Higher Education

The higher education system in the Netherlands works within a three-cycle system consisting of bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees, to standardize the teaching in both the HBO and the WO according to the Bologna process.

Higher education is offered at two levels:

• HBO (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs)
  • vocational education, universities of applied sciences
  • open to graduates of HAVO and VWO
  • oriented towards higher learning and professional training
• WO (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs)
  • academic education, University
  • only open for graduated VWO students
  • oriented towards higher learning in the arts or sciences

Many bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are in English.

Higher education in the Northern Netherlands

• Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Groningen)
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Leeuwarden, Meppel, Emmen, Groningen, Terschelling)
• Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (Leeuwarden)
• University of Groningen (Groningen, Leeuwarden)