| Diploma | Comparable to |
|---|---|
| Técnico de nivel médio | an MBO diploma level 1,2,3 or 4 |
| Técnico de nivel superior | at least an MBO diploma level 4 |
| Licencia de educación media humanístico-científica | a HAVO diploma |
| Licencia de enseñanza media humanístico-científica | a HAVO diploma |
| Licencia de educación media técnico-profesional | a HAVO diploma with vocational subjects |
| Licencia de enseñanza media técnico-profesional | a HAVO diploma with vocational subjects |
| Título profesional from an instituto profesional | at most an HBO bachelor's degree |
| Título profesional from an universidad | usually an HBO bachelor's degree or a WO bachelor's degree, sometimes 2 years of WO |
| Licenciada/o | usually an HBO bachelor's degree or a WO bachelor's degree, sometimes 2 years of WO |
| Magister | an HBO master's degree or 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).