International education

Internationalisation is an integral part of all the core tasks of the Dutch research universities. The implementation of the three-cycle structure in the course of the Bologna process has stimulated internationalisation in education at the Dutch research universities. The Dutch research universities aim to increase the incoming as well as outgoing mobility of students. Internationalisation does not only take place abroad: students returning from studying abroad, international students coming to the Netherlands and international staff teaching internationally orientated curricula together create international classrooms at the Dutch research universities.

The Bologna process is aimed at the creation of a European higher education area (EHEA) in 2010. The VSNU believes that in order to achieve the aims of the EHEA - harmonisation and transparency in European higher education -, increased activity is needed, particularly in four respects: increasing the diversity of institutions and programmes; stimulating mobility and international education; investing in international reputation and increasing transparency; and increasing funding.
Read the VSNU position paper on the future of the EHEA

 

Code of Conduct international students

The Code of Conduct with respect to international students lays down guidelines on matters such as admission, information provision and other obligations of the Dutch institutions of higher education, including the research universities, towards international students. An independent commission monitors the implementation of the Code of Conduct.
Download the Code of Conduct
Download the Rules and Regulations

 

Joint degrees

The Dutch Law on Higher Education and Research is currently being amended so as to allow joint degrees of one year or 18 months with national as well as international universities. The Dutch research universities also take part in the Erasmus Mundus programme. In the academic year 2010-2011, the Netherlands will be hosting 2 of the Master's programmes and will be participating in 12 more. Moreover, the Netherlands will be hosting one joint doctoral programme and will be participating in 5 more.