The higher education system

A binary system: research universities and universities of applied sciences

The Netherlands has a binary system of higher education, consisting of higher professional education and university education. Higher professional education (in Dutch hoger beroepsonderwijs or HBO) is provided by universities of applied sciences and is geared towards the acquisition of vocational qualifications and training.

University education (in Dutch wetenschappelijk onderwijs or WO) is provided by the 14 research universities. These combine teaching with academic research, attaching great importance to linking them. Teaching at a research university provides training in academic disciplines and prepares students for the pursuit of an academic or professional career.

Access to university education

Generally, access to university education requires a university preparatory education (VWO) diploma or its international equivalent. Some study programmes (in arts, for example) may require additional qualifications for admission. For study programmes in English, students need to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English by passing an English language test, most commonly TOEFL or IELTS.

In popular fields of study, there are a limited number of places available, the so-called numerus fixus. This is the case, for example, in medicine and dentistry. Where such quotas are in place, universities may give up to 50% of places to students of their choice (based on their secondary education grades, entry exams and the like). The remaining places are allocated on the national level by way of casting lots.
Access to a Master’s degree programme generally requires a Bachelor’s diploma.

More information

On these and other topics covered in this section, additional English-language information is available:

• Report of Dutch Eurydice Unit
• Dutch National Qualifications Framework
• Dutch National Qualifications Framework / Annex