The Netherlands, a country located in the heart of Europe is one country that is quite popular globally for international business, especially as it has had quite a loaded history of trading across its borders. Being a country conversant with merchants traveling long distances to trade and being well-traveled merchants themselves, the Dutch people are really open towards buitenlanders (a dutch word for Foreigners). For this singular reason, you may love to know what it takes to study abroad in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is clearly a country of opportunities and a worthy location for studies. As a country with several entrepreneurs, lots of creative ideas, and zeal, the Netherlands may just be the location for your study in Europe.
In the Netherlands, you will obtain quality higher education with low tuition fees. This is even with the education system of the country being at a global standard.
Not only does the Netherlands belong among the non-English speaking countries that offer academic programs in English for International students who want to study in English, but it is also the first non-English country to begin to offer courses or programs taught in the English language for the benefit of international students who do not know and understand Dutch.
Education in the Netherlands is top-notch and meets all standards set for education globally. The degrees obtained by students from institutions in the Netherlands are recognized by the global community.
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The Dutch Education System
The education system in the Netherlands is at a global standard. Kids enroll in primary schools either when they are four or five years old.
Being a non-English speaking country, you might wonder what language is used for tutoring. The Netherlands has incorporated bilingual public schools into its education system in order to accommodate international students who study abroad in the Netherlands. This development is more common at the secondary school level and at the tertiary level. For the primary level, there are special private international schools that offer bilingual education to pupils.
Primary and secondary school education is mandatory for every child and after primary schooling, the child decides whether to opt for a vocational study or for further theoretical studies at the secondary school level. Pupils who choose to continue with the theories have the opportunity to pursue a research-based university degree.
Academic institutions in the Netherlands do not tutor in Dutch and English only, they also teach in German or French, depending on the region of the nation where the school is situated. However, most of the time schools tutor in Dutch therefore it is necessary to learn the local language during your stay.
There are student exchange programs that some international schools employ to provide services for international students, seeking those opportunities out and leveraging them could help you obtain a good spot at a lower cost.
Grading System
As an International student who wants to study abroad in the Netherlands, you need to know how scores are graded in the country’s education system. This grading system is employed for secondary and tertiary education programs.
The grading employs a numbered system from 10 to 4, the number 10 being the maximum possible grading.
The number 4 is not the minimum grade however it is the least grade and is assigned as the fail mark. Below is a list of the grades and their meanings.
| Grade | Meaning |
| 10 | Excellent |
| 9 | Very good |
| 8 | Good |
| 7 | Very satisfactory |
| 6 | Satisfactory |
| 5 | Almost satisfactory |
| 4 | Unsatisfactory |
| 3 | Very unsatisfactory |
| 2 | Poor |
| 1 | Very poor |
Grade 5 is taken as the passing grade.
High School Program Options in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands at high school level, depending on the student’s dream, the student gets to choose between the three types of secondary education:
- The Voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs (VMBO)
- The Hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs (HAVO) and
- The Voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs (VWO)
- The Voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs (VMBO)
Translated to English as the preparatory middle-level applied education, voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs is a pre-vocational education option for students who want a practical experience on vocational professions such as nursing, midwifery, and technical works.
The VMBO involves four years of intensive training of which two years are spent at the lower-level and two years at the upper-level.
In the lower level years, the students are exposed to general education with a wide range of subjects in the chosen profession. This prepares the student for a more intensive education on the course of choice at a higher level.
At the upper level, specialization in the chosen profession becomes the primary focus and after studies, national exams are taken on six subjects. Depending on the study approach, the student gets awarded either of the four VMBO diploma certifications VMBO-bb, VMBO-kb, VMBO-gl, or VMBO-T. The study approach could be either intensively academic, intensively practical, combined, or basic studies.
After getting the diploma award, students further their vocational training by attending middelbaar beroepsonderwijs (MBO), a vocational training school, for three years. After this, the student becomes a professional in the field.
- General Education at either HAVO or VWO
While some children might love to go for the vocational option, others may prefer to go with the more theoretical general education. In general education the child has an option between hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs (HAVO) and voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs (VWO) schools. Both educational programs have three lower-level years in which the student covers a broad range of subjects. The subjects covered are fairly similar in both the HAVO and the VWO.
In upper-level years, the students diversify into a more specialized studies according to the program option chosen. In most cases, the program to choose is recommended to the student after considering their performance in the first two years.
After the first three years if the child ends up picking HAVO then he/she will spend two more years in the upper level to complete the five years HAVO program. The HAVO upper-level is commonly known as senior general secondary education and it prepares the student to attend an applied sciences university (HBO) for courses such as engineering.
On the other hand, if the child chooses the VWO program he/she will spend three more years in the upper-level VWO to complete the six-year program. The VWO is a pre-university education that provides the child with the preliminary knowledge for a research-based career. After VWO the student can get enrolled in a research university (WO).
It should be noted that the system is not rigid and does not allow only these directional flows. Students can switch between programs but it comes at a cost of extra years with extra courses to study in order to bridge the gap between the programs.
Major Differences Between the HAVO and VWO programs
HAVO
Secondary school education is usually followed by the HBO-type university
Students spend Five years in training; three in lower-level and two in upper-level years
Students would take exams in at least seven subjects before becoming eligible to graduate
There is a more practical approach to learning
VWO
Secondary school education is usually followed by the WO-type university
Students spend six years in training; three at the lower level and three at the upper-level years
Students would take exams in at least eight subjects before becoming eligible to graduate
There is a more academic approach to the learning process.
Top 10 High Schools to Study Abroad in the Netherlands
- Amsterdam International Community School
- Deutsche Internationale Schule (The Hague)
- International School Eindhoven
- Le Lycée Français Vincent van Gogh (The Hague)
- Rotterdam International Secondary School, Junior, and Secondary Campuses
- The British School of Amsterdam
- Amity International School Amsterdam
- Gifted Minds International School
- Amstelland International School
- International Primary School Almere
Higher Institution in the Netherlands
When you study abroad in the Netherlands you will notice that the country has some of the oldest reputable universities in the world known for scientific discovery and research.
And being one of the countries to introduce English-taught courses at both high school and college levels, it is a highly sought-after destination for international students.
Medical schools, engineering schools, law schools, and business schools in the Netherlands are highly placed in global rankings.
Top-ranked Universities in the Netherlands
- Delft University of Technology
- Wageningen University and Research
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- University of Amsterdam
- University of Twente
- University of Amsterdam
- University of Maastricht
- Delft University of Technology
- Utrecht University
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Leiden University
- Saxon University the Netherlands
- University of Tilburg
- University of Twente
Courses to Study in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, there are numerous courses to study in the universities, which include obvious courses that people talk about daily and of course, pretty obscure ones. Some of the common courses studied in the Netherlands are;
- Architecture Studies
- Art Studies
- Aviation
- Business Studies
- Design Studies
- Economic Studies
- Education
- Engineering Studies
- Fashion
- Food and Beverage Studies
- General Studies
- Health Care
- Humanities Studies
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Languages
- Law Studies
- Management Studies
- Marketing Studies
- Natural Sciences
- Performing Arts
- Social Sciences
- Sustainability Studies
- Technology Studies
- Tourism and Hospitality.
Cost to Study Abroad in the Netherlands
The average tuition fee in the Netherlands for a European Union (EU) student is about 1800-4000 Euros each year while that for an international student ranges between 6000-20000 Euros per year.
When set on the same pedestal as other European countries tuition fees to study abroad in the Netherlands is quite affordable and the cost of living is relatively low. The cost of living in the Netherlands is estimated to be about 800-1000 Euros per month which could be used to take care of feeding, rent, transportation, books, and others.
Scholarships in the Netherlands
- Orange Knowledge Programme in The Netherlands
- University of Twente Scholarships (UTS)
- Holland Scholarship for Non-EEA International Students
- L-EARN for Impact Scholarship
- Amsterdam Merit Scholarships for Excellent International Students
- Leiden University Excellence Scholarships (LexS)
- Erasmus University Holland Scholarship.
Challenges Faced while Studying in the Netherlands
- Culture Shock
- Seemingly Rude attitude of Dutchmen due to their obtuse Directness
- Finances
- Finding Accommodation
- Language Barrier
- Homesickness
- Increased Stress levels, due to cultural racism.
Requirements for Bachelor’s and Master’s Visa
To obtain a Bachelor’s or Master’s Visa in the Netherlands there are a number of requirements and criteria to scale through. Below are some of them.
- A Completed visa application form
- Valid passport
- Two photographs
- Birth certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Official letter from the academic institution in the Netherlands
- Complete study plan – explain why you are interested in studying the chosen subject area and how and why it is related to your prior studies
- Financial proof for the entire period of study (around 870 EUR/month)
- Travel and health insurance
- Visa application fee (174 EUR)
- Photocopies of all the original documents
- Tuberculosis test (required for citizens from some countries)
- Photocopies of all the original documents
- Biometric information.
Language Requirements to Study Abroad in the Netherlands
English Language;
To study in the Netherlands, a minimum level of English language proficiency is required. The accepted English tests are:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- PTE Academic.
Dutch;
To study for a degree in Dutch as an international student, you will need to prove your degree of fluency in the language.
Presenting a certificate or a result in any of the following tests approves you for a course in the Dutch language.
- Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (Certificate of Dutch as a Foreign Language)
- Nederlands als Tweede Taal (NT2) (Dutch as a second language).
Conclusion:
It is not surprising you chose the Netherlands, being one of the best places to study abroad. You might also want to check out some of the other best places to study abroad.
Do you still feel a need for more information? Engage us in the comment section below.
