and shipbuilding are well developed; textile, furniture and pulp and paper industries; ferrous metallurgy, petrochemistry and, of course, agriculture. By the way, this country ranks second in the world in terms of food exports, with a total area (including islands in the Caribbean) of 41,543 km². Draw your own conclusions...

Having learned a little about the state itself, let's take a closer look at the education system in the Netherlands. After all, the success of any country directly depends on the qualifications of its workers. Schools and universities are responsible for this.

How education works in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Similar to what we are used to, there are also the following areas:

Kindergartens.
Primary education.
Secondary school.
Universities.

Despite the outward similarity, education in the Netherlands is significantly different from what we are used to. How? Let's find out.

in the Netherlands

The first thing that shocks our emigrants is the age of the kids in kindergartens.

According to the law, maternity leave lasts only 3 months, after which she must either return to work or quit and stay at home.

As a rule, most choose the first option. In this case, you should find someone who will sit with the baby. You should not count on grandparents, since the Dutch, on average, work until the age of 65-67 - they do not have grandchildren.

Babysitting is an expensive pleasure, so most parents choose kindergartens.

Three-month-old babies are taken to a nursery, and when they master the science of staying on their feet, they are transferred to a full-fledged kindergarten (kinderdagverblijf).

Although it seems cruel to us to "throw" a child of three months old, sending him to strangers. However, many of our compatriots living in the Netherlands leave excellent reviews about their kindergartens. They say that here the crumbs are surrounded by attention and care, and from an early age, or rather, months, they learn to communicate with their own kind. In their opinion, this is a huge advantage compared to the domestic tradition of leaving a child at home for 1-3 years. After all, the baby constantly sees not adults, but his own kind and is better socialized.

As for feeding, allergies and other features, parents discuss all this with the management of the institution and educators in advance. Moreover, for babies, dads and moms themselves bring food and set a schedule according to which they should be fed.

It is important to remember that the state partially pays for the kinderdagverblijf if both parents work.

In such institutions, babies, as a rule, stay from 3 months to 4-5 years. There is no academic curriculum for this period. Most of the time is spent on games. Also, educators take care of accustoming their wards to order. As soon as a child can walk, he is taught to clean up after himself and keep his things in the right place. In the rest - in these years he is left to himself.

In addition to kinderdagverblijf, there are gastouders in the early childhood education system in the Netherlands. This is the name of family kindergartens. They can be opened by any resident, having passed the appropriate training in the courses and received a license.

As a rule, these are nannies who simultaneously gather 5-6 children at home or in a specialized apartment.

It is worth remembering that regardless of the choice of the institution, you need to sign up for it as early as possible. Ideally, during pregnancy.

Primary school (Basisschool)

Primary school education in the Netherlands consists of 8 grades (from 5 to 12 years).

Although the law provides for the start of education at Basisschool at the age of 5, some parents transfer their children here a year earlier.

Compared to our 6-7-year-old first graders, 4-5 year olds seem too young. In fact, in such a "school" the first two classes are the same as the older groups in our kindergartens. During these years, "schoolchildren" for the most part play, listen to stories and draw.

A full-fledged study of reading, writing and arithmetic begins in the 3rd grade, that is, at 6-8 years old. So, in fact, at the same age as in our schools.

In the future, the set of subjects is close to ours, but the academic load is many times less. Until the age of 10, children are not actually given homework. And besides, most classes are not aimed at memorizing facts, but precisely at understanding them. By the way, English in this country begins to be taught only in the 7th grade.

At the age of 12, Dutch schoolchildren have a "judgment day" - the Citotoets exam. It is taken at the end of primary school and the future of the child depends on its results. After all, now he has to decide which type of secondary school he will have to go to: VMBO, HAVO or VWO.

VMBO High School

This is the name of preparatory secondary vocational education in the Netherlands. It lasts 4 years, during which schoolchildren study not only general education subjects, but also receive training for a specific working profession, and also undergo internships at enterprises.

VMBO, depending on the chosen specialization, is divided into 5 profiles. Studying at Theoretische Leerweg and Kaderberoepsgerichte Leerweg gives more theoretical knowledge and opens up the opportunity to continue studying at HAVO or VWO after receiving a VMBO diploma. The Gemengde Leerweg sub-profile is something in between, while the Basisberoepsgerichte Leerweg and Praktijkonderwijs train skilled workers who, after receiving a diploma, can start their labor activity.

The existence of VMBO, on the one hand, allows schoolchildren who want to work not to sit at their desks, but at the age of 16 start earning and gaining some independence. This is especially important for children from troubled families who want to become independent as soon as possible.

On the other hand, not every person is able to decide on a profession at the age of 16. An interesting point: serious alcohol over 15% in the Netherlands can only be drunk from 18, and decisions about a career often have to be made at 16. Such justice in Dutch.

It is important to say that the state left a loophole for those who, after working for several years, realized that they wanted more and were ready to study further to achieve this. Especially for them there are institutions of additional professional training MBO. Their program is designed for 4 years, after which the graduate will have the right to enter the university of applied sciences, if, of course, he can. After all, in addition to knowledge, it is necessary to have funds for study.

General secondary education HAVO

Calculated for 5 years. You can transfer here after VMBO and finish your studies for another 1 year.

The HAVO diploma gives access to higher professional education.

This course consists of 2 stages. At the first stage (3 years) there is an identical general program for all schoolchildren.

At the second stage, it is necessary to decide on a profile that will further influence the student's profession. These are Cultuur en Maatschappij (the study of arts and languages), Economie en Maatschappij (specializes in social sciences, history and economics), Natuur en Gezondheid (treats the natural sciences and also prepares for the study of medicine at the university), Natuur en Techniek (focuses on the natural sciences).

Secondary pre-university education VWO

Designed for the "chosen ones", that is, for those who are preparing to go to university. The duration of the program of this link in the secondary education of the Netherlands is one year longer than that of HAVO and 2 than that of VMBO. There is also an opportunity to transfer here with a HAVO diploma and finish your studies for another year.

What is taught at VWO? The first 2 years are a general program of 15 general education disciplines, and the next 4 years are the study of highly specialized subjects. An interesting feature is the provision of time for students to prepare themselves.

Upon completion, graduates have the opportunity to enter the university. Interestingly, despite all the peculiarities, Dutch students graduate from high school at the same age of 18. So this system of education with regards to age limits is very close to ours. At the same time, many migrants note a higher level of comfort in the relationship between teacher and student.

What are international schools?

Unlike many other countries, the system of education in English in the Netherlands is quite well developed. There are entire schools in which teaching is carried out in the language of the British. Moreover, their doors are cordially open not only for Dutch children, but also for foreigners. Enrollment here is based on the results of the interview and upon presentation of a certificate from the educational institution where the applicant previously studied. The Baccalaureate diploma obtained here will make it possible to enter not only English-speaking universities in the Netherlands, but also any other university in the world.

Such institutions adhere to the standards of the British education system and its programs, and are also closed (boarding houses).

As for funding, they are both private and public. However, to get here for free, you have to try very hard.

Higher education in the Netherlands

In 2002, the Kingdom joined. In this regard, HE consists of three stages, at the end of each of which the graduate receives a bachelor's, master's and doctoral diploma.

However, unlike other countries, in the Netherlands there is a clear division of universities into 2 categories: research or classical (universiteiten) and applied or polytechnic (hogescholen). In almost any of them, regardless of category, there are training programs suitable for foreigners.

The opportunity not to learn Dutch (which, except in the Netherlands, can be of little use anywhere), but to study in English is the reason why education for foreigners in the Netherlands has become very attractive in recent decades. Another advantage is that in other English-speaking countries, the cost of studying is many times higher, and the quality is not only not better, but sometimes even inferior.

It is noteworthy that the Dutch welcome not only foreign students (15% per year of the total number of students), but also teachers. To date, 40% of the teaching staff in the universities of the Kingdom are foreigners.

A little about the universities themselves and their advantages

As in all reasonable states, the focus is on vocational education in the Netherlands. Therefore, 39 out of 57 universities train specialists who are ready for practical work immediately after receiving a diploma.

The entire learning process is focused on practical activities. And even the scientific or research work of students is not theoretical, but applied in nature and is aimed at the practical solution of various problems in the chosen field.

To acquire practical knowledge, many universities of applied sciences actively use the Problem Based Learning (PBL) method, which allows students to learn by solving complex problems from real life.

Moreover, some enterprises enter into agreements with universities and organize work competitions among their students. Their winners in the future can get a job in the company or have an internship there now.

As for classical universities, there are only 18 of them. Their goal is to train scientists who will develop science in the Netherlands and cooperate with other researchers in the world. Don't let the training profile fool you. Despite the fact that such universities train theorists rather than practitioners, in reality their students will have to work no less than their counterparts from applied universities.

Scientific degrees

Regardless of the direction of the university in the Netherlands, in order to obtain a bachelor's degree, you will have to study for 3 years (+ a year of practice for applied specialties). If the chosen profession is related to medicine or technology, add one more year. Total - 5 years.

To obtain a master's degree after a bachelor's degree, you have to unlearn another 1-2 years, and with doctoral studies it all depends on the specialization and characteristics of a particular university.

It is worth noting that the education system in the Netherlands provides for master's studies in the same specialty as a bachelor's degree. Of course, there are exceptions, but to become one of them, you will have to prove your knowledge in a new field and convince the selection committee that they should allow you more than others.

Tuition fees

Education for foreigners The Netherlands is particularly attractive low cost compared to other countries.

For this reason, residents of neighboring European powers often come here to study. In this regard, immigrants from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and similar countries of the post-Soviet space will have the opportunity to communicate not only with the Dutch, but also with Germans, Italians, Spaniards, Americans, Mexicans and inhabitants of different African countries.

So, how much will it cost to acquire a Dutch higher education?

The average cost of one year of study for a bachelor's degree ranges from 5 to 12 thousand euros. For the year of the master's degree, you will have to pay from 7 to 21 thousand. Please note that this does not include the cost of accommodation, flights and other essential needs.

It is noteworthy that the most expensive education is medicine (bachelor - 3-32 thousand per year, master - 7-17 thousand). It is not surprising that in the Netherlands, for all their development, there is not enough quality medical staff and they are happy to host foreign specialists in this field.

Free Education Opportunities

In fairness, it should be noted that for foreigners there is an opportunity to get a free education in the Netherlands, but it is extremely small. Yes, in the state itself there are several programs for financing the education of gifted students from abroad. In addition, almost all universities have their own scholarships to support undergraduate or graduate students.

So, free education in the Netherlands for Russians (we are talking about citizens of the Russian Federation, regardless of who they are by ethnic origin) is the Orange Tulip Scholarship and Holland Scholarship program. Also available and but it is only for master's degree.

Citizens of Ukraine can also receive a scholarship under the same Erasmus Mundus program, as well as DELTA or HSP.

When applying for a specific grant, it is important not to forget that it may not always cover all the costs of education. So, in some cases, flights, meals, accommodation and others will have to be paid out of your own pocket. Therefore, it is worth considering the possibility of a part-time job in advance.

In some universities, for excellent academic performance, you can get a grant or scholarship, partially or fully compensating for tuition costs. Large research universities often pay housing for especially gifted students, as well as allocate a monthly allowance.

A bachelor's student can apply for a grant of 1/2 of his studies, and a future master - up to 3/4 + compensation for housing costs.

It is worth remembering that the age limit for applying for financial assistance is 35 years.

Although it seems to many that receiving a grant is something on the verge of fantasy, you can find many articles and testimonials from those who have been educated with their help.

Regardless of the program, scholarship applicants usually have to take the following steps:

Make sure that the applicant and his university meet the requirements of the program.
Choose a bachelor's / master's program at a university.
Make sure that it meets the requirements of the given university (diplomas/certificates).
Apply for admission on the university website.
Collect a package of documents for a scholarship and send their scanned copies to an email box within the time period set by the chosen university. Information about it is usually on websites.

If everything is done correctly, then you can expect a positive response or an invitation to participate in the next stage of the competition (if the scholarship is based on the results of the competition).

What is needed for admission

If you are confident in your own knowledge and financial capabilities, you can submit a package of documents to a selected Dutch university. It should include:

High school diploma or HAVO/VWO equivalent diploma. Naturally, all this is in English. If for some reason your diploma or certificate seems to be of insufficient level to the Dutch, in this case your enrollment will occur based on the results of the entrance exams.
Certificate of English proficiency at the level of IELTS (not lower than 6) or TOEFL (not lower than 550).

Going to the Netherlands to study, it is worth replenishing your bank account with 10 thousand euros - this is the amount for the accommodation of foreign students of higher education who arrived for the first time was established by the immigration service.

Employment after graduation

Having dealt with the system of education in the Netherlands, it is worth moving on to employment opportunities. So, any graduate, regardless of whether he is a citizen or a foreigner, receives a year from the state in order to find a job in the Kingdom. If after graduation he went abroad for 1-2 years, this period is suspended, and upon his return he can continue to look for a place.

It is important not to forget that if a foreigner does not find a job after a year, he will have to leave the country.

It is worth knowing that Dutch diplomas are highly valued in all countries of the world, so if you couldn’t find a place in the Netherlands, you can try your hand at Germany, the USA, Great Britain and other countries. In any case, a diploma is only a piece of paper (in our case, laminated cardboard) serving as a pass, and getting a job and success in it entirely depend on its owner.

updated 07/10/2018

Lena van der Krausbes

I will start my review of the education system in the Netherlands with a few principles on which the entire system of Dutch education is based:

freedom of education
freedom of learning
compulsory education

Freedom of Education

This is one of the key features guaranteed by Article 23 of the Constitution. What is freedom of education? It is the freedom to establish schools, organize teaching in them and determine the principles on which they are based - freedom of conscience and religion. That is, people living in the Netherlands have the right to open schools based on their religious, ideological or educational beliefs, as long as there are enough students and funded by the government. The result of this constitutional right is that parents and children in the Netherlands can choose from a huge number of public and private schools. Public schools are run by the municipal government or by a management committee appointed by the municipality for that purpose. They are open to all children regardless of religion or belief.
About 65% of all schoolchildren in the Netherlands attend private schools, which may be run by an association or foundation. Most of them are either Roman Catholic or Protestant, but there are also Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Humanist schools. There are also private non-sectarian schools that are not based on any specific religious or ideological principles. Like some of the public schools, many private schools base their education on certain educational principles, like the Maria Montessori schools. Unlike public schools, which must accept all students, private schools may impose some restrictions and refuse to accept your child. As it happened, for example, in my case, when a Catholic school did not undertake to teach a Russian child, for fear of difficulties.

Freedom of learning

It means that schools are free to determine what is taught and how. The Ministry of Education, however, imposes a number of statutory standards regarding the quality of education. They define the subjects to be studied, the learning objectives and the content of the state examinations. There are also rules about the number of school periods per year, teacher training and teacher qualifications, the rights of parents and students, and so on. As a rule, schools are given considerable freedom in the choice of textbooks and teaching materials. But, of course, schools cannot avoid inspectors and inspections. These inspections are organized by the government and are important for schools, because the lower the rating, the fewer students will come, the less state subsidies will be. The results of inspections of primary and secondary schools are available, for example, on the Internet. Parents can read the reports, see the strengths and weaknesses of schools, and choose the best for their child.
If you are interested in more detailed information about the quality of education in a particular Dutch school, I suggest you read the official information on the results of inspections.

Compulsory education

This is another principle. Compulsory education applies to children from 5 to 18 years old, then education becomes optional. Usually parents send their children to school from the age of 4. The municipal executor checks that school-age children registered as residents are also registered as pupils at schools.
Another manifestation of this principle is that the child has no right to miss classes without a good reason. Therefore, if you decide to go on vacation the day before the start of the holidays, for example, in order not to stand in many kilometers of traffic jams, no one from the school will allow you to pick up your child. If the parents keep the child at home without a good reason and do not report it to the school, they are committing a crime under Dutch law. Such parents will have to deal with the municipal executor, who may impose an administrative penalty. But what if the children are truant without the knowledge of their parents? You can be sure that the school will contact you immediately if your child does not show up and no one knows why.

Education system

In the Netherlands, as in most other countries, the education system is divided into three levels: primary, secondary and higher. To better understand all the subtleties, I suggest looking at the diagram. The arrows show the possibilities of transition from one level of education to another, depending on the acquired knowledge.

Let's explain this diagram. The arrows show the possibilities of transition from one level of education to another.

Basisonderwijs / Primary education

Education lasts 8 years and is organized for children aged 4 to 12;
Special Primary Education ( special onderwijs) organized for mentally retarded or handicapped children (ages 3 to 12). For older students in this category, there is also a special secondary education ( special voortgezet onderwijs).

Voortgezet onderwijs / Secondary education

Praktijk onderwijs / Practical education. Designed for children who are unable to learn any theory. This is the lowest level of secondary education. The maximum that one can count on after graduating from this school is a primitive job;
VMBO / Pre-Vocational Education. Children study for 4 years from 12 to 16 years old. Depending on the chosen educational direction, children receive not only practical, but also theoretical training;
HAVO / Senior general secondary education. Lasts 5 years from 12 to 17 years of age. After receiving a diploma, a child can enter a technical school or institute, but not a university;
VWO / Preparatory Science Education. Lasts 6 years from 12 to 18 years of age. The diploma gives the right to enter the university.

middelbareBeroepsonderwijs / Secondary vocational education

You can get it from the age of 16. Includes the following areas:

Training for an assistant (assistant), MBO level 1. Lasts from 6 months to 1 year;
Initial vocational training, MBO level 2. Lasts 2 years;
Professional training, MBO level 3. Lasts 3 years;
Middle Manager, MBO 4. Lasts 3-4 years;
Training for a specialist, MBO 4. Lasts 1 year.

Volwasseneeducation / Adult education

VAVO / Adult general secondary education

Hoger onderwijs / Higher education

HBO / Higher Professional Education;
WO / University education;
OU / Correspondence education "Open University".

In the following articles, I will talk in detail about the features of each stage of primary and secondary education.
See you!

Population:

16 955 444

Amsterdam

Quality

Diplomas from Dutch universities are invariably highly valued by employers around the world, because they are the guarantor of a good education

English language

English is taught in kindergartens and universities. In addition, the Dutch are some of the best English speakers in the world.

Availability

Getting an education in the Netherlands costs relatively little money, but the quality is not inferior to other European countries

Teaching languages:

30 %

70 %

Opinion

Alexandra Gorshkova, Master's student at Reinwardt Academy, AHK

Everything you know about Holland is true. The Dutch are tall and fair-haired, they ride bicycles even in snow and severe frost, and on weekends they buy delicious cheese and bulbs of the most beautiful tulips in the market. National holidays are celebrated cheerfully and on a grand scale, and there are really coffeeshops on every street (locals do not have much interest in them, this is purely a tourist attraction). If anything comes as a shock to students from Russia, it is the amazing liberality of the Dutch. At the university, at a lecture, things are calmly discussed that are never discussed publicly in our country, and even more so in a higher educational institution.

At the same time, the Dutch are distinguished by their modesty, apparently due to the historically conditioned Protestant ethics, although now they do not really relate to religion. But it is still believed that one must work hard and not boast of success.
Universities have adopted a 10-point grading scale, but it is impossible to get a ten, in principle, this “grade is for God.” Getting a nine will be a joy and an extreme rarity, you will have to forget about studying with honors. Education in the Netherlands has other features as well. Starting with the fact that this country has declared education a national priority and is investing crazy in modern times in higher education institutions.
They are bearing fruit - Holland has the largest percentage of master's programs in English in Europe, students from all over the world come here, and Dutch universities have repeatedly been recognized as the best in their areas.
It was the presence of my specialty in English that influenced the choice of the country of study. I entered the Art School of Amsterdam (AHK) for a master's program. My faculty specializes in museum work and cultural heritage: future restorers, curators, curators and specialists in the protection of monuments study here. The specialty is rare, and I found a suitable program only in Holland.
Other advantages of studying here - the ability to consider different points of view, a wide range of professional connections, excellent internship opportunities - I discovered a little later.
Studying in Holland is closely connected with practice, often as a task it is necessary to write a specific project commissioned by a real museum. Thanks to such a close relationship, many students already have an idea where and how they will work by the end of the program.
You should not start learning Dutch without unnecessary necessity - the local population is fluent in English and willingly helps visitors.
Holland is one of the most distinctive countries in Europe, which has managed not only to preserve an amazing set of traditions, but also to combine them with modernity. Studying in the Netherlands will be an opportunity to see the world differently and discover new qualities in yourself.

Education in Holland

Today, many people want to go to the Netherlands, and there are reasons for that. Fans of culinary delights will enjoy the famous Dutch dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, gourmet desserts and seafood. The country, which is the second (after the USA) in terms of food exports in the world, certainly has something to surprise and please the taste buds of the most strict gourmets.

If you are fond of art, then with pleasure wander around the Dutch museums and exhibitions. It was here that Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh worked.
Endless colorful fields of tulips, endless rows of windmills, cozy narrow city streets - you can see all this by renting (or buying) a bicycle, while feeling completely safe, because the Netherlands is one of the most "biking" countries in the world! By the way, an interesting fact: in the capital of the country, Amsterdam, there are more bicycles than people.

However, one of the most important virtues of this country is education. The Netherlands is known for its love for all sorts of educational experiments, which has made this country one of the most progressive and liberal in terms of education (and not only). It was the Netherlands, the first of all non-English speaking countries, to introduce education in English, which still attracts a huge number of foreign students today. More than 90% of the Dutch speak English at a decent level. Only the Swedes are ahead of them in this.

Relatively inexpensive, but high-quality education; the opportunity to study in English at all levels of the educational system; safety and wellbeing are all reasons to choose the Netherlands for your or your children's education!

Secondary education

Education in the Netherlands is compulsory for children from 5 to 16-18 years old.

The Dutch system is different in that it does not have the intermediate step we are used to between elementary and high school. Accordingly, the school is divided into only 2 stages:

Junior School (8 grades, 1 optional)
Middle / high school (4, 5 or 6 years of study)

In Holland, schools can be public, special, general-special and private. The first 3 types are funded by the state and are free. Studying in Holland in private schools is a rarity.

Special schools are schools with a special religious focus. Although, in practice, they are not much different from ordinary ones. General-special - schools with a neutral attitude towards religion (all religions are equal).

At the end of elementary school, children take the CITO exam (Citotoets), based on the results of which teachers advise students on which curriculum to choose next. It should be noted that these are only recommendations and the final decision is made by the parents and the child himself.

Here are the programs you can choose from:

VWO (6 years, leads directly to university)
HAVO (5 years, leads directly to admission to the Institute of Applied Sciences)
VMBO (4 years, leads to vocational education)

The first two types of the program are subspecies of general secondary education, and the third is the only type of secondary vocational education.

All 3 types of programs are united by the fact that for the first 2 years children study a basic set of general subjects, and for the 3rd year of study they choose a profile.

In the case of VWO and HAVO, you can choose from 4 profiles:

With VMBO, the situation is slightly different: there, students choose the profile and type of program.

From the profiles there is a choice of 4 types:

Studying in the Netherlands is different from ours - there are 2 types of programs: regular and advanced. Each student chooses according to individual abilities and future plans. At the end of secondary school, children take final exams and receive the appropriate certificates, with which they can go to study further or get a job.

Higher education

Dutch higher education is of high quality. Higher education institutions offer more than 2,000 undergraduate programs, almost all of which are available in English.
There are 2 types of universities in the Netherlands:

Research Universities
Universities of Applied Sciences

The first type is available only to Dutch graduates with a VWO diploma, the second type is also available to HAVO diploma holders.

Since 2002, the Netherlands has switched to a 3-stage system of higher education: bachelor's, master's, doctoral studies. A diploma from a Dutch university is guaranteed to make you competitive in the global labor market, as studying in the Netherlands is an education under the sign of "quality".

Bachelor in the Netherlands

To obtain a bachelor's degree in the Netherlands, you need to study for only 3 years, and at the end write a research paper.

Since the cost of education is several times lower than in other European countries, graduates from all over Europe come here, which makes the Netherlands a surprisingly international place. Bachelor's programs are offered by both universities and institutes of applied sciences. In the second case, your training will last a year longer (not 3, but 4 years).

The most popular among students are bachelor's programs in business, engineering, environmental science, finance, and international relations.

Master in Holland

After receiving a bachelor's degree, there is an opportunity to continue your education and go to a master's program. Dutch master's programs are even more popular than undergraduate programs.

A master's degree usually takes 1-2 years, but it depends on the chosen specialty. For example, medical students traditionally take longer to study, and a Master of Music degree takes 2 years.

Benefits of studying and living in the Netherlands

Love for foreigners in general and for international students in particular. The Dutch are friendly people and every year they try to provide the most comfortable living and working conditions for young people coming from other countries.
Global perspective. The Netherlands has long been known as one of the most free-thinking countries in the world, they are open to everything new and unusual, they appreciate people who think differently.
Bicycles. In this country, on average, there are 2-3 bicycles per person. If you care about the environment and your health, this is the perfect way to get around.
Tulips. The most beautiful tulips in the world are here. Leaving Holland in April-May will be a crime on your part, because you will not be able to see such tulip madness anywhere else on the planet.

The cost of education in Holland

Secondary schools in the Netherlands are free. With the exception of private ones, among which there are almost no boarding schools. The price for a year of study in private schools can start from €40,000.

The Netherlands also has a choice of preparatory programs, with prices ranging from €1,250 to €15,300.

The cost of bachelor's programs, on average, is €6000-€12000, and master's programs are €8000-€20000.

Enrollment in educational institutions in the Netherlands

Allterra Education provides services for the selection of educational institutions and the enrollment of students. We will advise on all issues related to education in the Netherlands, prepare the necessary documents and issue a student visa.

Allterra Education specialists will do everything to make you feel comfortable choosing the Netherlands as a country for education and achieve your goal! Our offices are located in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

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Types of universities and educational programs

The system of higher education in the Netherlands is built according to the Anglo-Saxon model, in which practical and research areas are clearly separated.

The vast majority of universities belong to one of the following types:

Academic Universities: classic educational institutions that place great emphasis on scientific work;
Universities of Applied Sciences: aimed at training students in a specific profession.

A higher education diploma can be obtained by completing:

Higher specialized school (with an emphasis on practical activities);
Institute of International Education (focused on foreign students);
College;
business school.

In total, about 70 universities of various types operate in the Netherlands, 70% of which are privately owned.

The Bologna system implies a 3-stage model of education:

Undergraduate;
Master's degree;
Doctorate.

The task of the bachelor's degree is to master the profession of a practical orientation in 3-4 years. To complete it, you need to score 180 points according to the ECTS credit system (1 point - 36 hours of studying 1 discipline). At this stage, about 60% of students complete their studies, the rest enter master's programs.

Master's degree allows you to engage in scientific activities, to gain in-depth knowledge in the chosen specialty. The duration of study in the magistracy is 1 year for the humanities, 2 for the natural sciences, 3 for the medical disciplines.

To obtain a master's degree, an additional 120 credits must be added to the points for a bachelor's degree.

Conditions for admission

Any applicant who has completed the 11th grade of the school can apply for admission to a Dutch university. Most universities of applied sciences hold a certificate competition. In academic universities, requirements may vary. In some cases, a certificate of completion of the first year of the local institute is required, in others - a certificate of passing the exam or passing an entrance test at the university itself.

The only exam that every applicant will need is a language exam. When studying in English, the number of points IELTS must be at least 6 TOEFL- from 550 with the standard version of the test. In the specialty of the humanitarian orientation, the requirements are stricter. In the case of Dutch, an NT2 certificate must be obtained.

There are also no entrance exams. Enrollment of applicants takes place on the basis of a bachelor's degree, to which a document on graduation from a university in a CIS member country is equated. The decision on the compliance of academic programs remains with the admissions committee.

List of required documents

Important! The time for receiving documents is set separately by each university. Usually, their submission to undergraduate programs begins with the start of the academic year in September and continues until May 1. Documents are accepted to the magistracy until July 1.

The requirements for the list of documents for admission to the 1st stage of education vary slightly depending on the university.

Sample list:

Certificate of secondary education or certificate of graduation from school in the current year with translation;
Certificate of completion of the 1st course upon admission to an academic university with a translation;
Certificate of proficiency in Dutch or English;
Copy of the passport;
Photos;
Motivation letter.

Upon admission to the 2nd stage of education, the above documents must be added:

Diploma of higher education in the chosen specialty with translation;
Academic resume (with an emphasis on research work);
CV and portfolio;
Recommendations from the professorial staff.

After entering the university, the student must apply for a long-term study visa and a residence permit for study, which allows a foreigner to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. The execution of these documents will require financial guarantees in the amount of at least 11,000 € or a grant / scholarship.

Cost of education

The cost of higher education in the Netherlands is significantly different for EU citizens and foreigners. For the latter, the prices are set by the universities themselves. For a bachelor's degree, depending on the specialty, it ranges from 6 to 10 thousand euros per year. Obtaining a master's degree is more expensive: 7-20 thousand euros. And the cost of some MBA courses reaches up to 50 thousand euros.

In addition to the basic price, it is often necessary to pay extra for textbooks, field seminars (up to 1000 € per year).

The possibility of free education. Scholarships, grants

In order to attract motivated students in the Netherlands, various types of sponsorship are provided for which, incl. Foreign citizens.

Grants (Holland Scholarship, Orange Tulip Scholarship) and scholarships (GoEuro, Erasmus) are funded from various sources:

With funds from the European Union;
the Government of the Netherlands;
University.

The grant can not only partially or fully cover the cost of training, but also compensate for everyday expenses. Scholarships are usually awarded for 1 year upon excellent academic or scientific achievement and are extended upon good academic performance.

Reference! Another possibility for a Russian or Ukrainian to compensate for the cost of education is a student loan, which is issued to some students by the government of the Netherlands.

Internship and exchange studies

Dutch participation in the Bologna system and numerous intergovernmental agreements, incl. with Russia and Ukraine, allow students to take part in exchange programs.

Accommodation and food options for students

Only 20% of students are provided with housing on university campuses. Preference is given to Year 1 students and exchange program participants. The rest are forced to solve the housing problem on their own. The minimum cost of renting a 1-room apartment in a residential area of Amsterdam starts from 400 €.

The average cost of food is about 400 € per month.

According to the Dutch immigration service, the annual cost of living and daily needs of a student is close to 11,000 €.

The best universities in the country

The top five universities in Holland are:

(Universiteit van Amsterdam, UvA). The largest educational institution in the country with a 400-year history. More than 30 thousand students study at 7 faculties. The leading areas are the humanities, social sciences and medicine.
(Technische Universiteit Delft). Leading engineering university in the Netherlands, member of the IDEA League. The number of students is about 15 thousand, teachers - 2.5 thousand. The university is divided into 8 faculties, including architecture, aerospace, the faculty of civil engineering and geosciences, etc. They form the 3TU Federation with the universities of Twente and Eindhoven.
(Universiteit Utrecht). One of the richest universities in Holland: its annual budget is close to 1 billion euros. 30 thousand students (about 2000 foreign citizens) study at 10 faculties. The leading areas of education are the humanities and creative disciplines.
(Rijksuniversiteit Groningen). Leads its history from the beginning of the XVII century. Member of the Coimbra Group, consists of 9 faculties. Specializes in research in the field of chemistry, ecology, biotechnology, medicine. The total number of students is over 30 thousand.
(Universiteit Leiden). The oldest university in Holland, includes about 150 areas of study at 9 faculties and 40 institutes. Known for his research in medicine, archeology, social sciences.