Higher Education Systems - Netherlands

Higher education in The Netherlands is organized at two levels:

• scientific education (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs, WO) – at Universities (Universiteiten)
• higher vocational education (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs, HBO) – at UAS (Hogescholen).

The Bachelor-Master system is used in Dutch higher education. Course loads are expressed in terms of the ECTS.

Informatics at Universities

Bachelor’s programs at Universities span three years (180 ECTS). For admission, a diploma of pre-university education (VWO) is necessary. There are additional requirements regarding the presence of an elective mathematics subject in the student’s secondary school exam. A Bachelor’s program contains a thesis (typically 9—15 ECTS), often written in parallel with courses. A practical internship is usually not required.

Master's programs are typically research-oriented and two years in duration (120 ECTS). In the second year a substantial MSc project is carried out, completed by a MSc thesis. Some one-year Master’s programs exist (60 ECTS), in applied areas. MSc projects are carried out internally, in a research group at the university, 
or externally, on selected projects in companies.

For admission, a University Bachelor’s degree is necessary. Additional requirements apply for admission with a related Bachelor’s degree, or for admission to specific tracks within a Master’s program.

Students with a vocational Bachelor’s degree in an Informatics-related discipline are usually required to complete an additional pre-Master’s program in order to be admitted to a University Master.

PhD Candidates in the Netherlands are not regarded as students, but are normally employed by the university as "promovendus" (PhD Researcher) with mainly research tasks and some teaching duties. For admission to the PhD examination, a Master’s degree (or equivalent) is required. After their manuscript is approved by their PhD supervisor, PhD Candidates submit a thesis, which is examined by a reading committee, typically consisting of 4-5 qualified members. After approval there is a public defence in front of a bigger committee including the reading committee.

Informatics at Universities of Applied Sciences

Education at this level concerns mostly Bachelor’s programs. There are only a few ‘professional Master’s’ programs. Awarding PhDs is restricted to Universities.

Vocational Bachelor’s programs span four years (240 ECTS). For admission, a diploma of senior general secondary education (HAVO) is necessary. For Technical Informatics, a specific elective mathematics subject is required to be part of the student’s exam.

Vocational Bachelor’s programs are practice oriented. The programs contain an internship (usually about 30 ECTS, including a thesis or internship report).