EDUCATION
• Contact the institutions – they will specify what education qualifications are required for admission. A quota system is in place for oversubscribed courses; here students are selected based on the criteria set by the university. • You can apply online for third-level courses that are subsidised by the Dutch Ministry of Education through www.studielink.nl. QUALIFICATION ACCREDITATION • Diplomas and certificates awarded abroad need to be accredited by the Dutch authorities. (Often the school where you have applied takes care of this). The IDW Internationale Diplomawaardering (www.idw.nl) also offers this service for a fee. • Non-native English speakers are required to pass an English language test at a specified level, most commonly the TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Test. EDUCATION LINKS Information on the Dutch education system • Ministry of Education, Culture and Science • www.government.nl/ocw Independent education consultant for international families in the Netherlands (both Dutch and international schools) • New2nl, Annebet van Mameren, www.new2nl.com • Helpdesk for International Education in the Netherlands • Educaide, Willemijn van Oppen Stuyt, www.educaide.nl • Stichting Internationaal Onderwijs, Foundation for International Education in the Netherlands • www.sio.nl • Expat Special Educational Needs Group in The Netherlands • www.eseng.nl • Dutch immersion/newcomer classes (for non-Dutch speaking children aged 6+) • www.lowan.nl • Primary schools which teach foreign languages from an early age (VVTO schools): www.earlybirdie.nl and www. nuffic.nl/onderwerpen/vroeg-vreemdetalenonderwijs-vvto • Bilingual pilot schools at primary level (TPO): www.nuffic. nl/onderwerpen/tweetalig-primair-onderwijs (17 in total in the whole country) • Bilingual schools at secondary level (TTO): www.ikkiestto.nl
• Ask about the average class sizes. The smaller the class size (generally), the higher the fee. • Universities often provide beginner Dutch classes for nonstudents, although, as you would expect, a certain level of academic ability is required to keep up. • Homework is an essential part of the learning progress. • Some organisations fund language lessons as part of relocation, which might also include lessons for partners. TIPS FOR LEARNING DUTCH • Read with attention: Start with Dutch newspaper headlines and try to figure out what they mean. Later on, read articles and check out the verbs in the article. What tense is being used? What is the infinitive? Is it a regular or irregular verb? • Listen with attention: Watch TV or movies with Dutch subtitles. If you watch TV, you could use Teletekst 888 or NPO Start for Dutch subtitles. • Learn new words: Write new words on a post-its and place them strategically around your space. Note if nouns are “het” or “de” words. • Practice whenever you can: In emails, WhatsApp or spoken conversations use the Dutch you know, however little. If you have a Dutch partner, agree that you speak in Dutch only at least 10 minutes a day. Or that your partner speaks Dutch and you answer in your mother tongue. • Use the internet: There are plenty of useful and free sites you can use to help you progress. For instance: www.taalklas.nl, www.dutchgrammar.com or www.schooltv.nl/beeldbank. https://jeugdjournaal.nl (children’s news) is also a good resource for the Dutch news, explained in easier language.
Higher education in the Netherlands www.studyinholland.nl • www.nuffic.nl/en Information on studying and funding www.duo.nl/particulier/international-visitor/index.jsp Portals for vocational training www.s-bb.nl/en • www.mboraad.nl/english Masters / PhDs www.mastersportal.eu • www.phdportal.eu Online applications www.studielink.nl Non-Dutch diploma evaluation www.idw.nl LEARNING DUTCH • Learning Dutch is a crucial step to integration in the Netherlands and part of the immigration and integration (inburgering) procedure. • Europeans are not obliged to follow the inburgering procedure. • There is a wide choice of commercial language courses on offer to suit individual needs and budgets, with courses ranging from “Dutch for Au Pairs” to more intensive NT2 (Nederlands als Tweede Taal) classes.
SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONALS 2021 • THE NETHERLANDS • WWW.EXPATFAIR.NL
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