Re: THÔNG TIN DU HỌC HÀ LAN (Info from NUFFIC)
WHY STUDY IN HOLLAND
Holland, or more formally the Netherlands, is an internationally oriented and innovative country located in the heart of Europe. This makes it ideal for people who are looking to enrich their knowledge through study abroad.
International study programmes in English
Holland was the first non-English-speaking country with courses taught in English. The Dutch higher education institutions together offer 1,000 international study programmes and courses which are taught entirely in English.
High academic standard
Higher education in Holland enjoys a worldwide reputation for its high quality. This is achieved through a national system of regulation and quality assurance. Holland has also received international acclaim for its problem-based learning system, which trains students to analyze and solve practical problems independently.
Internationally oriented
Even as far back as the early 17th century, Holland was an advanced country, with much of its wealth coming from international trade. Today, international trade is still the main engine of economic growth. Groups of people with non-Dutch backgrounds have been living in Holland for decades as a result of historical ties with other parts of the world.
Located in the heart of Europe
Once you arrive in Holland, you'll discover that many European capitals are within easy reach. Brussels is two hours by train, and a short flight from Amsterdam will take you to Paris, Madrid or Berlin.
Value for money
Education in the Netherlands is not free, but tuition fees are reasonable. The latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey shows that the cost of living in Amsterdam is modest compared with cities like New York, London, Paris and Beijing.
WHY STUDY IN HOLLAND
High academic standard
Higher education in Holland enjoys a worldwide reputation for its high quality. This is achieved through a national system of regulation and quality assurance. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (
www.minocw.nl) is responsible for legislation pertaining to education.
Dutch way of teaching
Respect for each individual’s opinions and convictions is a national virtue that gives strength to the fabric of Holland’s diverse and plural society. This is the foundation of the teaching method used at the Dutch educational institutions.
The teaching style can be described as student-centred, providing students with the attention and freedom they need to develop their own opinions and creativity in applying their newly acquired knowledge. Holland has received international acclaim for its problem-based learning system, which trains students to analyse and solve practical problems independently through emphasis on self-study and self-discipline. A large portion of all study programmes is dedicated to writing papers, working in groups to analyse and solve specific problems, acquiring practical work experience through internships, and conducting experiments in laboratories.
Internationally oriented
Worldwide trade
Even in the early 17th century, Holland was an advanced country, with much of its wealth coming from trade. Located in the delta where several major European rivers flow into the North Sea, Holland was ideally situated to become a centre of trade and transport for all of western Europe. The 17th century was the Golden Age in Dutch history, not surprising when you realize that Dutch ships carried 90 per cent of all the goods in Europe.
Today, international trade is still the main engine of economic growth in Holland. In fact, Holland is one of the world's ten leading exporting nations. Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe and until 2004, when it was overtaken by Shanghai, also the largest in the world. Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is one of Europe’s major airports. Holland is home to several internationally renowned banks, including ING and Rabobank, both of which are in the world’s top 20 companies in their field. Philips is a Dutch company, and approximately half of Shell and Unilever are in Dutch hands. The carillon is a Dutch invention, as are the reality TV show Big Brother, the CD, which was developed by Philips, and the world famous DJ Tiësto.
An international living environment
The Dutch are accustomed to dealing with people from around the world, and above all, to working with them. English is spoken by most of the Dutch.
Holland lies at the point where the German, British and French cultures meet. This is evident as soon as you turn on the television. Cinemas show films from around the world in their original languages. Alongside the usual church towers and synagogues, the minarets of mosques can increasingly be seen in the large cities. You can dance the salsa as easily as in Latin America. And Asian, Mediterranean and fast foods are becoming as familiar as standard Dutch fare. The result of all of this is that Holland is a place where knowledge, ideas and cultures from all over the world come together.
Against this background, it is not surprising that Holland is an advocate of international cooperation on many fronts. It is a founding member of the United Nations, for example. In several UN organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Netherlands plays a much larger role than one might expect from the country's modest size. It also does more than its share to help fund the UN.
Located in the heart of Europe
Once you arrive in Holland, you'll discover that many European capitals are within easy reach. Brussels is two hours by train, and a short flight from Amsterdam will take you to Paris, Madrid or Berlin.
Holland is situated in the west of Europe. To the east, Holland borders Germany, to the south Belgium and to the north and west, the North Sea.
Much of Europe’s economic development has taken place and still does in Holland. Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe. Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is one of Europe’s major airports, providing access to and from Europe for millions of people from all over the world.
Value for money
The Worldwide Cost of Living Survey shows that the cost of living in Amsterdam is modest compared with cities like New York, London, Paris and Beijing. Experience shows that to live and study in Holland for one year costs a student between 700 and 1,000 euros a month. This is needed to cover daily expenses and to pay the rent, and for registration and tuition fees.
Education in Holland is not free, but tuition fees are at reasonable levels. The annual tuition fees for enrolment on a programme or course at a Dutch higher education institution differ and start at approximately € 1,470 for EU students. The costs of programmes or courses for non-EU students are generally higher, so we recommend that you browse our online database.
EDUCATION SYSTEM
International education in English
Higher education institutions in Holland offer about 1,000 international study programmes and courses which are taught in English. These programmes cover a broad range of fields. Curricula are intensive, at an advanced level, practically oriented, and designed to meet the expectations of students seeking specialized knowledge. The courses alternate theory with practice in real or simulated work situations. Most study programmes and courses lead to a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, a PhD degree, a diploma or certificate.
The education system
Holland has two main types of regular higher education: university education and higher professional education. The universities focus on the independent practice of research-oriented work in an academic or professional setting. The universities of professional education are more practically oriented, preparing students directly for specific careers. A smaller branch of education is provided by International Education institutes, which offer programmes designed especially for foreign students.
Universities
There are 14 universities in Holland. These institutions essentially train students in science and the application of science, although many study programmes do also have a professional component and most graduates actually find work outside the research community. The universities vary in size, with enrolments ranging from 6,000 to 30,000. Altogether they enrol some 185,000 students.
Universities of professional education
The study programmes offered by universities of professional education (hogescholen) are professionally oriented. Acquiring practical work experience through internships is an integral part of professional study programmes. The country has 44 universities of professional education. The largest enrol 20,000 to 39,000 students. Altogether some 350,000 students are enrolled in this type of higher education.
Institutes for International Education
Holland has been offering another form of higher education for more than 50 years: advanced courses taught in English in what is known as ‘international education’. These institutes (15) focus on development-oriented courses, based on working in small, intercultural groups and the exchange of knowledge, facilitated by teachers with extensive experience of working in low-income countries.
Degrees: bachelor, master and PhD
Students who enrol in higher education programmes will obtain a bachelor’s degree upon completion of the undergraduate phase, and a master’s degree upon completion of the graduate phase. Universities and universities of professional education award both types of degrees, but with a difference in orientation: most degree programmes at universities focus on science, and those at universities of professional education on applied science. Institutes for International Education offer master’s programmes, but no bachelor’s programmes.
A bachelor’s programme at a university requires three years of full-time study (180 credits) to complete while a bachelor’s programme offered by a university of professional education requires four years of full-time study (240 credits). Depending on the discipline, master’s programmes at universities, universities of professional education and institutes for International Education will last one to two years (60-120 credits). The doctorate (PhD) takes at least four years.
Further reading
Download the pdf document: Higher education in the Netherlands: the bachelor's Master's structure.
FACTS AND FIGURES: HIGHER EDUCATION IN HOLLAND
Holland enjoys a long tradition in education and research. The oldest university was established in 1575.
Higher education institutions:
• Universities (research-oriented)
- 14 universities, three of which specialize in engineering (Delft, Twente and Eindhoven)
- Bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes
• Universities of Professional Education (career-oriented):
- 44 Universities of Professional Education
- Bachelor’s and master’s programmes (often offered in partnership with foreign universities)
• Institutes of International Education:
- 15 institutes of international education
- Master’s and PhD programmes, often aimed at mid-career professionals
Students:
• Total enrolment: 540,000 students, with men and women in approximately equal numbers.
• Average enrolment: Institutions vary in size, enrolling anywhere from 300 to 40,000 students.
• Completion of studies: Each year some 83,000 students complete their studies.
• Age entering university: variable, but most first-year students are around 18.
• Age graduating: variable, but most often 22 or 23.
• Foreign students: 37,000 students, about half of whom are from Europe.
Inbound students:
• Foreign students enrolled in full-time, government financed programmes (2002-2003): Estimated at 20,500.
• Recipients of scholarships through programmes for exchange or short-term mobility: Some 8,750 foreign students study in the Netherlands with a scholarship from one of the main programmes.
• Free movers studying in the Netherlands for short periods: It is estimated that several thousand foreign students a year pay their own way or have a scholarship from an unknown source.
• Regions from which the scholarship recipients come: About 83% come from Europe (6,100 Erasmus grants from the EU). The others come from Asia (12%), Africa (3%) and other regions (2%).
• Dutch government spending on scholarships for foreign students (2003-2004): €4.8 million a year, excluding the scholarships awarded from the budget for development cooperation.
Outbound students:
• Dutch students going abroad: Estimated at 12,000 a year (full-time, regular HE).
• Scholarship recipients: Some 6,100 students go abroad with a scholarship from one of the main programmes.
• Free movers: Some 5,900 students a year pay their own way or have a scholarship from an unknown source.
• Regions to which the scholarship recipients go: 94% to another European country, and 6% to Asia, Africa and other regions.
• Dutch government spending on scholarships for outgoing Dutch students (2003-2004): €2.5 million a year, excluding the scholarships awarded from the budget for development cooperation.
