| Diploma | Comparable to |
|---|---|
| Diplôme d’Études Secondaires (DES) | 4 years of VWO |
|
British Columbia - Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood diploma) with:
|
at least a HAVO diploma |
| British Columbia - Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood diploma) with subjects or study results that (partly) differ from those mentioned above | Please contact us for a credential evaluation |
|
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with:
|
at least a HAVO diploma |
| Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with subjects or study results that (partly) differ from those mentioned above | Please contact us for a credential evaluation |
| Diplôme d’Études Collégiales (DEC) with the addition 'préuniversitaire' | a VWO diploma |
| Diplôme d’Études Collégiales (DEC) with the addition 'de formation en métiers d’art' | a VWO diploma with vocational subjects |
| Diplôme d’Études Collégiales (DEC) with the addition 'de formation technique' | a VWO diploma with vocational subjects |
| Certificate from a college | 1 year of HBO |
| Diploma from a college | an associate degree or 2 years of HBO |
| Associate Degree from a college | 1 year of WO |
| Bachelor’s degree from a college, : 3 years (English-speaking province) | an HBO bachelor's degree or 2 years of WO |
| Bachelor’s degree (honours) from a college, duration: 4 years (English-speaking province) | an HBO bachelor's degree |
| Bachelor’s degree (honours) from a university, duration: 4 years (English-speaking province) | a WO bachelor's degree |
| Baccalauréat (Québec) | a WO bachelor's degree |
| Bachelier (Québec) | a WO bachelor's degree |
| Professional master’s degree (English-speaking province) | an HBO master's degree |
| Research master’s degree (English-speaking province) | a WO master's degree |
| Maîtrise professionnelle (Québec) | an HBO master's degree |
| Maîtrise de recherche (Québec) | a WO master's degree |
Preparatory vocational secondary education – theoretical programme (voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs - theoretische leerweg, VMBO-T). A VMBO-T diploma is awarded upon successful completion of a 4-year programme of vocational secondary education (theoretical programme).
Secondary vocational education (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, MBO). MBO prepares pupils for the professional practice or further study. This type of education follows on from VMBO; its duration will depend on the chosen qualification. MBO comprises 4 levels (I-IV). Read more on the website of SBB.
Senior general secondary education (hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs, HAVO). A HAVO diploma is awarded upon successful completion of a 5-year programme of general secondary education.
Pre-university education (voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs, VWO). A VWO diploma is awarded upon successful completion of a 6-year programme of pre-university education. VWO is the highest level of general secondary education available in the Netherlands.
Higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). HBO is more oriented towards professions in specific areas than WO, and has traditionally been offered at universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).
Research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). WO is oriented more towards theory and research than HBO, and has traditionally been offered at research universities (universiteiten).