Study in Holland - The Netherlands Institute in Athens

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Why Study in Holland?
1,391 international study -programmes
Holland was the first non-English-speaking country to offer courses taught in English. Dutch higher education institutions together offer a combined total of 1,391 international study programmes and courses of which 1,376 are taught entirely in English. This makes -Holland the frontrunner in continental Europe.-

International study programmes and courses cover a broad range of fields. Curricula are intensive, taught at an advanced level, practice-oriented and designed to meet the expectations- of students seeking specialized knowledge. The courses alternate theory with- practice in real or simulated work situations.- Most programmes and courses lead to a -bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree, a diploma or certificate.

Excellent education and research
The Dutch system of higher education enjoys a worldwide reputation for high quality. This quality is achieved through a national system of regulation and quality assurance. The Times Higher Education Supplement even ranks 11 universities in Holland among the top 200 in the world. Holland has also received inter-national acclaim for its groundbreaking- Problem-Based Learning system, which trains students to analyze and solve practical problems- -independently through emphasis on -self-study and self-discipline.

International study environment
For a small country like Holland, an inter-national orientation – including in education and training – is a must for survival in our -increasingly internationalized world. The Dutch education system is interactive and focuses on teamwork, which makes it easy to meet other international students. Studying in Holland means developing an open mind and increasing your international orientation.

The Dutch way of teaching
Respect for each individual’s opinions and -convictions is a national virtue that gives strength to the fabric of Holland’s diverse and plural society. This is the foundation of the teaching method used at Dutch educational
institutions. This teaching style can be described- as inter-active and student-centred, providing students with the attention and -freedom they need to develop their own opinions and creativity in applying their new knowledge. All programmes place a significant- emphasis on writing papers, working in groups to analyze and solve specific problems, -acquiring -practical work experience through internships and conducting laboratory -experiments.

Tuition fees
Education in Holland is not free, but tuition- fees are reasonable compared to other -countries. Annual tuition fees for enrolment- in a degree programme or course at a Dutch -higher education institution start at -approximately 1,500 Euros for EU students.

Dutch higher education system
Holland has two main types of higher -education. Research universities focus on the independent practice of research-oriented work in an academic or professional setting, while universities of applied sciences are more practically-oriented, preparing students for specific careers. A third, smaller branch of higher education is provided by institutes- of -international education, which offer programmes designed especially for inter-national students. An overview of all research -universities, universities of applied sciences and institutes of international education can be found at www.internationalstudy.nl.

Research Universities
There are 14 government-funded research -universities in Holland, three of which -specialize in engineering, one in agriculture and one that is an open university. These institutions essentially train students in academic study and research, although many study -programmes also have a professional -component, and most graduates actually find work outside the research community. The -universities vary in size, with enrolments ranging from 6,000 to 30,000. All together they enrol some 206,000 students.
www.vsnu.nl the Association of Universities in the Netherlands

Universities of Applied Sciences
Programmes offered by universities of -applied sciences (hogescholen) focus on the -practical application of knowledge. Acquiring -practical work experience through internships- is an -integral part of professional study -programmes. Holland has 41 government--funded----- universities of applied sciences. The largest of these enrol 20,000 to 39,000 students. All together some 370,000 students are enrolled in professional programmes.
www.hbo-raad.nl The Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences

Institutes of International Education
Holland has been offering another form of higher education for more than 50 years, in the form of ‘International Education’ (IE), -comprising advanced courses taught in English. There are five large IE institutes and a number of smaller ones, all of which focus on development-oriented courses conducted in small, intercultural groups, and on the -exchange of knowledge as facilitated by -teachers with extensive experience of working in developing countries.
www.pieonline.nl Platform for international education

Degrees
Students who enrol in Dutch higher education programmes will earn a bachelor’s degree upon completion of the undergraduate phase and a master’s degree upon completion of the graduate phase. Research universities and universities of applied sciences award both types of degrees; IE institutes offer master’s programmes, but no bachelor’s programmes.

Bachelor
Completion of a research university bachelor’s programme requires three years of full-time study (180 credits), while bachelor’s programme offered by universities of applied sciences -require four years of full-time study (240 credits).

Master
Depending on the discipline, master’s -programmes offered by research universities, universities of applied sciences and institutes for international education will require one, two or sometimes even three years (60 – 180 credits) to complete.

PhD
Doctorate degrees (PhD) are offered by research universities and require four years. Students -enrolled in other research institutes that work in close collaboration with research universities may also be awarded the doctorate title.

Admission requirements
International students wishing to apply for a programme at a higher education institution should first contact the institution that offers the programme. Students should also note several general points relating to admission requirements:
International students must have a diploma judged equivalent to the minimum diploma required. There are also study programmes – in the arts for example – for which institutions set their own additional requirements.
The main requirement for admission to a bachelor’s programme is a secondary school diploma at the appropriate level.
Master’s programme applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. In certain popular fields the number of places is limited and admission quotas are set.
It is essential that international students are able to speak, read and write English- well. Students must have passed an -English -language test. IELTS and TOEFL are -commonly accepted, but institutions may accept other tests as well. For the TOEFL the required scores are at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet-based); for the IELTS a score of at least 6 is required.
Language requirements for individual programmes or courses are indicated in the database of international courses on our website: www.studyin.nl.

Accreditation and Quality Control
The high quality of higher education in Holland- is achieved through a national system of -regulation and quality assurance. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is responsible for legislation pertaining to education.
www.minocw.nl The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
www.qa-in.nl Quality assurance in Dutch higher education

Responsibility for accreditation has been -allocated to the Accreditation Organization
of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). Students will be awarded recognized degrees only after completing an accredited degree programme. Only degree programmes can be -accredited by the NVAO. Accredited programmes will be listed in the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes (CROHO).
www.nvao.nl the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders.

Institutions may also offer bachelor’s, -master’s or other programmes that have not been -accredited by the NVAO, but by a body in another country. For example a master’s programme offered by a Dutch university of professional education, but validated by an accredited British university. In the database of international programmes and courses at www.studyin.nl, the status of each individual programme is indicated by icons.
www.internationalstudy.nl

Accreditation of degree programmes
A degree programme leads to a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree. The system of -accreditation in higher education aims to guarantee that study programmes meet the highest standards. The law (the Higher Education and Research Act) requires that all degree -programmes offered by universities and universities of applied sciences are evaluated against a specific set of criteria. Bachelor’s and master’s programmes that meet the criteria are accredited by the NVAO (i.e. officially -recognized). PhD programmes are the responsibility of the university concerned and cannot be accredited by the NVAO.

Quality control of specialized courses
A specialized course does not lead to a degree, but to a certificate or diploma. As these courses do not lead to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, they cannot be submitted for accreditation by the NVAO. The fact that a specialized course has not been accredited does not therefore mean that it does not meet quality criteria. The quality of specialized courses that are part of an accredited master’s programme is assured- through the accreditation of the main programme. For other types of -specialized courses, a procedure is currently being prepared so that institutions are able to declare that the course meets a minimum set of quality criteria.

Code of Conduct for institutions
On 1 May 2006, the Code of Conduct with respect to international students in Dutch higher education came into effect. This Code of Conduct is an initiative of the Dutch institutions, and sets out standards for Dutch higher education institutions in their dealings with international students. By signing the Code of Conduct, the institutions are offering international students a guarantee of the quality of their programmes, student recruitment, selection and counseling procedures. Only institutions that have signed up to the Code are allowed to recruit international students.

Students from outside the EU, seeking a course at an institution of higher education that has not signed the Code of Conduct, will not be able to obtain visas. The full version of the Code of Conduct can be found at -
www.internationalstudy.nl. This website provides a list of the institutions that have signed the Code and also provides information on what to do if you feel that your -institution is not meeting the terms of the Code of -Conduct.



For additional information please visit www.studyin.nl