If you enrol in a higher education programme in Holland, you will obtain a bachelor’s degree after finishing the undergraduate phase. You can get a bachelor’s degree at a research university or at a university of applied sciences: there are plenty of options to find the programme that suits you best.
Bachelor's at research-oriented universities
At research universities you can enrol in bachelor’s programmes (3 years, 180 ECTS) in a range of disciplines, such as economics, behavioural and social sciences, language and culture, engineering/technology, natural sciences, law or medical sciences. You can also choose an interdisciplinary programme in liberal arts: these programmes are offered by several university colleges around the country.
The purpose of research-oriented bachelor’s programmes is to prepare you for further study as well as employment and to teach you the academic and scientific skills associated with a traditional, academic university programme.
The content of the programmes can vary from broad to very specialised. At some institutions you need to complete both a major and a minor subject. At almost all bachelor’s programmes you need to do a course in research methodology and a bachelor’s thesis. After completing your bachelor's degree, you can continue studying for a master's degree, or you can start working in your field of study.
Bachelor's at universities of applied sciences
At universities of applied sciences you can enrol in bachelor’s programmes (4 years, 240 ECTS) in a broad range of disciplines, such as economics, health care, fine arts, agriculture and so on. Within each discipline there is a large variety of programmes, which can vary in content from one institution to the next.
Universities of applied sciences have a great deal of freedom in determining the content and structure of their programmes. This has led to the introduction of honours programmes for talented students, of majors and minors, and dual programmes, in which you study for a while and then work for a period of time. Most bachelor’s programmes are structured around a first year (propedeuse), followed by the main phase of three years.
The focus of the programmes is on providing you with the necessary skills and competencies for a job in a specific field. This means that you will get practical, hands-on experience through internships, in addition to classroom instruction, working on projects and group assignments. After obtaining a bachelor's degree you can enroll in a master's programme or you can start working in your field of study.
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