Holland, or more formally the Netherlands, is an internationally oriented and innovative country located at a central spot in Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and the North Sea to the north and west.

This small country lies at the point where the German, British and French cultures meet. Once you have arrived in Holland, you will discover that many European capitals are within easy reach. Brussels is two hours away by train, Paris takes only five hours and a short flight from Amsterdam will take you to London, Madrid or Berlin.

With just 16 million inhabitants, it is characterized by a multicultural and international orientation. Its tulip fields and windmills are famous the world over. The country's broad cultural diversity has helped it to develop as a place where knowledge and ideas from all over the world converge. The Dutch 'knowledge system' has an international reputation for innovation.

The Netherlands is an increasingly popular study destination for students from around the world who are looking to earn a bachelor's or master's degree. Dutch higher education institutions together offer more than 1,500 international study programmes taught entirely in English. This makes Holland the front-runner in continental Europe. Holland was the first non-English-speaking country to offer courses taught in English. English is widely used as a second language in the Netherlands, making it easy for people from other countries to study in the Netherlands.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/studyinholland

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http://www.youtube.com/user/jkjmsparla

Excellent education and research

The Dutch system of higher education enjoys a worldwide reputation for high quality. This quality is achieved through a national system of regulation and quality assurance. The Times Higher Education rankings even list 11 universities in Holland among the top-200 in the world! Holland has also received international acclaim for its groundbreaking Problem-Based Learning system, which trains students to analyze and solve practical problems independently through an emphasis on self-study and self-discipline.

International study environment

For a small country like Holland, an international orientation – also when it comes to education and training – is a must for survival in our increasingly internationalized world.

The Dutch education system is interactive and focuses on teamwork, which makes it easy for you to meet other international students. Studying in Holland means developing an open mind and increasing your international orientation. Dutch higher education is a world leader in areas like business administration, agricultural studies, water management, civil engineering, medicine, remote sensing and arts & design.

Value for Money

Education in Holland is not free, but tuition fees are reasonable compared to other countries. In Holland, higher education is subsidized, which means that tuition fees can be kept relatively low, especially compared with the United Kingdom and the United States!

But why Holland?

Studying abroad is a great way to gain international experience. Because there are so many international students in the Netherlands, studying here helps you learn to work with people from a broad range of different backgrounds and deal effectively with cultural differences. The Netherlands appeals to international students and scientists because the government actively promotes internationalisation of the higher education system and scientific research. The Bachelor's-Master's degree system has been introduced to optimise alignment with higher education internationally; the Netherlands has international classrooms where Dutch and foreign students take part in the same study programmes.

The Dutch education system places a central focus on the student and promotes extensive interaction. Students have a great deal of freedom to develop their own opinions and creativity, and to put the knowledge they have acquired into practice. Students are trained to analyse and solve practical problems independently. At the same time, students work closely with other students and with businesses. A significant percentage of most study programmes consists of writing papers, working in groups, going on work placements and conducting research.

The system

A university of applied sciences (hogeschool) offers professionally oriented study programmes: after a four-year study you are ready to enter the labour market. At a university of applied sciences you acquire knowledge that will be of practical use to you. Gaining work experience is an important part of a higher professional education (HBO) study programme. Work placements give you the opportunity to learn how to apply theoretical knowledge in practice. The entry requirement for a university of applied sciences is at least a senior general secondary education (HAVO) diploma or a level 4 senior secondary vocational education (MBO-4) diploma.

At a research university (universiteit), you learn how to analyse complex issues and how to conduct your own academic research. Studying at a research university is very different to learning at school. Compared to an HBO study programme, research universities offer less structure and more freedom. You yourself are responsible for the course that your studies take. You have a great deal of freedom when choosing your main and subsidiary subjects. As well as lots of independent learning, you must have the self-discipline to ensure that you attend your lectures and pass your exams. WO is a common abbreviation for academic higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs): this refers to the study programmes offered at a research university.

Private higher education

There are a few dozen private universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands like the New Business School Amsterdam and a number of private research universities, the best known being Nyenrode Business Universiteit. Private institutions are not funded by the government, however they have their study programmes approved (accredited). Students taking accredited study programmes may be eligible to receive a student grant or loan. The tuition fees are higher than those of government-funded study programmes.

Bachelor's and Master's programmes

The Bachelor's-Master's structure was introduced at universities of applied sciences and research universities in the Netherlands in 2002. This means that the study programme consists of two phases: a Bachelor's phase and a Master's phase. The Bachelor's phase at a university of applied sciences lasts for four years. At a research university the Bachelor's degree programme takes three years, and a Master's programme is a logical continuation. This Master's phase lasts for one or two years (or sometimes up to 3.5 years). Most Master's degree programmes are offered by research universities, however some are also offered by universities of applied sciences.

Progressing from a Bachelor's programme to a Master's programme

Once you have obtained a WO Bachelor's degree, you can immediately move on to a WO Master's degree. You can choose from a range of Master's programmes, at the same research university or at another research university in the Netherlands or abroad. An HBO Bachelor's degree also enables you to progress to a Master's programme at a research university, however in many cases you must first take a 'transitional programme' or preparatory programme.

Titles

Bachelor is an international title that you are awarded following the successful completion of a Bachelor's study programme at a university of applied sciences or research university. You can use the title of bachelor after your name, for example: BEc (Bachelor of Economics), BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science). Master is also an international title that you use after your name: MSc (Master of Science).

Why was the Bachelor's-Master's structure introduced?

The European education ministers wanted to make it easier to compare higher education study programmes within Europe. They signed the Bologna Declaration in 1999 to this end, resulting in the introduction of a single education system across Europe consisting of two phases: a Bachelor's phase and a Master's phase. The advantage is that you have more options. A Bachelor's diploma gives you access to a wide range of Master's degree programmes in the Netherlands and abroad. As it is easier to compare the diplomas at an international level, it is also easier to spend a period studying or working abroad.