Education system in the Netherlands. How and where can you go to study in the Netherlands?

Holland provides for a high degree of democracy and innovation. Neither political views nor affiliation with any religion affects the ability of any group of like-minded people to open an educational institution and receive financial assistance from the government. That is why education in the Netherlands is most represented by private educational institutions - at least two-thirds of them.

It is believed that the Dutch education system ranks 4th in the world rankings, and 13 public universities are in the top 200. To attract foreign students, many educational programs are conducted in English, and their cost is lower than in the USA and England.

The biggest disadvantage is the high prices for household needs; many students cannot even afford to rent normal housing. Sometimes they spend the night at train stations - a common sight in this country.

However, studying in Holland is prestigious and approximately every 10 students is a foreigner.

How the educational system is built

In the Netherlands, the order of education is not quite usual.

There is no unified structure of preliminary training. The overwhelming majority of preparatory and kindergartens are private.
School (compulsory) – from 5 to 18 years.
Universities. These may be universities and technical schools.

The education system in the Netherlands also includes children's summer camps. Here the children are engaged in various creative and scientific activities and master the English language.

Preschool education

There are many private centers and kindergartens. Children under 4 years of age are sent here; joint leisure activities are organized for them, facilitating the initial socialization of young citizens.

As a rule, there is no hot food, only snacks with tea, fruit and sandwiches.

Schooling

It takes place in 2 stages - from 5 to 18 years. The system assumes that teachers will be able to better determine the child's abilities. It is worth noting that studying in Holland for Russian schoolchildren may seem very easy.

Junior School

The first two years are more like a preparatory department; from the third, learning the basics of writing, counting, reading, and natural history begins.

Homework is assigned only from the 6th grade.

At the very end of primary school (at age 12), students take a knowledge and development exam that helps determine their future path.

Check according to the program.
IQ level test.

Some cities have language colleges where foreign students can improve their English skills.

high school

The VMBO course lasts 4 years, students receive basic education and initial skills in a specific specialty. After this, children can make a choice: for example, they can continue their studies in an additional MBO program or simply go to work.

Children are prepared for universities, duration – 6 years. They study disciplines and foreign languages:

Latin;
English
French;
Greek;
mathematics;
computer science;
basics of economics;
chemistry.

NAVO – level involves the usual adaptation to the university, takes 5 years.

VWO is more like a gymnasium course and is considered the most prestigious.

Universities of the country

There are three types of universities in the Netherlands.

Scientific (research universities).
Applied (universities of applied sciences).
International.

The most popular universities in the world belong to the first type; they appear in various rankings. Applications are busy competing with each other within the kingdom and do not have much claim to world fame.

If higher education in Holland is obtained for further employment, then it is easier to enroll in universities of applied sciences, the cost of training is lower, and the requirements for applicants are lower.

Each university has a lot of nuances. Some have their own dormitory, some help rent apartments, some have low prices per semester. You should figure it out in advance; for this you can use the “Nuffik-neso” service.

Training is carried out in two stages:

bachelor's degree;
master's degree

Different specialties require a number of features. This includes the duration of training, the cost, and the duration of practice.

Bachelor's degree

Most programs require a three-year educational course and an additional 1 year of internship. If the student is a future physician or technologist, then another 12 months are added.

Master's degree

After defending your bachelor's degree, there is the opportunity to continue your studies in a master's program. Moreover, the specialty must correspond to the one chosen initially. In some cases, a student manages to move to another field, but to do this, he needs to convince members of the admissions committee that his knowledge corresponds to the necessity of this action.

A master's degree in Holland involves mastering a specialty in an average of 1-2 years, after which a person can proceed to doctoral studies.

Duration of the academic year

The process begins in September and ends in June. Consists of two semesters.

Classes can be practical or in the form of lectures. There are no exams (sessions) as such, testing knowledge looks like passing scientific papers.

The best universities in Holland

Universities in the Netherlands (the largest of them) can admit over 30 thousand students.

Amsterdam is a very large and old university in the country. Includes 7 faculties, the main ones being the humanities, social and medical sciences.
Delft Technical University is a large educational institution that trains specialists in the fields of architecture, civil engineering, aviation and space, and planetary sciences.
Utrecht is one of the richest universities in Holland with an annual budget of about 1 billion €. Ten faculties teach humanities programs and creative specialties.

In several branches of world universities in Holland, teaching is conducted only in English.

Student visa

It can only be issued by the university itself. To initiate, you must send documents in advance; the process lasts about 3 months. But before this, you will have to deposit 10,400 euros into the university account - as a guarantee that the applicant has the means to live in the Netherlands, the money will be returned to the student’s card after his arrival in the kingdom.

Cost and validity period

The price for an MVV entry permit is 322 euros. Paid at the embassy in the region of residence, relevance - 3 months.

You need to meet this deadline: come to the kingdom, arrive at the migration department office and apply for a residence permit (VVR visa) - a special card with which you will be allowed to move throughout the entire Schengen zone.

Conditions of study for foreigners in 2019

The most important requirement is the availability of funds to pay for services, accommodation and food.

You will also need a good command of English - 6 points on the IELTS scale. If the score is 5, they will require you to improve your knowledge yourself or recommend an additional course of study within the university.

At technical universities they can test mathematics, and if the competition requirements are high, they can also undergo an interview. In most cases, a certificate from school and Unified State Exam tests will be enough.

And only studying at medical and law faculties will require proficiency in Dutch.

Scholarships and grants

There is a special program for Russian applicants: Orange Tulip Scholarship. Universities in Holland are able to pay 100% or partially for tuition at their faculties or compensate for accommodation, insurance, and visa.

Priority directions:

economics, business, finance;
art;
right;
medicine.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Citizenship of the Russian Federation.
Age range: 18-35 years.
There should be no diploma from the kingdom.
English skills at IELTS level (from 6.0) or TOEFL (from 80 iBT).

To take part in OTS, you should initiate the admission process yourself (the university is selected from the list) and send copies (scans) of documents to the post office ( [email protected]).

The list of required papers depends on the specifics of the university.

Possibility of part-time work

Students are allowed to work part-time, but there are restrictions for students who are not EU residents.

The employer must obtain a special permit (from the UWV agency).

Note. If the work is related to an internship, then no papers will be required.

It is necessary to have health insurance.
It is mandatory to obtain a civil registration number (BSN).

Students:

waiter;
bartender;
loader;
cleaner.

In senior years, you can engage in more intellectual activities.

Where do students live?

You can stay in dormitories if the university provides them, but you will have to hurry, places fill up pretty quickly.

Most rent apartments and rooms. The Dutch themselves rent small houses for 5-6 people, but they rarely take foreigners with them.

It is better to organize in advance, at least 2-3 months before the start of school. Finding affordable housing can take a long time.

How much does it cost to study in the country?

Prices depend on the prestige of the university and specialty. But on average in Europe it is not very expensive.

Tuition fees in 2019:

Free education in Holland is possible, but only under special programs.

updated 07/10/2018

Lena van der Krausbes

I will begin my review of the education system in the Netherlands with several principles on which the entire Dutch education system 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? This is the freedom to establish schools, organize education 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, provided there are a sufficient number of 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 managed by the municipal authorities or by a management committee appointed by the municipality for this 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 instruction on certain educational principles, similar to Maria Montessori schools. Unlike public schools, which must accept all students, private schools may impose some restrictions and refuse to accept your child. As was the case, 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 variety of statutory standards regarding the quality of education. They determine the subjects to be studied, the learning objectives and the content of 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, etc. As a rule, schools are given considerable freedom in choosing 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 government 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 schools' strengths and weaknesses, and choose the best one 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 inspection results.

Mandatory education

This is another principle. Compulsory education applies to children from 5 to 18 years old, after which education becomes optional. Usually parents send their children to school from the age of 4. The municipal executive checks that school-age children registered as residents are also registered as students at schools.
Another manifestation of this principle is that a child does not have the 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 to avoid being stuck in miles-long traffic jams, no one will allow you to pick up your child from school. If parents keep their child at home without a good reason and do not report this to the school, they are committing a crime under Dutch law. Such parents will have to deal with a municipal enforcement officer, who may impose an administrative penalty. But what if children play truant without their parents' knowledge? You can be sure that the school will contact you immediately if your child doesn't 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 tertiary. To better understand all the subtleties, I suggest looking at the diagram. The arrows show the possibilities of moving from one level of education to another depending on the knowledge acquired.

Let us explain this diagram. The arrows show the possibilities of transition from one level of training to another.

Basisonderwijs / Primary education

The training lasts 8 years and is organized for children aged 4 to 12 years;
Special primary education ( speciaal onderwijs) is organized for mentally retarded or disabled children (ages 3 to 12). For older students in this category there is also special secondary education ( speciaal 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 most you 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 as an assistant (assistant), MBO level 1. Lasts from 6 months to 1 year;
Initial vocational training, MBO level 2. Lasts 2 years;
Vocational training, MBO level 3. Lasts 3 years;
Middle manager, MBO 4. Lasts 3 - 4 years;
Specialist training, MBO 4. Lasts 1 year.

Volwasseneeducatie / 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!

Send your good work in the knowledge base is simple. Use the form below

Students, graduate students, young scientists who use the knowledge base in their studies and work will be very grateful to you.

Education in Holland for foreigners

Education abroad in Holland, in English, is in demand among foreign students. This relatively small country has more than 60 universities, where students from all over the world study: almost.

There are still relatively few Russian students in Holland, about 800 people, but their number is growing - largely due to the excellent quality of Dutch higher education, the low cost of studying in Holland compared to English-speaking countries, and attractive career prospects. A graduate of a Dutch university can find a job in the Netherlands after graduation, and then receive a Dutch residence permit.

The most common languages for studying in Holland are Dutch, English and German. The largest number of programs at universities in the Netherlands are, of course, taught in Dutch. Despite the fact that studying this language will cost students very little, not everyone is ready to learn it, especially at a level sufficient to obtain a university education.

A significant number of programs in German at universities in the Netherlands is explained by the fact that the country is very popular among German students - not least due to its geographical proximity. Well, teaching in English, the language of international communication, was declared by the government of the Netherlands as one of the priorities for the development of higher education in Holland.

Study in Holland in English

English is very widely spoken in the Netherlands and is well known by the majority of the population. It is not surprising that universities in this country also offer a significant number of undergraduate and graduate programs in English. The strongest areas of vocational training in the Netherlands are traditionally considered to be: design and all creative professions, engineering and technical specialties, transport and logistics, agriculture and horticulture and a number of others. Read more about this in the material about employment prospects in Holland.

Higher education system in the Netherlands

The most important features of the higher education system in the Netherlands are the international educational environment, a problem-oriented approach to learning, which assumes high student activity in the process of acquiring knowledge: a joint search for solutions to problems in a group where the teacher only guides the discussion, but does not give ready-made recipes, public speaking and presentation of ideas, the ability to formulate and defend one’s point of view with arguments.

It is not surprising that with such an ultra-modern approach and the availability of the best educational resources, the quality of programs and overall education in Holland in English is consistently high - it is ensured by a multi-stage accreditation and control system developed by the state specifically to attract foreign students.

The main feature of the Dutch education system is the division of higher education institutions into scientific and professional ones - research universities and universities of applied sciences (polytechnics).

Levels and degrees of higher education in the Netherlands

Higher education in the Netherlands is divided into scientific and vocational. Students receive scientific education at universities that conduct fundamental research and occupy high places in the world rankings of the best universities. Professional higher education can be obtained at universities of applied sciences - otherwise known as polytechnic institutes. In both cases, higher education in the Netherlands includes three levels of study:

Bachelor's degree - duration of study is 3 years at research universities, BA, BS degrees or 4 years at universities of applied sciences, professional degrees BEng, BArch and similar;
master's degree - 1 year at research universities, MRes degree or 2 years at universities of applied sciences, MA, MS degrees;
postgraduate studies (doctoral studies) - 4 years only at research universities; degrees - PhD, DPhill, DSc.

Employment, work, internships in Holland for university students and graduates

In Holland, specialists with higher education, knowledge of foreign languages and international experience are highly valued. Although the stages of employment are roughly similar in all countries, Holland has developed its own business culture and business ethics that you need to learn to get your dream job in Holland.

Mandatory requirements for applicants and selection criteria used by Dutch employers include brevity and clarity in the formulation of career goals and the reasons why the candidate considers the job suitable, openness, proactivity - Dutch companies welcome proactive applicants who actively control the process of their employment, call In order to find out the points that interest them, they ask clarifying questions both during the interview and before it.

Graduates of Dutch universities of applied sciences are guaranteed to have work experience - they receive it through a mandatory internship during their studies. For an employer, such an internship often becomes a stage of searching and selecting suitable candidates - accordingly, the student’s chances of getting a permanent job after the internship are very high.

Studying in Holland - reviews and personal experiences of students

Of course, student life in the Netherlands is not only about attending classes and libraries, but also about gaining professional experience during an internship, a semester studying abroad, which provides an amazing international experience, as well as sports, travel, participation in hundreds of themed events, student clubs and organizations . According to reviews of many students, studying in Holland became a vivid personal experience for them, and Dutch education was an important step in their career. Look