原文下载：http://www.nuffic.nl/pdf/service/factsh/he-bama.pdf

Higher education in the Netherlands:
the bachelor's-master's
degree structure
If you enrol in a degree programme at a Dutch university or hogeschool (university of professional
education), you will be confronted with the new bachelor's-master's degree structure, which is
being adopted throughout much of Europe as a way of making European higher education more
internationally comparable. This means it will be easier for you to complete a portion of your
higher education through study abroad, and after graduation you will find it easier to get a job
in another country on the basis of your diploma. It will also make it easier for foreign students
to study in the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, study programmes for bachelor's and master’s degrees will be accredited by
the Netherlands Accreditation Organization (NAO). Accreditation means that a study
programme has been examined and its quality and level have been approved. Degree
programmes accredited by the NAO are said to be ‘recognized’. All current degree programmes
that have been reviewed are accredited; by 31 December 2006, all new degree programmes will
have undergone this process and be accredited. It’s important to note that some master's
programmes offered in English are not yet officially accredited. Contact the institution in
question for further information.
BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMMES CLASSIFIED AS HBO (HOGER
BEROEPSONDERWIJS’ : HIGHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION)
A bachelor’s programme classified as higher professional education, or hbo, lasts four years.
Students who complete such a programme can either enter the workforce directly or follow up
their bachelor’s degree with a master’s. Most universities of higher professional education
(hogescholen) offer such master's programmes. If you prefer, you can enrol in a university (wo)
master's degree programme instead, but you will probably have to precede this with a transition
programme. This depends on the field and your bachelor's programme.
Degrees
Upon completion of an undergraduate degree programme in hbo, the degree of ‘Bachelor’ will be
awarded. The degree will usually include an indication of your field of study, for example
‘Bachelor of Physical Therapy’.
Upon completion of a graduate degree programme in hbo, the degree of Master will be awarded.
The degree will usually include an indication of your field of study, for example, Master of
Nursing.
BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES CLASSIFIED AS WO
(WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERWIJS’ : ACADEMIC UNIVERSITY EDUCATION)
Under the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure in the Netherlands, an academic university
education consists of an undergraduate and a graduate phase. At the undergraduate level,
students complete a broad, three-year programme for the bachelor’s degree. You can stop at this
point, but you can also go on to pursue a master’s degree at the graduate level. There are several
types of master’s degrees offered in academic disciplines in the Netherlands. They last from one to
two years and vary in admission requirements as well as in cost. For further information, contact
the institution in question.
Pursuit of a doctorate
After the master’s phase you can also go on to pursue a doctorate, a process known as promoveren.
At the end, you are awarded the degree ‘Doctor’. The first step is generally to apply for a position
as aio (assistent in opleiding) or oio (onderzoeker in opleiding). For four years you will work on your
dissertation under the supervision of a promotor.
Degrees
Bachelor’s degree
Upon completion of an undergraduate degree programme in an academic discipline, one of the
following degrees will be awarded. Which one depends on your field.
• Bachelor of Science (BSc): in engineering, science and agriculture
• Bachelor of Arts (BA): in all other fields
Your degree may also include the name of your field if you wish.
Master’s degree
Upon completion of a graduate degree programme in an academic discipline, one of the following
degrees will be awarded. Which one depends on your field:
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Master of Arts (MA)
Your degree may also include the name of your field if you wish.
SEMESTERS AND CREDITS
Under the new bachelor’s-master’s degree structure, an academic year has two semesters. Under
the old system most institutions had three trimesters. Under the old system you were required to
earn 42 study points a year. This has now been replaced by the internationally standardized
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). A bachelor’s degree programme classified as hbo requires
a total of 240 credits. For a university bachelor’s degree, 180 credits are needed. Master’s degree
programmes consist of either 60 or 120 credits.
[2]
Nuffic
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PO Box 29777
2502 LT The Hague
The Netherlands
Phone +31 (0)70 42 60 260
Fax +31 (0)70 42 60 399
E-mail nuffic@nuffic.nl
© Nuffic, November 2003
Nuffic, the Netherlands Organization for
International Cooperation in Higher
Education, was established in 1952.
Mission statement
Nuffic is a non-profit, professional
organization aimed at making education
accessible all over the world, especially
in countries where educational
infrastructure is lagging behind.
Education is crucial for fostering global
socio-economic development,
improving the quality of life, and
increasing intercultural understanding.
Nuffic strives to be the intermediary
between the education community of
the Netherlands and the international
community.
Nuffic’s main areas of activity are:
• Development cooperation
• Internationalization of higher
education
• International credential
evaluation
• Marketing of Dutch higher
education

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