A Dutch academic title

Students from all over the world often finish their higher education studies with an academic title or degree. While being clear and familiar in the country of origin, such a title may easily lead to confusion if used in another country. In order to meet the need for assessment, the Dutch legislation contains a provision offering holders of foreign academic titles or degrees the possiblity of using a Dutch academic title instead. The advantages are obvious: 

• it reflects clearly the level of one's foreign academic achievement according Dutch standards;
• it offers the possibility to make use of a better recognizable academic title;
• it increases one's possibilities to operate on the Dutch jobmarket.    

The use of an academic title

You may use your foreign title freely in the Netherlands under condition you use it in the way as prescribed in the country of origin. Dutch academic titles however are legally protected and can only be used by graduates from Dutch institutions of higher education. Illegal use is considered an offence and subject to a legal fine. Holders of foreign diploma's therefore need special permission before being able to use a Dutch title. Article 7.23 of the Dutch Higher Education Act provides DUO with the possibility to grant such a permission.

The conditions

To qualify for a Dutch title the foreign course must meet certain conditions. As such only courses and diploma's of fully recognized higher education institutions are taken into consideration. Furthermore the foreign course must be at least equivalent to a similar Dutch course leading to the requested title. In the assessment-procedure the required pre-liminary training (secondary education), the entrance requirements and the nominal course-duration of the foreign course are, among other things, subject of investigation. Within the framework of the Dutch legislation, DUO conforms itself as much as possible to the guidelines of the Lissabon Convention. If you think you can comply with the above mentioned basis conditions, you are invited to complete the applicationform.

Which titles?

You may send in an application for the use of one of the following six Dutch titles:

• 1 ingenieur (ing.)
  higher professional education in the area of technology, or agriculture and natural environment
• 2 baccalaureus (bc.)
  higher professional education other than 1
• 3 ingenieur (ir.)
  university education in the area of technology, or agriculture and natural environment
• 4 meester (mr.)
  university education in the area of the law
• 5 doctorandus (drs.)
  university education other than 3 and 4
• 6 doctor (dr.)
  scientific research, with the conferral of a doctorat
  

Translations

As stipulated on the application form your file must be accompagnied with certified translations of those documents that are not already made up in Dutch, English, or German.

Legal Security

In case of a positive decision on your request for recognition, DUO will verify your diploma at the educational institute concerned. Verification is done for the sake of legal security of the diploma’s to be recognized.

Bachelor en Master

The procedure as described in this chapter does not cover the newly established Bachelor and Master titles in the Netherlands. In other words, it is not possible to apply for a Bachelor and/or a Master title at DUO.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING

• In respect of practising regulated professions,special statutory schemes apply and you must request approval from the relevant ministry. For an overview of regulated professions and the competent ministries, please visit the following website: www.beroepserkenning.nl
• If you wish to study or continue your study in the Netherlands, you must contact the educational institution of your choice.
• The application for a Dutch title is free-of-charge.