Teacher training

Teacher training in the Netherlands is offered both by Universities of Applied Sciences and by research universities. For a grade one teaching qualification (entitling holders to teach at all, also the highest, levels of secondary education), aspiring teachers need to follow a secondary school teaching course at a research university. These courses have a study load of 60 ECTS (the equivalent of one year full-time study), and teaching practice is a compulsory part of the programme. They are open to university students (Master's programmes) and graduates.

For people with higher education qualifications but without a teaching qualification there is also the possibility of lateral entry, introduced to combat the shortage of teachers in the Netherlands. After an alternative admission procedure, they follow a two-year teaching and supervision programme leading to a full teaching qualification.