Foreign Education – Study in Netherlands
Where France and Italy, Spain and Germany, Canada and Switzerland are some of the most famous locations for foreign education, the Netherlands is another emerging destination.
The Netherlands is considered the part of mainland Europe which makes it famous in the aspect of tourism and education, as well. Being close to Germany and Belgium, the importance of its location in the world map is enhanced. As per the QS Top 100 Universities of 2010/11, the following institutions are placed high up the rank from the Netherlands:
- University of Amsterdam
- Leiden University
- Utrecht University
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
Other facts you must know about Dutch institutes are highlighted below:
English taught courses
Also called Holland, we can say it is one of the primary non-native English-speaking countries to provide English-taught degrees. It has been the main reason behind the flooding of international students to the Netherlands so suddenly. Currently, almost every course is taught in English for foreign students to make them understand the concept better.
Well, if you know how to speak Dutch and prefer learning in Dutch, you can opt for the Dutch-taught degrees.
Duration of the programs
As far as the duration is concerned, the degrees in the Netherlands works on the same universal academic framework.
You will be completing your Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BSc, BEng) in a maximum of 3 to 4 years, whereas the Master’s Degree (MA, MSc, MEng) will take 1 to 2 years. For the Ph.D., you need up to 4 years.
Higher education system
Before applying for a Dutch institute, you need to know how their higher education system functions because it might be different from what you have thought. It is made of primarily 3 different kinds of institutes. Every institution comes with a unique purpose of education and is open to all international students. There are:
- Research Universities
- Universities of Applied Science
- Institutes for International Education
Every type has a particular degree to offer of different qualification levels. If you are applying for the Bachelors, you need to process the application at the Research Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. If you want to pursue Masters, you can apply to any of the three. The PhDs are only offered at Research Universities.
Provisional Residence Permit
Are you looking to stay in the Netherlands for more than a year? If yes, you need to process your application to attain a valid entry visa. This Provisional Residence Permit or we can call it Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf (MVV) in Dutch, is a major necessity to stay in the Netherlands legally while completing your degree. The MVV permits you to make entry to the Netherlands for 6 months.
Following are the certain requirements you must be fulfilling:
- Valid passport
- Financial stability
- All dues cleared
- Acceptance letter from your respective institute or nay proof of getting registered
English language proficiency test
A certain level of competence with the English language is demanded in case of registering for the Dutch institute. You need to provide legal evidence of your passed English Language test. The minimum acceptable score is 6.0 in IELTS and in TOEFL the score must not be lower than 550 in a Paper-Based and 213 in a Computer Based exam.
Discounts
Apart from studies, you will be given a full opportunity to enjoy, have some adventures and feel the freedom. There is a long list of famous discounts that are provided to the students on leisure activities as well as on transportation.
