Dutch universities
Encyclopedia
Dutch universities are supported by state funding (with the exception of University Nyenrode
) so that universities
do not have to rely on private funding to facilitate tuition. All citizens of the Netherlands
who complete high school at the pre-academic level (vwo
) or have a professional
bachelor's degree at hbo level are eligible to attend university. Special programs exist to make it possible for college students to enter a university as well. Three universities (Leiden, Utrecht
and Groningen
) have restrictive requirements based on academic ability; and all universities have restrictive requirements for some of their programs because the number of prospective students sometimes outnumbers the number of available places.
Many Dutch students attend universities relatively far from their parental homes (in contrast to Universities in Italy
and Spain
for example), although scarcity of accommodation sometimes forces students to commute. As a compensation for this, Dutch students normally receive a card (OV-kaart) that allows them to use public transport for free during one part of the week and with a discount during the other part. Waiting lists for student accommodation in the Netherlands can be more than a year, particularly in Utrecht
and Amsterdam
.
Quality differences between Dutch universities are generally small and the best university in one subject can be the worst in another. This is one of the reasons why none of them tend to end in the top tier of international university ranking systems. All of them, however, score well above average.
Dutch universities used to offer only 4 or 5 year courses. Since 2002 most of them now offer 3 year undergraduate programmes, leading towards a bachelor's degree, and 1 or 2 years Master's programmes. Old habits remain, however, and a large majority of university students enroll on master's courses. To confuse matters, students attending polytechnics (colleges of higher professional education) also obtain a bachelor's degree, only the programmes in these institutes usually take 4 years.
Higher Education Institutions
Nyenrode Business Universiteit
Nyenrode Business Universiteit, also spelled as Nijenrode, is a Dutch business school and the only private university in the Netherlands. Founded in 1946, it is located on a large estate in the town of Breukelen, between Amsterdam and Utrecht.-History:...
) so that universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
do not have to rely on private funding to facilitate tuition. All citizens of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
who complete high school at the pre-academic level (vwo
Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs
Voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs or pre-university secondary education is the highest variant in the secondary educational system of the Netherlands. After leaving elementary school students are enrolled in different types of secondary schools, according to their academic ability...
) or have a professional
Vocational university
A vocational university is an institution of higher education and sometimes research, which provides both tertiary and sometimes quaternary education and grants academic degrees at all levels in a variety of subjects...
bachelor's degree at hbo level are eligible to attend university. Special programs exist to make it possible for college students to enter a university as well. Three universities (Leiden, Utrecht
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
and Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
) have restrictive requirements based on academic ability; and all universities have restrictive requirements for some of their programs because the number of prospective students sometimes outnumbers the number of available places.
Many Dutch students attend universities relatively far from their parental homes (in contrast to Universities in Italy
Italian universities
Many of the world's oldest universities are located in Italy, in particular the University of Bologna , the University of Padua, founded in 1222, or the University of Naples, founded in 1224 and the most ancient state university in Europe. Universities are supported by state funding so that...
and Spain
Spanish universities
There are 73 universities in Spain, most of which are supported by state funding. 23 Spanish universities are private, of which 7 are affiliated with the Catholic Church.Former degrees were:*Licenciatura or ingeniería, can last four or five years....
for example), although scarcity of accommodation sometimes forces students to commute. As a compensation for this, Dutch students normally receive a card (OV-kaart) that allows them to use public transport for free during one part of the week and with a discount during the other part. Waiting lists for student accommodation in the Netherlands can be more than a year, particularly in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
Quality differences between Dutch universities are generally small and the best university in one subject can be the worst in another. This is one of the reasons why none of them tend to end in the top tier of international university ranking systems. All of them, however, score well above average.
Dutch universities used to offer only 4 or 5 year courses. Since 2002 most of them now offer 3 year undergraduate programmes, leading towards a bachelor's degree, and 1 or 2 years Master's programmes. Old habits remain, however, and a large majority of university students enroll on master's courses. To confuse matters, students attending polytechnics (colleges of higher professional education) also obtain a bachelor's degree, only the programmes in these institutes usually take 4 years.
See also
- List of universities in the Netherlands
- Education in the NetherlandsEducation in the NetherlandsEducation in the Netherlands is characterized by division: education is orientated toward the needs and background of the pupil. Education is divided over schools for different age groups, some of which are divided in streams for different educational levels...
- Academic degrees
- UniversityUniversityA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
- British universitiesBritish universitiesUniversities in the United Kingdom have generally been instituted by Royal Charter, Papal Bull, Act of Parliament or an instrument of government under the Education Reform Act 1988; in any case generally with the approval of the Privy Council, and only such recognised bodies can award degrees of...
- French universitiesFrench universitiesFor French universities, see:*Grandes écoles*List of universities in France*List of public universities in France by academy...
- Italian universitiesItalian universitiesMany of the world's oldest universities are located in Italy, in particular the University of Bologna , the University of Padua, founded in 1222, or the University of Naples, founded in 1224 and the most ancient state university in Europe. Universities are supported by state funding so that...
- Spanish universitiesSpanish universitiesThere are 73 universities in Spain, most of which are supported by state funding. 23 Spanish universities are private, of which 7 are affiliated with the Catholic Church.Former degrees were:*Licenciatura or ingeniería, can last four or five years....
- US universities
- British universities
External links
- Search for officially recognised programmes in the Netherlands
- Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders/Belgium (NVAO)
- Studychoice, an overview and comparison of all studies of the universities in the Netherlands
- Directory and Ranking of the Netherlands
Higher Education Institutions