Update August 2018

The Dutch education system

The higher education system in the Netherlands is based on a three-cycle
degree system, consisting of a bachelor, master and PhD. Two types of
programmes are offered: research-oriented degree programmes offered by
research universities, and professional higher education programmes offered
by universities of applied sciences.

Research Most master’s degrees offered

universities by research universities require
completion of 60-90 credits. Those
Third cycle in engineering, mathematics,
higher natural sciences, and agriculture
require 120 credits, in pharmacy,
education dentistry, medicine and veterinary
Doctorate
(PhD) medicine 180 credits.
Some research universities offer
PDEng 2-year professional doctorate
(120 credits)
programmes in engineering (PDEng).

Most master’s degrees offered by

universities of applied sciences
require completion of between 60
and 120 credits. Programmes in
Second cycle Medicine, dentistry, Universities of
veterinary med., architecture, urban planning and
higher pharmacy (180 credits)
applied sciences landscape architecture require
education completion of 240 credits.
MA/MSc MA/MSc/LLM
(120 credits) MBA/MSW/MEd/ MM
Students with a vwo diploma may
MA/MSc/LLM be exempted from one year of study
(60 -240 credits)
(60-90 credits) at universities of applied sciences.

First cycle
BA/BSc/LLB
higher BA/BSc/LLB BBA/BSW/BEd/BM
education, Universities of
including (180 credits) (240 credits) applied sciences
short cycle
Associate’s degree
(120 credits)

Level 4,
Senior secondary
3-4 years

Vocational education Level 3,

and training (mbo) 2-4 years

Level 2,
(1-4 years)
2-3 years

Level 1,
0.5-1 years

Secondary University Senior general Preparatory

education preparatory secondary vocational
education education secondary
(vwo) (havo) education (vmbo)

6 years 5 years 4 years

Primary
Primary education 8 years
education
A solid arrow ( ) indicates a right to access.
A dotted arrow ( ) indicates that some form of selection or bridging requirement may be applied.