This guide decodes the essential terms you’ll need to know to study in Netherlands.
- Hoger Beroepsonderwijs (HBO) & (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs) WO: In the Netherlands, there are 2 types of higher education in the Netherlands:
- Higher professional education (HBO): HBO refers to universities of applied sciences focused on practical, career-oriented education. These degrees take four years with mandatory internships (240 ECTS).
- Research-oriented higher education (WO): WO refers to research universities focused on theory and independent study. WO bachelor’s take 3 years, leading to direct master’s access (180 ECTS).
- Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst (IND): The Immigration and Naturalisation Service is a government agency under the Ministry of Justice and Security. It processes visa, asylum, residence permit, and citizenship applications for foreign nationals, ensuring they meet legal requirements for living in the Netherlands.
- Nuffic: NUFFIC, the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education, provides information and support for internationalization in education, particularly in the Netherlands. It offers resources on Dutch higher education, including study programs, institutions, and the Dutch education system itself.
- MVV (Provisional Residence Permit): The MVV is an entry visa intended for persons who want to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. The MVV is a visa sticker (Type D) to be placed in your passport.
- NL Scholarship (Formerly known as Holland Scholarship): This scholarship is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science as well as several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. The scholarship amounts to € 5,000 and is received in the first year of your studies. Please note that this is not a full-tuition scholarship.
- Numerus Fixus (NF): For some study programmes the education institution has set a certain capacity, meaning that a limited number of places is available. This is called ‘numerus fixus’. If the number of students who apply exceeds the number of available places, a selection procedure will take place between 15 January and 15 April.
The application process therefore differs from that of regular study programmes and varies from university to university and will provide you with further information.
- Orientation Year (zoekjaar): The Orientation Year in the Netherlands is a one-year residence permit designed for recent international graduates, PhDs, and researchers (non-EEA) to find employment as highly skilled migrants or start a business. It provides 12 months to live and work freely without requiring employers to get a work permit.
- Residence Permit (verblijfsvergunning): A residence permit (VVR) in the Netherlands is an official document allowing non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals to live and work there for over 90 days. Issued by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), it is granted based on specific purposes like work, study, or family reunification, often requiring an MVV entry visa.
- Studielink: Studielink is the official registration and application portal for programmes at Dutch higher education institutions. If you have to apply via Studielink, make sure you do so before 15 January 23:59 hours (CET). One can only submit 4 applications, of which two are Numerus Fixus programs
- Tewerkstellingsvergunning (TWV): TW is a short-term work permit in the Netherlands for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, typically required for work lasting up to 90 days within a 180-day period or up to 24 weeks. It allows legal employment in sectors like seasonal work or short-term projects and must be applied for by the employer.
- University College: Dutch research universities established their University Colleges in response to a growing demand for a more holistic type of education. Students at University Colleges would not only study Liberal Arts and Sciences, they would live them, quite literally, by studying, living and working together with students from different cultural backgrounds and different disciplinary interests. The University Colleges in the Netherlands offer an English-taught bachelor’s programme in Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).
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