9

How would the dutch educational system be represented in a diagram? Or put differently, what are the different roads that lead to the academic world in the Netherlands?

PS. This question ("What are the different roads to get into academics in the Netherlands?") came up in chat awhile ago, so I drew a diagram and it was suggested I share it as a self answered post as well, because it's a neat resource. Didn't do it back then as some parts lacked, but somebody asked me the same question more generally again so looked up the diagram, finished it and wanted to share it publicly now after all.

David Mulder
  • 1,506
  • 12
  • 21
  • This question appears to be off-topic because it is not about academia. – David Richerby Nov 30 '14 at 15:29
  • 7
    @DavidRicherby: This falls directly in a category that has been defined as on topic, namely: "Requirements and expectations of academicians". Specifically in this case 'requirements of academicians in the Netherlands'. Or considered in a different way, preparations for a non-academic career are explicitly off topic, thus implicitly making preparations for an academic career on topic. – David Mulder Nov 30 '14 at 15:33
  • 6
    And for that matter, how is this too localized. As I pointed out I have received multiple questions for this and searching for "Diagram of education in the United States" will result in similar diagrams which have helped me a lot in understanding the US system. Some existed for the Dutch system as well already, but the semi-good ones were dutch and all the english ones were downright incorrect or sorely lacked detail. – David Mulder Nov 30 '14 at 17:20
  • For that matter, if somebody feels up to drawing more of these for their own country: I for one would love seeing them and would definitely give them an upvote. Even the US ones I have seen are extremely confusing, for example: according to the few that include community colleges it would be possible to enroll in the middle of an undergraduate program (or 1-year under graduate program) after you finish (which as far as I know isn't true). – David Mulder Nov 30 '14 at 18:12
  • @DavidMulder: Actually, it's relatively common in the U.S. to receive a two-year degree from a community college and then complete a four-year undergraduate degree with two more years of study at a university. – Anonymous Mathematician Dec 01 '14 at 14:42

2 Answers2

14

Dutch Educational System

PS. I have only been part of the Dutch system for the first 8 years, but I know it pretty well as I know a lot of Dutch people, still I might have made mistakes. If so: apologies.

David Mulder
  • 1,506
  • 12
  • 21
  • 1
    This is very nicely done. I'm just curious about the three-year masters. I've never heard of those. Which fields are those in? – Ana Nov 30 '14 at 19:14
  • 2
    @Ana The only two I know of are medicine and a combination master of theology and pastoral care at Groningen. I am sure there must be more, though the rule of thumb is 2 years for research masters an 1 year for more vocational/humanity like masters. – David Mulder Nov 30 '14 at 21:13
  • Can you explain what the numbers are on the right? I assume they're age, but it's not too clear. – Compass Dec 01 '14 at 14:30
  • Is "Continued Scientific Education" the right name? Presumably not all education is vocational or scientific. – Anonymous Mathematician Dec 01 '14 at 14:43
  • 1
    @AnonymousMathematician: Well, depends on which definition of scientific you follow. But yeah, pre-bologna University was strictly academic/scientific whereas HBO wasn't even a lower level but strictly vocational. For example, the Netherlands only had a handful of universities, but every single one of them ranked top 200. In contrast to for example the UK where all old polytechnics are universities now as well and as an outsider you have no idea about the quality. – David Mulder Dec 01 '14 at 14:49
  • @Compass Typical starting age indeed. – David Mulder Dec 01 '14 at 14:50
  • I just mean that in English "scientific" would be specific to the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.), while for example "academic" would be much broader (including history, literature, etc.). – Anonymous Mathematician Dec 01 '14 at 14:55
  • @AnonymousMathematician Well, even in English the word 'sciences' can be used more broadly than those 3. After all, you do have terms like 'human sciences' as well. Or in the words of Wikipedia Collaborators "In an older and closely related meaning, 'science' also refers to a body of knowledge itself, of the type that can be rationally explained and reliably applied.". But I do know the confusion that the word can cause, even the word academic is used in surprisingly many different ways. – David Mulder Dec 01 '14 at 15:00
  • 4
    VWO means voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs, not voortgezet, so it should be "Preparational Scientific Education", not "Continued". It's supposed to prepare for university. – RemcoGerlich Jul 23 '15 at 08:05
  • 1
    @RemcoGerlich You're absolutely right... I always thought that the V in HAVO was the same as in VWO. Shame on me. And right now I don't have access to a full fledged computer to edit the image. If anybody has a graphics editor and could copy the word "Preparatory" from VMBO and throw it into the VWO box on top of "Continued" that would be really great! And otherwise I will do it... in the future at some point. – David Mulder Jul 23 '15 at 12:11
  • "PhD students aren't students". Yes and no, this needs clarifications. They're a bit like trainees, so I wouldn't say they are not students and tend to have tight social connections with 'other students (non-PhD)' – Discrete lizard Mar 24 '18 at 00:35
  • 1
    Oh and 2 year master is mostly normal, at least for STEM. 1 year is normal for humanities – Discrete lizard Mar 24 '18 at 00:36
  • And, due to recent regulations, a few of the horizontal arrows (regrettably) have been either removed or thinned. But a nice graphic, I think I'll improve and use this for an answer 'soon'. Oh and the arrows do go both ways, you know – Discrete lizard Mar 24 '18 at 00:37
3

There are similar diagrams and descriptions of educational systems for the Netherlands and other European countries here:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/

Maarten Buis
  • 43,487
  • 8
  • 87
  • 152
  • Oh! I have seen some of those diagrams before, didn't know where they were from. Can't say I think they are all that clear or good, but the sheer quantity makes it an extremely worthwhile resource :D . – David Mulder Dec 01 '14 at 14:45