Third-level education, as it is known in the Netherlands, is offered at vocational level (HBO, at a ‘university of applied sciences' or hogeschool) and at academic level (WO, at a university or universiteit). Bachelor's and Master's degrees are available at both HBO and WO institutions but you can only do a PhD at a (WO) university. There's a huge range of courses taught in English (around 1,300). You can see what's available and where on the Nuffic (Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education) website (www.nuffic.nl) which includes extensive information about the Dutch higher education system. Institutions are either government funded or government approved. There are also privately financed institutions that are not recognised. The accreditation organisation is NVAO (www.nvao.net).

HBO

Around 370,000 students are enrolled at 44 ‘universities of applied sciences' or hogescholen, which provide general courses or specific study in one of seven sectors: agriculture, engineering and technology, economics and business administration, healthcare, fine and performing arts, education/teacher training and social welfare. For more information, visit www.hbo-raad.nl.

WO

There are 14 research universities with around 205,000 students involved in intensive academic studies. For more information, visit www.mastersportal.eu, www.studyin.nl and www.vsnu.nl.

Costs

Fees depend on your nationality and age. There's an EU fee for EU/EEA nationals, which is set by the Dutch government. Otherwise you pay the institutional fee (three or four times higher). The fees at private institutions can be substantially higher.

How to apply

There are nearly 50,000 international students studying in the Netherlands-Germany is top of the international student list-and information on fees, qualifications and study programmes is widely available in English. Students should first contact the institution offering the course, which will specify what education qualifications are required for admission. A quota system is in place for oversubscribed courses; places are allocated by lottery. At www.studielink.nl you can apply online for third-level courses which are subsidised by the Dutch Ministry of Education.

University programmes consist of a Bachelor's or undergraduate phase lasting three years and a Master's or graduate phase lasting one to two years. As many Dutch universities have partner institutions in other countries, students can study part of their course abroad.

 
Qualification accreditation

Diplomas and certificates awarded overseas need to be accredited by the Dutch authorities. Often the school where you have applied takes care of this. If not, you can check IDW Internationale Diplomawaardering (www.idw.nl) for information. Check with the institute to see if costs are involved. Non-native English speakers are required to pass an English language test at a specified level, most commonly the TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Test.

Education links

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science: www.minocw.nl

Educaide: EDUCAIDE, International Education Solution House: www.educaide.nl (contact: Willemijn van Oppen-Stuyt).

Eurydice: www.eurydice.org

Detailed information on the Dutch education system.

Colo: www.colo.nl

Portal for vocational training.

IB-Groep: www.ib-groep.nl

Information about studying and funding.

IDW: www.idw.nl

Non-Dutch diploma evaluation.

Nuffic: www.nuffic.nl

Everything you need to know about higher education in the Netherlands.

Masters: www.mastersportal.eu

SIO: www.sio.nl

Foundation for International Education in the Netherlands.

Studielink: www.studielink.nl

Apply online.

 Eurogates: http://www.eurogates.nl/

information about studying in the Netherlands.

For more information on student life in the Netherlands, visit our Higher education section. Students will find essential information about living, studying and working in the Netherlands as well as the tools to build up a new social network--and click on article The Dutch higher education system explained.

Come explore the 2012 Expat Education Fair!

Everything you need to know about education in the Netherlands.

Expatica's Expat Education Fair offers free resources, information and networking opportunities to internationals living in the Netherlands under one roof and in one day. This first-of-its-kind event takes place in Hotel Krasnapolsky , Amsterdam on Saturday 24 March from 14:00 to 18:00. Entrance is free as long as tickets are ordered online. Read more.....