With its strong service sector, the Netherlands occupies a special place in Europe. Nestled as it is between France, England and Germany, it offers opportunities to sample the influences of three of Europe's major cultures.

Not only does its geographic location make it a gateway to Europe, but also its accessibility, behind those dykes is a dynamic, modern society. The Netherlands' long tradition as a trading nation has given it an open, international society, where nearly everyone speaks English.

Thanks to various programmes of international cooperation, more and more foreign students are coming to the Netherlands to complete all or part of their studies, or to pursue a doctorate. Since the 1950s the Netherlands has offered courses conducted in English especially for the benefit of foreign students whose numbers are growing in regular degree programme enrolments. All of these students soon learn that higher education in the Netherlands means lots of opportunities but also lots of hard work. Students are expected to be critical of what they read and hear, and to be capable of working independently.

Continuous quality control

All education, from primary school all the way to the postgraduate-level research schools, is financed by the government, which also keeps an eye on standards through the education ministry's inspectorates. Internationally speaking, Dutch higher education has a good reputation. A person who has completed a programme of Dutch higher education has mastered the breadth and depth of theory they need to work creatively within their discipline. A large share of all study programmes is occupied with writing papers, working in groups to analyze and solve specific problems, acquiring practical work experience in internships, and conducting experiments in laboratories. There are close links between the world of work and the needs of society on the one hand, and higher education and research on the other.

Structure of higher education

The Netherlands has two main types of higher education: university education, and higher professional education, which is offered at hogescholen. The Dutch hogescholen present themselves abroad as 'universities of professional education'. The universities train students for the independent practice of science, whereas the hogescholen are more practice-oriented; they prepare students directly for careers.

At both universities and hogescholen the formal length of most study programmes is four years, although in some cases students are allowed more time than this. The starting level of Dutch higher education is high and the academic year is long, starting at the end of August and ending in mid-June. Programmes are designed to require 40 hours a week, including both contact hours and hours of independent work.

Besides regular four-year programmes at universities and hogescholen, the Netherlands has been offering another form of higher education for more than 40 years. Advanced courses are conducted in English in what is known as International Education, or IE. Many of these courses are offered at special IE institutions; some are offered by universities and hogescholen.

Universities

The Netherlands has 13 universities, which train students for the independent practice of science. The universities differ in the programmes they offer: nine offer education in a broad range of fields; three universities specialize mainly in engineering; and one specializes in agriculture.

The basic courses of the first year, known as the propedeuse, provide a general introduction to the chosen field and lay the foundation for the increasingly specialized subsequent years. As students progress, they have more freedom to choose their subjects. The final requirement is a thesis based on the student's own research.

There is only one degree before the doctorate: the doctoraal. Graduates of a doctoraal programme may use the title doctorandus (drs), ingenieur (ir) or meester (mr). ‘Ir’ is the title in engineering and agriculture, ‘mr’ is the title in law, and ‘drs’ is used in all other fields. Dutch university graduates also have the right to use the internationally more familiar title ‘Master’. University titles are legally protected in the Netherlands, conferred only by recognized institutions that meet the same standards. The nearest equivalents to a doctoraal degree are the master's degree in Britain, the Diplom in Germany and the Maîtrise/DEA in France.

For foreign students with a degree equivalent to a doctoraal, such as a British master's degree, the universities offer the possibility of pursuing a doctorate and obtaining the doctor's graad, the title of which is abbreviated to ‘dr’. Normally this takes four years and consists of conducting independent research and writing a dissertation.

Higher Professional Education (HBO)

Higher professional education, or Hoger Beroeps Onderwijs (HBO), is practice-oriented. There are some 70 hogescholen in the Netherlands, enrolling a total of some 260,000 students and offering a variety of full-time and part-time programmes in several sectors.

An HBO study programme consists of a foundation phase known as the propedeuse, followed by a main phase. An essential component of all HBO programmes is the internship or work placement, through which students acquire practical experience in real work situations. The fourth year is taken up mainly by an individual project and thesis.

HBO graduates may use the title baccalaureus, abbreviated to ‘bc’. In engineering, technology and agriculture, the title is ingenieur (ing.). Dutch HBO graduates also have the right to use the title of Bachelor. Like university titles, HBO titles are protected by law and may be conferred only by recognized institutions.

Advanced programmes are available in virtually all sectors of HBO, lasting anywhere between two weeks and two years. Some lead to postgraduate diplomas, and some to accredited master's degrees. The latter are often conferred in cooperation with a British university.

International Education in English

English as the second language of the Dutch, contributed to the creation of a special product that combines science with the transfer of knowledge. International Education is meant primarily for people at postgraduate level who already have some professional experience. Many of these courses are offered at special IE institutions; some are offered by universities and hogescholen. The Netherlands has almost 400 different courses and study programmes, which each year enroll just over 4500 participants.

Curricula are intensive, at an advanced level, practice-oriented, conducted in English and designed to meet the expectations of students seeking specialized knowledge. Most of the courses are in disciplines in which the Netherlands has long played a leading role. The ones that are particularly well known around the world include courses in management studies, the agricultural sciences, astronomy, medicine, civil engineering, remote sensing, and the arts.

IE courses last anywhere from a few weeks to four years. Most IE courses lead to a diploma; a number of the longer courses lead to a master's degree; and at some IE institutions one can earn a PhD.

The institutions offering these courses have been looking after foreign students for many years, and they know how to help them adjust to living and studying in another country.

Information

Nuffic publishes the Study in the Netherlands Magazine annually, in which you can find more detailed information about the advantages of coming to the Netherlands for a period of study. The information is appealingly presented, and objective as well as complete. All courses and grant possibilities are listed.

Further information:

Nuffic, Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education , Kortenaerkade 11, P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT , The Hague
phone: +31- 70 - 4260 260 - fax: +31- 70 - 4260 399
email: nuffic@nuffic.nl
http://www.nuffic.nl.

This article first appeared in TransWorld Education