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Universities

UNIVERSITIES

All Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences stand in high regards all over the world and have an excellent reputation for being some of the world’s best higher professional education institutes. Graduates from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences, receive a high level vocational education and as specialized professionals are sought after around the world.  

The largest Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences enroll 20,000 to 40,000 students.  Altogether, some 446,000 students from Holland and over 100 countries around the world, study in professional vocational programmes at the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences.

UNIVERSITIES OF APPLIED SCIENCES & RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

The Dutch higher university education system, consists of two paths: the so called “Research Universities” and the “Universities of Applied Sciences”.

Research Universities are mainly responsible for offering research-oriented programmes in an academic setting.

Universities of Applied Sciences offer programmes, that focus on the practical application of arts and sciences. These tend to be more practice oriented than programmes offered by Research Universities and they prepare students for specific professions.

Study programmes at both Dutch Research Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences in Holland, are build up in a similar way. They are divided in a Bachelor’s programme, followed by a Master’s programme, depending on the specialization. This can be followed by research for a doctor’s degree (PHD).

All Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences stand in high regards all over the world and have an excellent reputation for being some of the world’s best higher professional education institutes. Graduates from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences, receive a high level vocational education and as specialized professionals are sought after around the world.  

The largest Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences enroll 20,000 to 40,000 students.  Altogether, some 446,000 students from over 100 countries around the world, study in professional programmes at the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences.

 

Universities of Applied Sciences Research Universities
Profession orientated Scientifically orientated
Practically oriented (specific work assignments in companies and organizations) Theoretically oriented (abstract assignments, where you do research)
Obligatory internship practice at a company An internship practice sometimes is possible, but not obligatory
Theory is directly applied in practice Theory is used for cultivating scientific thinking    
Studying with the aim of acquiring specific competences Studying with the aim of acquiring knowledge
A wide range of study subjects A limited range of study subjects (with more detail)
Average study pace High study pace
A lot of studying in student groups on projects Mainly studying on you own
Personal study guidance by professors Little study guidance by professors
Follow up control on homework Little or no control on homework
You are educated for a management position in a specific profession You are educated for a less specific function at a higher level
Clear professional image  General professional image

 

The Greek higher educational system has a similar distinction: between Universities and Technical Educational institutes (T.E.I.).

On the surface one could therefore conclude, that the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences resemble the Greek TEI’s. To a certain extend this is true, but there are many differences, especially in terms of facilities, services, the high level of international English language study programs and the “value” of the diploma in the international labor market.

Because of the Greek entry system into higher education through the national admission exams (panellinies), it is much easier to get admitted to most TEI’s, than it is getting into university. In fact for many Greek students, studying at a TEI is only an option if they cannot get into a university, because of a low score at the panellinies. As a result, the Greek universities enjoy a much higher prestige than most TEI’s.  

The basic decision for a student to study in Holland at a Research University, or at a University of Applied Sciences, has nothing to do with national entry exam scores, or prestige, but depends on what the student wants to do after he/she has obtained his/her Bachlor degree. 

YOUR PASSPORT TO AN INTERNATIONAL CAREER

A Greek student who is not interested in immediately finding a job after his Bachelor, but wants to deepen his academic knowledge, could best choose starting a Bachelor study at a university, or foreign college, in Greece and do a Master’s abroad.

A Greek student who’s aim it is however to start an international career at management level, would do best to choose starting a Bachelor study at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences.  

Theoretical knowledge transfer in a practice-based environment, is the most important goal of the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences. For this reason they works in close cooperation with many national and international companies and institutes. After your graduation, you are a qualified professional ready to start your career. 

As a result, for the year 2015, 80 % of the Bachelors graduates of a Dutch University of Applied Sciences, found a suitable job in their specific field and level, within 3 months of obtaining their diploma.

With the Dutch economy recovering and growing at a fast pace in 2017, these indicators for the Universities of Applied Sciences are expected to have improved significantly in 2018. In fact, for some fields of study, students of Universities of Applied Sciences are at the moment already offered suitable jobs before graduating. This is the reason why only 20% of the Bachelor students at Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences continue their studies towards the Master degree.

INTERSHIP/WORK PLACEMENT

The practical application of career-oriented assignments, is what distinguishes a Bachelor degree study at a University of Applied Sciences, from one at a research University.

As a student, you constantly apply your theoretical knowledge directly in actual practice. This is done through internships at companies in the Netherlands and abroad as well as practical assignments.

All Bachelor studies at Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences, include one or more Internships/work placements. This system of “on the job training” not only prepares the students as to what awaits them in their job after graduation, but also creates valuable contacts and future career opportunities. Students normally are paid a limited amount of compensation by the companies at which they do their stage, which varies between studies and countries.

Students are expected to find their own internship/work placement company/organization, but all Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences have lists of available companies and also internship coordinators, which can assist you in finding a suitable stage place. 

MINORS AT OTHER UNIVERSITIES, OR ABROAD

All Bachelor studies at Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences, include several so called “Minors”, these are electives in which you focus on a specific subject, or expand your knowledge by taking an additional subject. For some minors you must choose from an obligatory list of subjects, others you can choose yourself in cooperation with your study coordinator. This allows you to truly determine the content of your study, by ‘”customizing” your course the way it suits you best.  

You can also do one or more minors at another Dutch University of Applied Sciences, or even at a university abroad.

If you want to do a minor at a university abroad, within the European Union, which has a cooperation with your University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, you don't have to pay any additional tuition fees and you can apply for an Erasmus grand for your housing/living expenses. Frequently these universities abroad also offer you as an exchange student, (paid) housing accommodations, so you don’t have  to look for it yourself.   

GREEK STUDENTS IN HOLLAND

Holland is one of the most popular university countries for Greek students, because of the excellent reputation of its universities, world class level of education, many international study programs in the English language and very low tuition fees. The possibility for Greek students to receive Dutch government loans and grants to cover all their expenses, including tuition fee, housing and cost of living, also plays an important factor.        

The number of Greek students in Holland shows an explosive growth, which seems to be directly related to the poor economic situation in Greece, with youth employment rates at an all time high and salaries at record lows.   

The above has resulted in a true "Brain Drain Exodus" from Greece, during the last eight years. There has been in fact a 1000% increase within 8 years: from just 235 Greek university students in the Holland in 2009, at the beginning of the crisis in Greece, to 2,370 in the academic year 2016/2017.

Most Greek students study abroad, because obtaining a diploma from a foreign university offers them a much better starting point in their future (international) career.

If your goal is to start an (international) career on management level in a specific profession, then by far the best choice would be to study at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences !