NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

II. Qualifications and diplomas
II.1. Qualifications for admission to
higher education
The most common qualifications for admission to the first year of higher education are secondary school diplomas. These
diplomas are published by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, but issued by the school. The diploma is signed by
the director of the school and countersigned by the State inspector present for the written part of the examination. The various
types of schools which offer courses leading to these diplomas are laid down by law, as are the <strong>guide</strong>lines for the school
curriculum.
There are no requirements for admission to the open university other than a minimum age of 18.
All qualifications discussed in II.1.1 and II.1.2 give admission to HBO and some give admission to university education.
General information applicable to both HBO and university admission, such as grading, subject requirements, colloquium
doctum, and limitations, are given at the end of II.1.2.
II.1.1. Qualifications for admission to
non-university higher education (HBO)
The WHW states that the following diplomas may grant admission to HBO:
(a) the HAVO diploma (hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs — senior general secondary
education);
(b) the MBO diploma (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs — senior secondary vocational education);
(c) the VWO diploma (voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs — university preparatory education).
The HAVO diploma
The HAVO diploma forms the basis for admission to higher professional education. The diploma is obtained following 12
years of general education: seven years of pre-primary and primary education from the age of five followed by five years of
secondary education. Education is compulsory from the age of five, but the majority of children begin preprimary
education (kleuteronderwijs) at the age of four.
In secondary education, pupils have approximately 30 hours of lessons per week during the school year of 40 weeks. Up to the
fourth year of the course, all subjects in the curriculum are compulsory. After that, six subjects are chosen for the final
examinations, of which two (Dutch and a modern language) are compulsory and four others are optional.
When choosing subjects for the final examinations, pupils have to take into account their intended course of study at the
tertiary level because certain subject combinations are preferred as preparation for certain HBO programmes. The following
three combinations of subjects are most common:
(a) literary/social subjects;
(b) mathematical/physical science subjects;
(c) economic/administrative subjects.
The HAVO programme may also be taken at schools offering adult
education and at schools for secondary vocational education with a
separate HAVO department.