Assessment & Evaluation of Diplomas, Academic Certificates and Documents issued by Dutch Universities

This section consists of information on the following:

• Pre-University studies
• University studies
• Educational Courses
• Mode of Qualifications Assessment
• List of Dutch Universities and Academic Institutions
• Table of Diploma Equivalencies and Evaluations

Pre-University Studies

‌All academic programs offered throughout the Netherlands, are under direct supervision of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science ( Ministrie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). Children typically start their Primary education (Basisonderwijs) at the age 4 or 5, and complete this stage by the age of 12. During this period they will go through Kindergarten, have courses on reading and writing in Dutch, Mathematics, Sciences and Social Studies. High school, consists of about 4-5 years, and is a mandatory to attend up till the age of 16. During high school, pupils will be guided into General or Professional (Technical) branches which consist of the following types:

• VWO: preparatory scientific education which consists of 6 years
• HAVO: higher general continued education, consisting of 5 years
• VMBO(Which previously existing MAVO and VBO have fused into): preparatory middle-level applied education, combining vocational training with theoretical education consisting of 4 years

University Studies

‌It is possible to do your studies in an institute of Higher Applied Education/Hoger beroeponderwijs (HBO). Overall higher education establishments in the Netherlands \ comprise of 13 universities, 75 institutes of Higher Applied Education (HBOs) and 5 Higher Education Institutes that offer complimentary studies.

The Prerequisite for admission to Universities is primarily the possession of the VWO, Preparatory Scientific Education diploma, and the prerequisite for admission to Institutes of Higher Applied Education (HBO), is holding a higher general continued education Diploma (HAVO). Students who are not in possession of this diploma are able to take the entrance exam (Colloquium), instead in order to gain admission.
Foreign Students are required to provide a diploma equivalent to a Dutch High School diploma. In the recent years, academic levels of Universities and that of the Higher Applied Education Institutes have become more comparable, and since 1986, transferring from a University to a HBO institution or the converse has been greatly facilitated. This is such that once students who have passed their first year in a HBO institute, they may then transfer to the first year at a University and also use their transferable their credits(If applicable).

Educational Courses

• MBO (Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs): Consists of vocational studies in fields of: Technology, Economics, Sanitation, and agriculture. The duration of these studies is about 1 - 4 years and the prerequisite for attending this program is the possession of the Diploma of the 4-year-long Technical VMBO course. Upon completing this study program, the pupil will have received an “MBO - Diploma”.
• Ingenieur (ing.) / Baccalaureus (be.) / Bachelor (B) : This document is issued by HBO(Higher Applied Education) institutions. The duration of these studies is 4 years, and in the 4th year the students carry out a scientific research in their field of interest and finally submit a report based on the research. Overall the student is required to pass between 168 to 252 credits.(The exact number depending on the actual study program)
• Doctoral: This diploma is issued by Universities. The duration of the program is 4 years, and in practice very few students manage to complete this program within 4 years. Therefore, this study program is extendable by two years. However in some programs, the whole duration may take up to 8 years in total.
  
  The first year of studies is called Propedeuse, during which a total of about 42 credits must be achieved. At the end of the year, the students are required to take an examination, the success at which will enable them to continue their studies.
  In the final year of studies, the student is expected to submit a Final Thesis based on a scientific research, which will yield a third of the credits of that academic year.
  The Doctoral degree is titled differently with respect to the student’s study program; some typical ones are Doctorandus(Drs.), Ingenieur (Ir.) and Meester (mr.) for non-technical studies/Engineering, for technical studies/Engineering, and Legal Education respectively.
  This degree is equivalent to a Master’s degree, which is why in some cases universities issue a “Master’s” degree for international students, instead of the aforementioned Dutch-titled degrees.
  It is worth noting, that some HBO schools, may also offer Post-HBO courses, which may take between a number of weeks, to a number of years. In studies such as Visual Arts, the candidate is expected to achieve 84 credits, whilst as with Architecture, the pupil is required to obtain 168 which may take 2 to 4 years. Therefore, a number of HBO schools, may also be able to offer the student a HBO master’s degree.
• University and Institutes of Higher Education’s Graduate students may pursue their studies in various Post-Doctoraal programs. These programs consist of a 1-year- long Teacher Training (ULO), and other various short-term academic courses and long-term research-based courses for enhancing the knowledge of students.
• Doctor – Ph.D. : This consists of a 4-year-long program. Most of the students applying to this program, will be selected as Professor Assistants, and would be responsible for carrying out innovative research.
  At the end of program, in order to obtain His/her Ph.D. degree, the student must write their thesis, present their research- based conclusions and results, and be able to successfully defend the thesis before a group of professors.
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Mode of Qualifications Assessment

• Advanced Technical/Professional educational program (MBO – master) Diplomas having taken 2-3 years, as well incomplete programs (with the condition of possessing a high school diploma) will be assessed as a First Class Technician's Certificate/ Associate’s Degree( کاردانی ).
• Baccalaureus (bc), Bachelor (b), Ingenieur (ing.) diplomas will be assessed as Professional Bachelor’s degrees(  کارشناسی ).
• Doctoraal/master diplomas issued by universities will be assessed as Master’s degrees ( کارشناسی  ارشد ).
• HBO- Master Degrees with 2 years of continuous studies, and with condition of possessing the diplomas stated in clause 2, or a Bachelor’s degree, will be assessed as a Master’s degree (کارشناسی ارشد ).
• A Doctor (Ph.D.) Degree, after 4 years of continuous studies, and issued by one of the universities mentioned in the “Category A Universities” (refer to the following page) , will be assessable as a Doctorate’s degree (دکترا ).

List of Universities in the Netherlands:

• Category A ( Top Class Dutch Universities- At all levels of study) :
  • Delft university of Technology 
  • Eindhoven university of Technology 
  • Erasmus unieversity Rotterdam 
  • Leiden university 
  • Tilburg university
  • Maastricht university (universiteit Maastricht) 
  • University of Amsterdam (Universiteit Van Amsterdam) 
  • University of Groningen 
  • University of Nijmegen (Catholic) 
  • University of Twente 
  • Utrecht university 
  • Vrije Universitet Amsterdam (Free university Amsterdam) 
  • Wageningen University 

• Category B (Universities and Higher Education Institutions – Exclusively for Master’s Programs )
  • Christelijke Hogeschool Nederland (Christian University of Professional Education, Leeuwarden) (CHN)
  • Haagse Hogschool (The Hague University)

Documents issued by institutions of higher education and those of Higher Applied Education (HBO), (only if the study progress has reached the level of a Master’s Degree), may be evaluated under the condition of approval by the Ministry of Education and Science.

‌  Table of University/Higher Education Diploma Evaluation and Equivalencies