Dutch taught programmes
Levels and degrees
Programmes taught in Dutch
Dutch universities offer programmes at the Bachelor (undergraduate), Master (graduate), and doctoral levels.
Bachelor's programmes
With the exception of the BSc programme in Economics & Business which is fully taught in English, all undergraduate degree programmes are taught in Dutch.
Academic level
The starting level of a Bachelor taught in Dutch is comparable to those in other Western European countries. Some foreign students have to do supplementary programmes before they are able to start a Bachelor in the Netherlands. When foreign students want to enrol, their previous diploma is compared with the official list of equivalent qualifications drawn up by the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The list is available on the website www.uva.nl/application.
The degrees awarded upon completion of a programme are a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc), depending on the discipline.
Master's programmes
Students who wish to do further academic work after their Bachelor can continue studying for another one or two years and receive a Master's degree.
Please be aware that extending the study period to do a Master can cause problems for international students, who are granted a residence permit to study for a maximum of five or six years.
The minimum entry requirement for Master programmes is a Bachelor’s degree (equivalent to at least three years of Dutch academic training) or an equivalent degree in a relevant field. Most Master’s programmes last one year. All science Masters last two years.
Most of the Master's programmes are taught in Dutch, but a growing number are fully in English.
The degrees awarded upon completion of a Master programme are Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Master of Laws (LLM), depending on the discipiline. Students who do not complete the programme requirements during their Master will receive an official transcript of their courses, but no degree.
Important:
As education systems vary considerably throughout the world, some Bachelor's degrees are seen as equivalent to three years of a Dutch university education, while others are seen as equivalent to two years or less. Also, because of variations in curriculum, international students sometimes have to take supplementary Bachelor courses before being admitted to a Master. This is referred to as a 'preparatory programme' ('schakelprogramma' in Dutch).
Professional Master's programmes
A professional Master's degree combines in-depth theoretical knowledge with practice-based learning, and lasts 1 to 2 years. The theoretical knowledge students acquire in class will be put into practice during a three to six month period of work experience. Graduates are awarded an MA or MSc.
Research Master’s programmes
These special Masters prepare students for careers in research and academically-related fields. Most of these programmes are fully taught in English. Students are selected on the basis of their motivation, research skills and previous academic results.
A research Master’s programme lasts one or two years, depending on the student’s academic background and the specific programme requirements. Admission is open to students with a Bachelor, or a Bachlor and a previous Master. Students entering with a Master are generally expected to complete the programme in a shorter time than students with only a Bachelor. Graduates receive an MA or MSc.
Advanced and Executive Master's programmes
These programmes are designed for specific groups of professionals who already hold a Master’s degree and seek to extend their knowledge of a certain discipline. In some cases, students with a Bachelor and two years of relevant work experience can also apply. These programmes last one year.
Advanced and Executive master's programmes are not financed by the Dutch government and as such the tuition fees are higher than for other Masters. Follow the link below for an overview of these programmes.