Short Courses in Netherlands

The Netherlands have two main types of higher education: Universities and universities of professional education. Universities focus on the independent practice of research-oriented work in an academic or professional setting. Universities of professional education are more practically-oriented, preparing students directly for specific careers. A third, smaller branch of higher education is provided by Institutes for International Education, which offer programmes designed especially for international students.

Universities

There are 14 government-funded universities in The Netherlands, three of which specialize in engineering, one in agriculture and one Open University. These institutions essentially train students in academic study and research, although many study programmes also have a professional component and most graduates actually find work outside the research community. The universities vary in size, with enrolments ranging from 6,000 to 30,000. Altogether they enroll some 215,000 students.

Universities of professional education

The study programmes offered by universities of professional education (hogescholen) focus on the practical application of knowledge. Acquiring practical work experience through internships is an integral part of professional study programmes. The country has 45 government-funded universities of professional education. The largest enroll 20,000 to 39,000 students. Altogether some 365,000 students are enrolled on professional programmes.

Institutes for International Education

The Netherlands have been offering another form of higher education for more than 50 years: advanced courses taught in English in what is known as `international education´. There are five large IE institutes and a number of smaller ones which all focus on development oriented courses, based on working in small, intercultural groups and the exchange of knowledge, facilitated by teachers with extensive experience of working in developing countries.

Tuition fees

Education in The Netherlands is not free, but tuition fees are reasonable compared to other countries. The annual tuition fees for enrolment on a degree programme or course at a Dutch higher education institution start at approximately 1,500 euro for EU students. The costs of programmes or courses for non-EU students are generally higher.

Way of teaching

Respect for each individual´s opinions and convictions is a national virtue that gives strength to the fabric of the Dutch diverse and plural society. This is the foundation of the teaching method used at the Dutch educational institutions.

The teaching style can be described as interactive and student-centred, providing students with the attention and freedom they need to develop their own opinions and creativity in applying their newly acquired knowledge. The Netherlands have received international acclaim for its groundbreaking Problem-Based Learning system, which trains students to analyze and solve practical problems independently through emphasis on self-study and self-discipline. A large portion of all study programmes is dedicated to writing papers, working in groups to analyze and solve specific problems, acquiring practical work experience through internships, and conducting experiments in laboratories.

Higher education in The Netherlands enjoys a worldwide reputation for its high quality. This is achieved through a national system of regulation and quality assurance.

Accreditation and Quality Control

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is responsible for legislation pertaining to education. Responsibility for accreditation has been allocated to the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders. Students will be awarded recognized degrees only after completing an accredited degree programme. Only degree programmes can be accredited by the NVAO. Accredited programmes will be listed in the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes (CROHO). Institutions may also offer bachelor´s, master´s or other programmes that have not been accredited by the NVAO, but by a body in another country. For example a master´s programme may be offered by a Dutch university of professional education, but validated by an accredited British university. .

Accreditation of degree programmes

A degree programme leads to a bachelor´s, master´s or PhD degree. The system of accreditation in higher education aims to guarantee that study programmes meet the highest standards. The law (the Higher Education and Research Act) requires that all degree programmes offered by universities and universities of professional education be evaluated against a specific set of criteria. Bachelor´s and master´s programmes that meet the criteria are accredited by the NVAO (i.e. officially recognized). PhD programmes are the responsibility of the university concerned and cannot be accredited by the NVAO.

Code of Conduct

On 1 May 2006, the Code of Conduct with respect to international students in Dutch higher education came into effect. This Code sets out standards for Dutch higher education institutions in their dealings with international students. By signing the Code of Conduct, the institutions are offering international students a guarantee of the quality of their programmes, student recruitment, selection and counselling procedures. Only institutions that have signed up to the Code are allowed to recruit international students. This Code of Conduct is an initiative of the Dutch institutions. The Code of Conduct requires educational institutions to provide timely, reliable and easily accessible information to international students about their study programmes. Specifically, this includes information such as accreditation status, quality, admission requirements as well as many more important rules and procedures for international students. The information provided by the educational institutions to international students on the basis of the Code of Conduct must be in English, in the language used for the study programme, or in the native language of the international student. The educational institution must make clear what services it provides to international students, such as help with obtaining a visa and a residence permit, housing, introduction sessions and student counselling. In their information materials, educational institutions must specify clearly what services they offer and what the associated costs are.
Students from outside the EU, seeking a course at an institution of higher education that has not signed the Code of Conduct, will not be able to obtain visas. This website provides a list of the institutions that have signed the Code and also provides information on what to do if you feel that your institution is not meeting the terms of the Code of Conduct.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to a programme of higher study, foreign students should first contact the institution that offers the programme. The main requirement for admission to a bachelor´s programme is a secondary-school diploma at the appropriate level. Foreign students must have a diploma judged equivalent to the minimum diploma required. There are also study programmes - in the arts for example - for which institutions set their own additional requirements. For admission to a master´s degree programme, applicants must have at least a bachelor´s degree or its equivalent. In certain popular fields, the number of places is limited and quotas are set.

Language requirements

It is essential for foreign students to be able to speak, read and write English well. Students must have passed an English language test. IELTS and TOEFL are commonly accepted, but institutions may accept other tests as well. The required scores are at least 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based) for TOEFL. For IELTS a score of at least 6 is required. Language requirements for individual programmes or courses may vary.

Why Study in Netherlands?

Practical Information

Insurance

Dutch law requires everyone living in The Netherlands to be covered by health insurance. Students must make sure that they have adequate cover.

Business Hours

Shops

Most shops are open from Tuesday to Friday between 9:00 and 18:00, on Saturdays between 9:00 - 17:00. On Monday, many shops are closed in the mornings and open between 11.00 and 13.00 and close at 18:00. Most cities have late-night shopping (until 21:00) on Thursdays or Fridays. In the main cities, many shops are open on Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. In most holiday and tourist resorts many shops are open at night, too. For business hours on Sundays or late night shopping, please call a local tourist information office in the city of your destination.

Banks

Business hours differ between banks. Most banks are open from Tuesday to Friday between 9:00 - 16:00. On Mondays business hours start mainly at 13:00. On Saturdays and Sundays banks are closed. GWK (Exchange) offices are open 7 days a week.

Post offices

Regular post offices are open from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 and 17:00. Bigger ones are also open on Saturdays between 9:00 and 13:00.

Pharmacies

Regular business hours are Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 18.00. On nights and weekends, pharmacies are open on a rotation schedule. When you are prescribed medication outside office hours, ask for the nearest open pharmacy.

Restaurants

Business hours vary, but usually restaurants are open for lunch from 11:00 - 15:00 and for dinner from 17:30 - 23:00. Many restaurants are closed on Mondays.

Museums

Business hours vary, however, most museums are open from 10 :00 - 17:00 every day of the week, except Mondays.

Communication

Telephone

The international calling code for the Netherlands is 31. The outbound international prefix is 00, so to call the US, substitute 001 for +1.

The cellular phone network in the Netherlands is GSM 900/1800. The cell phone networks are operated by KPN, Telfort (owned by KPN), Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile; other operators use one of these 5 networks. The networks are high quality and cover every corner of the Netherlands. With the exception of some low-end service providers, all mobile operators support GPRS. KPN and Vodafone offer UMTS service in some parts of Holland.

There are few public phone booths left in the Netherlands. They are mostly found at train stations. Telfort booths accept coins, whereas most KPN booths only accept prepaidcards or creditcard.

Directory Inquiries can be reached on 118. Rates differ by operator, but are usually rather high, more than 1 euro per call, as well as per-second charges. Beginning 2007, 118 will be phased out by 18xy numbers (in a transitional period, a taped message on 118 will refer to the new numbers, yet to be announced). Phone numbers can also be found on the internet, free of charge, on De Telefoongids.nl or Nationale Telefoongids.nl.

0800 numbers are toll-free and for 09xx numbers are charged at premium rates. Mobile phones have numbers in the 06 range, and calls to cell phones are also priced at higher rates.

If you're bringing your own (GSM) cell phone, using your existing plan to call (or receive calls) whilst in The Netherlands can be very expensive due to "roaming" charges. It's cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card to insert into your GSM phone, or even to buy a very cheap pay-as-you-go card+phone bundle. Lebara and Ortel are providers that specialize in cheap rates to foreign countries targets those traveling through multiple countries.

Receiving phone calls on a cell phone using a Dutch SIM card is free; charges apply if you're using a foreign SIM card, as the call is theoretically routed through your country of origin.

Internet

Internet cafes can be found in most cities; usually they also provide international calling booths. Many public libraries provide internet access. Wireless internet access using wifi is becoming increasingly popular and is available in many hotels, pubs, stations and on Schiphol, either for free, or at extortionate prices through one of the national "networks" of hotspots.

Health

Good medical facilities are widely available. Emergency medical response can be accessed by calling 1-1-2. Reputable pharmacies are widely available and can assist with emergency prescription needs. Some common medications are not available in The Netherlands without a prescription, and some prescription drugs cannot be mailed into the country.

National Holidays

January 1st: New Year's Day (Dutch: 'Nieuwjaarsdag').

Most shops and museums are closed on this day.

March/April: Easter (Dutch: 'Pasen').

The Dutch celebrate two days of Easter: on Sunday and the subsequent Monday. Most shops are closed on this Monday.

April 30th: Queen's day (Dutch: Koninginnedag).

Queen's Day is a national holiday in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba on 30 April or on 29 April if the 30th is a Sunday. Queen's Day celebrates the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands and is supposed to be a day of national unity and "togetherness" (Dutch: saamhorigheid).

Queen's Day is known for its "freemarket" (Dutch: vrijmarkt) all over the country, where everybody is allowed to sell things in the streets. The biggest one is in Amsterdam . Other activities during Queen's Day are children's games, individual musical performances, and music concerts. The night before Queen's Day is celebrated too in most cities, and this is called Queen's Night (Dutch: Koninginnenacht). The largest celebration of Queen's Day is in Amsterdam, Queen's Night in The Hague and Queen's Dance (Dutch: Koninginnedans) in Rotterdam. During the celebrations as reference to the colours of the House of Orange-Nassau, people dress in the colour orange, which is sometimes called "orange craze" (Dutch: oranjegekte).

May 4th: Remembrance of the dead (Dutch: Dodenherdenking).

Remembrance of the Dead (Dutch: Dodenherdenking) is held annually on May 4 in the Netherlands. It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of World War II.

Traditionally, the main ceremonies are observed in Amsterdam at the national monument on Dam Square. This ceremony is usually attended by members of the cabinet and the royal family, military leaders, representatives of the resistance movement and other social groups. At 20:00, two minutes of silence are observed throughout the Netherlands. Public transport is stopped, as well as all other traffic. Radio and TV only broadcast the ceremonies from 19.00 until 20.30.

May 5th: Liberation day (Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag).

In the Netherlands, Liberation Day (Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag) is celebrated each year on 5 May, to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II.

At eleven places in the Netherlands this day is celebrated by music and activities, called 'freedom festivals'.

40 days after Easter: Ascension Day (Dutch: Hemelvaartsdag).

On this Thursday most shops are closed.

7 weeks after Easter: Pentecost (Dutch: Pinksteren).

The Dutch celebrate two days of Pentecost (on Sunday and the subsequent Monday). Most shops are closed on this Monday.

August 15th : celebration of the end of the occupation by Japan of the Dutch East Indies (now: Indonesia), rememberance day for all the victims, especially those who suffered in the Japanese concentration camps. The official celebration takes place in The Hague , at a monument at Prof. B.M. Teldersweg. It is not an official day off. See for more information website:

www.ww2museums.com/article/4678/The-Dutch-East-Indies-Memorial.htm

December 5th: Saint Nicholas' Eve (Dutch: Sinterklaasavond).

A predecessor of Santa Claus, Sinterklaas gives presents to the children. This is not an official holiday but it is widely observed and celebrated within the family.

Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and 5 December, before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the fireplace chimney of the coal fired stove or fireplace, or, in modern times, next to the central heating. The shoe is to have a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water "for Sinterklaas' horse," and the children sing a Sinterklaas song; the next day they will find some candy or a small present in their shoes.

December 25th and December 26th: Christmas (Dutch: Kerstmis).

The Dutch celebrate two days of Christmas: Eerste Kerstdag (the first day of Christmas) and Tweede Kerstdag (the second day of Christmas). Most shops and museums are closed on these days.

Time

The Netherlands are in the same time zone as France, Spain, Germany and Italy, which is GMT +1. In spring the clock will be put an hour ahead and in autumn time will be set back again. In 2009 this Daylight Saving Time has started at 29 March and will end 25 October.

The rule is to start it during the last weekend in March and to end it during the last weekend of October. This is in coordination with all the EU other countries.

Transportation

The railway network is very complex and it allows to travel fast, in good conditions and at affordable prices. If you want to go around the whole country, driving remains the best solution. There is no age restriction if you wish to rent a car.

The bravest among you will opt for cycling, and fortunately there are many cycling paths all across the country, the distances are fairly short and the relief quite flat, typically Dutch! To go to places within the city, buses, underground trains and tramways are at your disposal.

Relevant Links

Nuffic: For more information, www.nuffic.nl

Studiechoice123.nl: an easy-to-use website that guides you step-by-step through 450 English taught bachelors and master's degree programmes in the Netherlands. The result is a clearly presented personal comparison of study programmes. For a personal comparison of university programmes in the Netherlands: www.studychoice123.nl

Eurogates.nl: Everything about study in Holland: scholarships, study programmes, student stories and the latest news from Universities in Holland.