If you’re considering the Netherlands for higher education, you’ve made a great choice.
Many internationals want to study in the land of cheese and tulips; from affordability to a big international community, there’s a lot to enjoy!
But before anything, here are a few things everyone should know before they start their university hunt in the Netherlands.
1. There are different levels of Dutch higher education
Dutch higher education is divided into two main types: wetenschappelijk onderwijs or WO (research-oriented higher education) and hoger beroepsonderwijs or HBO (higher professional education). Try saying those three times fast!
WO is focused on applying scientific knowledge to solve scientific problems. Students do a lot of research and writing at a universiteit (research university), they take exams, and occasionally do internships and traineeships depending on their programme.
HBO, on the other hand, educates students for a specific profession at a hogeschool (university of applied sciences). The programmes are oriented towards practical experience rather than research. Students usually do a year of work placement to get experience in their field.
Depending on what suits your interests, learning style, and career goals, the options are open! If you are interested in doing a PhD, you’ll need a master’s degree at WO level (in the Netherlands, or something equivalent from elsewhere!)
2. It’s incredibly difficult to score perfect marks
Dreaming of straight A’s? No such luck. All assessments at Dutch universities are graded from a 1-10 scale — but a 10 is almost impossible.
A passing grade is typically 5.5 or 6, and the average grades fall in between a 6 and an 8. If you’re seeking those elusive 9s and 10s, you’ll need to readjust your expectations: such high scores are seldom given by teachers because there’s a focus on finding things to improve on.
| Dutch Grade | Description | American Grade | UK Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Excellent | A+ | +70% |
| 9 | Very Good | A+ | +70% |
| 8 | Good | A | +70% |
| 7 | Very Satisfactory | B+ | 60% – 69% |
| 6 | Satisfactory | B- | 50-59% |
| 5 | Almost Satisfactory | F | 40-49% |
| 4 | Unsatisfactory | F | Below 40% |
| 3 | Very Unsatisfactory | F | Below 40% |
| 2 | Poor | F | Below 40% |
| 1 | Very Poor | F | Below 40% |
3. You need to start your housing search as soon as you can
Settling into a new country can take a lot of time and it’s not the easiest process. You may not have heard about it but there is a huge housing shortage in the Netherlands. Many international students are left with a permanent address, easily becoming one of the biggest problems for students when they first move here.
We recommend starting your housing search at least three months in advance, speaking with your university’s international office, and constantly checking up on student housing websites like Kamernet and Studentenwoningweb to get a head start.
READ MORE | Student housing in the Netherlands: your guide to finding a room in 2022
4. Getting your visa can be bureaucratic — but your university should help
Of course, non-EU students must be equipped with a student visa and residence permit to study in the Netherlands as part of any international travel and education. Whether you’re an expert or it’s your first time moving abroad, organising visas and immigration documents can be really draining.
But great news: universities will usually process these documents for you (or at least help)!
Along with the IND, or Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (Immigration and Naturalisation Services) your school should handle your documents, and give you a hand where you need it.
5. The average study programme length is shorter than most
An average bachelor’s degree at WO level is only three years long, while an HBO bachelor’s degree is four years.
A double bachelor degree can be anywhere between three to five years long depending on the specialisations and combinations. Master’s degrees are often one to two years long, save for medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, and pharmacy (which are almost exclusively offered in Dutch).
This could be a huge advantage if you’re coming from somewhere that has higher tuition fees — a shorter study term may mean less money to spend on your degree overall!
6. Transferring to another study in the Netherlands is really difficult
Dutch universities don’t have a “general education” year with standardised subjects like many universities in other countries. Without this general education year, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room to shift to a new study programme and academic credits are usually not transferable across universities.
To join a new programme, you have to drop out of your current course and wait until the next application period for your new course.
7. Study in English, maar de rest in Nederlands
The Dutch pride themselves in being the best non-native English speakers in the world but that doesn’t mean you can get by with English alone.
A lot of people do speak English (in supermarkets, in cafés and restaurants, etc.) but a lot of formal communication from healthcare to the Belastingdienst (Tax and Customs Administration) will come in Dutch. If you’re living in another country, it’s a great opportunity to learn the local language — even if just enough to order some coffee!
TIP: There are plenty of free ways to learn Dutch that you can integrate into daily life!
Thinking about future education and career plans can be stressful, and we totally get it. But once you’ve read this article, you’re an expert.
What’s something you didn’t know about the Netherlands until you moved here? Tell us what you learned in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in December 2021 and was fully updated in August 2022 for your reading pleasure.
