The Netherlands has two types of higher education: research universities (Dutch: universiteiten) and universities of professional education or applied sciences (Dutch: hogescholen).
Research Universities
The University of Groningen is a research university, with research as its main focal point. Research universities prepare students for independent scientific and scholarly work in an academic or professional setting. They provide education and conduct research in a wide range of disciplines: language and culture, behaviour and society, economics, law, medical and health sciences, natural sciences, engineering and agriculture.
All research universities in the Netherlands are entitled to award the country's highest academic degree, the PhD degree. The PhD degree is primarily a research degree, for which a dissertation based on original research must be written and defended.
Universities of Professional Education/Applied Sciences
Universities of professional education or applied sciences are primarily practically oriented and prepare students for specific professions. These universities offer four-year programmes, leading to a Bachelor's degree. They often include traineeships or work placements. Universities of professional education also offer a number of programmes that lead to a Master's degree.
With a Bachelor's degree from a university of professional education you will, in most cases, need to do a bridging programme of one year to enter a research university's MSc/MA programme.
Differences
Programmes of universities of professional education are more practice oriented while programmes at research universities are research focused. This is reflected in the different degrees awarded: a research university Bachelor's degree takes 3 years and graduates obtain the degree Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science (BA/BSc), depending on the discipline. A Bachelor programme at a University of professional education takes 4 years and graduates obtain a degree indicating the field of study, e.g. Bachelor of Engineering ( B.Eng.) or Bachelor of Nursing (B.Nursing).
To enter a Bachelor of Arts/Science programme at a research university students are required to have a Dutch VWO diploma, obtained after 6 years of pre-university education or its equivalent. The minimum for a university of professional education is a Dutch HAVO diploma, obtained after 5 years of general secondary education or its equivalent.
| Universities (Universiteiten) |
Universities of Professional Education/Applied Sciences (Hogescholen) |
| Research-oriented institutions of higher education |
Practice-oriented institutions of higher education |
| Ph.D: 4 years |
N/ A |
| Master of Arts / Science (degree: MA/ MSc/LL.M.): 1-2 years |
Master (degree: M): 1-2 years |
| Bachelor of Arts / Science (degree: BA/BSc): 3 years |
Bachelor (degree: B): 4 years |
All degree programmes offered by Dutch research universities and universities of professional education are accredited by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO).
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