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The Netherlands has an excellent system of state-run primary and secondary schools, which are open to anyone and virtually free of charge. Students can further their studies at one of three kinds of institutes: vocational education and training institutes, universities of applied sciences and research universities. Some 45% of students attend one of 70 vocational institutes, which offer a work-based path (apprenticeship) and a school-based path in industries like agriculture. Another 35% of students go to a university of applied sciences, of which there are about 40. These work closely with the private sector to deliver a practice-based research curriculum. The remaining 20% attend one of 14 research universities (where research is more theory-based), which include the globally renowned Delft University of Technology (engineering and technology) and Wageningen University (food and nutrition). In addition, there are a number of highly-ranked international business schools, such as Nyenrode, Rotterdam School of Management and TiasNimbas.

Unique Selling Points

Dutch education has a strong international orientation. In the upcoming year, Dutch higher education institutions will offer 1,391 English-language programmes and an increasing number of students come from abroad. Many research universities have an international student body and faculty. In turn, more than 13,000 Dutch students registered for a full degree at a university abroad and about 28,000 Dutch students did coursework in another country in 2004-2005.

• Trade and industry partners contribute to the quality and content of the courses delivered by vocational institutes and universities of applied sciences in particular. As a result, the programmes are aligned with the demands of the labour market. In 2005 – 2006, 92% of all vocational and applied science students got a job within three months of graduating. This percentage was actually 80% for all research university graduates in 2004-2005.
• The tuition fees for both applied sciences and research universities are internationally competitive and the price/quality relationship is very good.
• Many universities participate in nation-wide public-private programmes, in which government, business and academic partners work on common goals. This stimulates innovation and learning in key economic areas like automotive, water and high-tech materials.
• The upward flow of students is encouraged and ensured through good cooperation and coordination between education institutes. Upon completing their initial studies, vocational students can move on to a university of applied sciences, who in turn can continue their studies at a research university. Students can also move upward in the Bachelor-Master system that is in operation in both applied sciences and research universities. This system was officially introduced in the Netherlands at the beginning of the academic year 2002-2003.

Facts & Figures

• There are currently 630,000 vocational students. Of these, 485,000 take part in a regular vocational course, with the remainder following adult education. Vocational colleges employ about 53,000 people.
• Universities of applied sciences employ 35,000 people and teach 375,000 students, which amounts to two-thirds of all higher education students.
• Research universities employ more than 44,000 people and teach more than 206,000 students (of which 4,500 are foreign).
• Nine Dutch research universities appear in the Top 50 European Universities 2007 (Leiden ranking), 12 are in the 2008 global Top 500 of ARWU (Shanghai ranking) and 12 have a spot in the Top 200 of the Times World University Rankings 2007.
• The Netherlands ranks 2nd in the world in terms of citation impact score and 4th in the world in terms of number of academic publications per capita. Dutch science claims 2.5% of the global output of scientific publications. Dutch academia have an established reputation in various scientific disciplines, such as public health, economics, nanotechnology, food and nutrition, renewable energy, water, architecture and international law.