Grades

Grades in Dutch universities and colleges range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best). A 5.5 is the minimum to pass an exam, all grades below 5.5 are a fail.

Academic recognition

ECTS

In the Netherlands, the term ECTS will not always be used to indicate the amount of credits a certain study or course corresponds to. Often universities refer to studiepunten, which literally means study points. Though they are not referred to as ECTS, the study points do correspond one-on-one to ECTS points.

Degree recognition

The best way to find out whether the degree you are bringing with you from your home country is recognized in the Netherlands is to contact the university's international office directly. They are able to check and evaluate your degree for free. In case you would like to do this on your own and not with the help of the international office, it will cost you €115 at Nuffic. In the Netherlands, Nuffic is the central point of contact for the evaluation of foreign diplomas in higher and general secondary level education.

Nuffic has a number of in-house experts specialized in the education systems of specific countries. Credentials are evaluated and telephone advice is given on request. Nuffic is a member of a number of national and international networks and has an extensive archive of diplomas and documents. This means that their staff is well-placed to evaluate foreign diplomas in terms of the Dutch system.

As well as evaluating the diploma, Nuffic is also able to determine whether a program or an educational institution is officially recognized and tests the authenticity of diplomas.