Study in the Netherlands Prepared by UWC Maastricht NL careers ...

Study in the Netherlands
Prepared by UWC Maastricht NL careers counselor, Maria Prins
Pros and cons:
Pros:
Cons:
� Many universities offer a unique problem-based learning tradition, and this is
regarded as one of the best approaches to higher education in the world today.
� The application procedure is rather easy.
� Many programs are taught in English, think of the University Colleges.
� International students enjoy the student life here with the students’ organizations
and clubs that organize many fun activities.
� It is difficult to stay on and work after graduation
� The Dutch qualifications are relatively less known internationally although the
Netherlands is becoming more popular for international students
� The Dutch language can be a bit difficult in paperwork etc. (but you can learn it).
The Netherlands is a country in the heart of Europe, so it is a nice area to live in and to
start further exploring Europe. Big cities like London, Paris and Berlin are close by and
easy to visit with cheap busses and special offers for cheap flights and train tickets.
At Universities, lectures take place mostly during weekdays. In the weekends you have
time to discover the city and the country and to meet with your fellow students in the
cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leiden, Nijmegen, Maastricht and Utrecht, just to
mention a few.
Student organizations and clubs are well organized and very popular. Once you
become a member you can get involved in all kinds of activities and have a lot of fun. It
is an easy way to learn to know many new people and to make friends. Dutch students
speak English, so the Dutch language should not cause much of a problem in your
social life in The Netherlands.
More and more Dutch universities offer programs in Dutch and English, or in English
only. University Colleges offer bachelor programs in English. There are five and they
are located in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Tilburg, Maastricht and Middelburg. Also the
Technical University in Twente in the East of the country is busy developing a University
College.
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As more Dutch universities offer programs in English, the Netherlands is fast becoming
a popular choice for international study. The percentage of international students in the
Netherlands continues to rise. In the past academic year, one in ten students at
research universities came from abroad. Five years ago this was only 7%, or one in
fourteen.
Dutch higher education programs have secured a reputation for high quality and well
organized content.
All programs are checked against a list of criteria to ensure consistent standards. The
overall style of education in the Netherlands is known as Problem-Based Learning
(PBL) and is regarded as one of the best approaches to higher education in the world
today.
There are two distinct types of higher education institutions:
� Research universities (Universiteiten), that offer bachelor, master and PHD and
have research centers
� Universities of applied sciences (Hogescholen) that mainly offer bachelor
programs of 4 years. These programs include traineeships. Their focus is
towards professional education rather than scientific research.
There are 14 government-approved research universities in The Netherlands:
1. University of Amsterdam
2. Free University of Amsterdam
3. University of Groningen
4. Leiden University
5. Maastricht university
6. Radboud University Nijmegen
7. Erasmus University Rotterdam
8. Tilburg University
9. University of Utrecht
10. Delft University of Technology
11. Eindhoven University of Technology
12. University of Twente (with a focus on Technology)
13. Wageningen University (with a focus on agricultural studies)
14. Open University (university for distant learning)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_the_Netherlands
These universities focus on research and teaching from an academic point of view and
at the moment these universities cater for more than 200,000 students.
Three of these universities specialize in engineering and technology (Delft, Eindhoven,
Twente).
There are about 45 government-approved universities of applied sciences that prepare
more than 400,000 students each year for the workplace.
These institutions offer a range of qualifications, predominantly in
� agriculture,
� engineering and technology,
� economics and business administration,
� healthcare,
� fine and performing arts,
� education (teacher training) and
� social welfare.
There are also 11 International Education Institutes, offering advanced courses
exclusively in English for international students.
These institutions focus on development-related subjects taught in small groups of
various nationalities. Most of the courses they offer are part of one of the research
universities.
International Education institutes offer various types of education including short
courses, master's programs and sometimes PhD programs. You can find more
information about these courses on the website of NUFFIC (Dutch organisation for
International cooperation in higher education). Some examples of these International
Education Institutes:
� Institute of Social Studies (part of the Erasmus University Rotterdam)
� International Institute for Geo-Information, Science and Earth Observation
� Maastricht School of Management
� Royal Tropical Institute
� UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
� TiasNimbas Business School
� Agricultural Research Institutes – Van Hall Larenstein Institute
� Nyenrode Business University (privately funded, not part of University)
� University of Humanistics (privately funded, not part of University)
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For more information you go to the website of NUFFIC
http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students/dutch-education/institutions/institutions-forinternational-education/
Entry requirements vary according to the type of university and are based on a student’s
qualifications, language skills, and any specifics of the chosen academic field of study.
As a minimum the student needs to have the IB Diploma to enter a Dutch research
University. For an applied university IGCSE extended level can be accepted, but this
can be different per university. So this has to be sorted out in advance in every
individual situation of the student. Contact the university where you want to go to.
Languages:
If the student is going to enter a study that is taught in English and Dutch, the Dutch
universities require Dutch B Higher Level in the IB diploma.
For students of Dutch nationality: these students need to have Dutch A in their IB
diploma. If they don’t have that, they need to get in touch with the university to see if
they can get an exemption (that means that they don’t have to fulfill that requirement).
If they cannot get that, the student might be asked to do the Dutch State Exam II.
If foreign students don’t have Dutch B Higher Level in their subject package, they will
need to do and pass a Dutch State Exam II before they can be accepted by the
university for studies in Dutch or Dutch/English.
For studies that are offered completely in English, Dutch is not required by the
Dutch universities.
Check this websites to figure out if the studies you are interested in, are offered in
English
http://studies-in.nl/
http://www.studychoice.nl/
http://www.studiekeuze123.nl/
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Applying to Dutch universities is straightforward with application deadlines in the spring
of the calendar year in which the studies begin.
For studies with a central lottery, like medicines, it is necessary to apply before May 15.
If you want to know if there is a central lottery for the study you want to choose, you get
in touch with Studielink, because they know and have an overview of applications.
https://app.studielink.nl/vchfos/selectLanguageAction.do?lang=en&pageName=welcom
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Fees, finance and costs of living
Tuition fees at Dutch institutions are subsidised by the national government and
undergraduate fees vary by subject.
The Tuition fees for Dutch students and for students of most of the European countries
are about E 1,900 per study year.
This can be different for international students, so you need to get in touch with the
University that you choose about the tuition fees.
The fees for books and other study materials differ per study and cost of living differ per
student. In general it is not cheap to live in the Netherlands.
Students in the Netherlands need a budget of ab. E 750 – 900 per month in order to be
able to pay the tuition and other study fees, cost of living, medical insurance and
accommodation.
Students of Dutch nationality can apply for a Studiebeurs. That is a scholarship from the
Dutch government for the first three years of study. At the moment this is about E 275
per month for students who live in a student’s room and about E 80 for students who
live with their parents.
The Studiebeurs is a loan as long as the student studies, but it turns into a grant (not to
be repaid) as soon as the student has got the Bachelor Diploma. If the student does not
get this diploma within 10 years, (s)he has to pay back the loan to the government.
In additon to the Studiebeurs, students get a free Public Transport Card for the time of
their studies. It is valid EITHER during the weekends or during the week, that is up to
the student to choose when (s)he applies for it.
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This Studiebeurs and free Public Transport Card from the Dutch government are also
available for students from countries of the European Union and Switzerland if they
have been living in the Netherlands for 5 years or more.
In addition to the Studiebeurs you can apply for an additional loan if you need that.
Loans are to be repaid with interest, but there are some low-interest loans available for
students.
For more information go to the website of DUO:
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/vragen-en-antwoorden/heb-ikals-buitenlandse-student-recht-op-studiefinanciering-in-nederland.html#ankervoorwaarden-voor-studiefinanciering
http://www.ib-groep.nl/particulieren/studiefinanciering/sfho/aanvragen/aanvragen.asp
http://studynetherlands.info/scholarships_fellowships_internships_netherlands_holland.htm
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/hoger-onderwijs/collegegeld-enstudiefinanciering?ns_campaign=Themaonderwijs_en_wetenschap&ro_adgrp=Hoger_onderwijs-
Collegegeld_en_studiefinanciering&ns_mchannel=sea&ns_source=google&ns_linknam
e=%2Bcollegegeld&ns_fee=0.00
DUO also has regional offices, for instance one in Sittard (ab. 20 km north from
Maastricht, opposite the railway station Sittard).
http://www.ib-groep.nl/particulieren/klantenservice/contact/servicekantoren/sittard.asp
If you are a student from a country in Europe, you may be eligible to receive student
financial support from your home country while studying in the Netherlands.
More and more countries are allowing students to continue receiving government
financial support while enrolled in regular degree programs outside their home country.
The rules and regulations and forms of support may differ per country. You should
check and research which options are available in your country.
For all international students it is interesting to go to the website of NUFFIC to find more
information about scholarships through GRANTFINDER or NUFFIC.
http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students/scholarships
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WORKING AS A STUDENT
Students from countries of the European Union are allowed to have students’ jobs
during the years that they study at Dutch universities.
Students from outside the European Economic Area are allowed to work while studying,
although they must have a work permit and there are restrictions on what you can do.
For further information go to websites
www.studyinholland.nl
www.topuniversities.com
In general you can find a lot of interesting information about studying and living
in The Netherlands on the website
http://study-netherlands.info/index.html
How to apply to a Dutch university?
1) Go to the website from the University that you have chosen. You always need to
research if the studies you’re interested in are offered in Dutch and English, or in
English only.
2) Find out if additional requirements are mentioned for the studies you are
interested in. Do you fulfill these requirements or are there any questions or
problems? Do you need a reference letter, does your present school need to
send predicted grades, etc.
If you have any questions or problems, approach your careers’ counsellor for help after
you have sorted out yourself what the extra requirements etc. are.
3) Go to the website Studielink to fill out the application form. The website is
available in Dutch, English and German. The maximum number of studies you
can sign up for is three (max. one if a central lottery is used.
https://app.studielink.nl/vchfos/selectLanguageAction.do?lang=en&pageName=welcom
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Where to live
In the Netherlands students live in university or private residences that cost appr. E 300
– 400 per month. Often, University Colleges offer a campus where students can live.
It is very difficult to find a room in popular cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht, and even
in Maastricht it is not easy to find a room.
Try to sign up for a room as soon as you know where you want to study. There are long
waiting lists. Some Universities have special arrangements for students who live at a
distance of more than 150 km from the University. But you always need to apply for that
and there are waiting lists.
This a general website that can be of help to find a room
http://kamernet.nl/
If you go to Amsterdam, go to this website
http://studynetherlands.info/accommodation_for_international_students_in_netherlands_holland.ht
m
http://www.studentenwoningweb.nl/ (register on line)
If you go to Utrecht, go to
http://www.sshxl.nl/ (register on line)
If you go to Nijmegen, go to
http://www.sshn.nl/ (register on line)
In Maastricht, you go to
http://www.kamerburo.net/content/about.asp?lang=nl&task=over (register on line)
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Open days of Dutch universities
All Universities have open days where you can go to get information about all possible
studies, accommodation, student life, scholarships and all other things that you want to
know about studying in The Netherlands.
Most of the Universities offer 2 to 4 information rounds per day. You can sign up in
advance through internet and most of the times you will get information about the
studies you are interested in before you go to the open day.
During the open day you can not only get a lot of information about the studies but you
can also get in touch with students and teachers on the information market that will be
there in the canteen or hall or so. Sometimes lectures are also offered.
http://universitairebachelors.nl/?c=4&command=zoekenUitgebreid&orgUnitId=&eventTy
pe=open+day&study=
The Maastricht University will have an open day on Saturday 19 November 2011.
http://universitairebachelors.nl/?c=4&command=zoekenUitgebreid&orgUnitId=&eventTy
pe=open+day&study=
Sign up in advance!
It can also be helpful – especially for the students who have no idea what they want to
study – to go to the so called “Onderwijsbeurs”. That is a kind of fair where universities
and schools present their programs. The Onderwijsbeurs in this area will be in
Eindhoven on Friday and Saturday 30 September + 1 October in the Beursgebouw in
Eindhoven. See
http://www.onderwijsbeurszuidnederland.nl/
You can download a discount card for the train so that you can travel with 40%
discount.
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Careers Café
From the first Wednesday of October 2011 we are going to have a Careers’ Café in our
school. For the time being it will be in the canteen every Wednesday from 15.15.
The Careers’ Café is meant to be a place / an opportunity for students of Y 12 and Y 13
to meet
� their Careers’ counselors in an informal way and
� to have a chat with classmates after school
� and to meet their Form teachers and Heads of Year
Hope to see you there!!
For more information and questions:
M. Prins-Snoek
Career Guidance Counsellor for The Netherlands
m.prins@ism.portamosana.nl
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