15 - Netherlands - Certification
Higher professional education
At all institutions, responsibility for the examinations lies with the administration. A separate examining
board is set up for each study programme to conduct examinations and organise and coordinate the
interim examinations. The Act contains a number of conditions regarding the procedure to be followed.
The purpose of the examinations is to assess whether candidates have attained the level stipulated in
the teaching and examination regulations in terms of knowledge, understanding and skills.
At the end of the first year of study, there may be a propaedeutic examination. After four years the final
examinations are held. Successful candidates are awarded a certificate listing the subjects in which
they were examined. Students abandoning their courses before the final examinations receive a
transcript indicating how much of the course they have completed and which interim examinations
("tentamens") they have passed. Courses which are geared to specific occupations must include
preparation for professional practice.
Academic titles
A bachelor’s or master’s degree is conferred on students who pass the final examination of a HBO
bachelor’s or master’s programme. In certain cases, graduates may use certain titles.
HBO graduates of 4-year bachelor’s courses in engineering & technology and agriculture & the
natural environment may use the title "ingenieur". HBO graduates in other disciplines may use
the title "baccalaureus". These titles are abbreviated to "ing." and "bc." respectively and placed
before the holder’s name. Alternatively, graduates may use the title "Bachelor" (abbreviated to B
and placed after the holder’s name), followed by the subject or professional field (such as
Bachelor of Education), but not the words "of Science" or "of Arts".
Holders of HBO master’s degrees may use the title "Master", followed by the subject or
professional field (such as Master of Education), but not the words "of Science" or "of Arts".
Degree holders may opt to use the international bachelor’s or master’s title after their name or the
Dutch title before their name. Their degree is equally valid in either case.
In the new system, HBO institutions are now able to offer master’s courses leading to a master’s
degree. Foreign higher education institutions may also offer courses in the Netherlands leading to a
bachelor’s or master’s degree, provided the courses have been accredited. The Council for Higher
Professional Education has advised institutions regarding the titles to be conferred for HBO bachelor’s
and master’s degrees and the abbreviations to be used. The aim is to have a limited number of
recognisable professional titles.
University education
All bachelor’s and master’s programmes at university conclude with a final degree examination. A
separate examining board is set up for each study programme to conduct final examinations and
organise and coordinate interim examinations. Students who pass the final examinations are awarded
a certificate listing the different parts of the examination and, where appropriate, the professional
qualification obtained.
Obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree does not necessarily mean that the course of training is
complete. Courses which are geared to specific occupations must include practical preparation for
professional practice, followed by the further examinations. This applies to medicine, dentistry,
veterinary medicine, pharmacy, philosophy and all teacher training courses run by university
departments (ULOs).
Academic titles
A bachelor’s or master’s degree is conferred by the institution on students who pass the final
examination of a bachelor’s or master’s course. Graduates are entitled to use the titles "Bachelor" or
"Master", abbreviated to "B" and "M" and placed after the holder’s name. They may opt to use a Dutch
title instead of the relevant international title. Their degree is equally valid in either case.
University graduates of 3-year courses (roughly equivalent to the level of "kandidaat" in the
former system) may use the title Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, depending on the
subject studied. In the future, other titles may be licensed by ministerial order. Holders of
"kandidaat" certificates may not use the title "Bachelor".
University graduates with a master’s degree in engineering & technology or agriculture & the
natural environment may use the title "ingenieur", abbreviated to "ir." and placed before the
holder’s name.
Law graduates with a master’s degree may use the title "meester", abbreviated to "mr." and
placed before the holder’s name.
Graduates of other master’s courses may use the title "doctorandus", abbreviated to "drs." and
placed before the holder’s name.
Holders of university master’s degrees may use the title "Master of Arts" or "Master of Science",
depending on the subject studied. In the future, other titles may be licensed by ministerial order.
Holders of an additional master’s degree obtained after earning a first master’s degree may use
the title "Master", followed by the subject or professional field but not the words "of Science" or
"of Arts".
To obtain a doctorate and be entitled to use the title "dr.", students have to complete a thesis with the
support of one or more supervisors.
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
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