IDW compares your foreign study programme with the Dutch educational system

What is a credential evaluation?

A credential evaluation is a comparison of your foreign diploma with the Dutch education system. A credential evaluation indicates which Dutch level of education is comparable to your foreign diploma. Per application we evaluate one diploma.

Here you will find all information about credential evaluation. You can also request a credential evaluation here.

A credential evaluation is a document which states:

• Your name and date of birth;
• Which educational programme you completed and the programme length;
• Where and when you completed the programme;
• Which diploma you obtained;
• Which educational level in the Netherlands is comparable to your foreign diploma.

The credential evaluation is in Dutch and is electronically signed. This electronic signature is legally valid on the electronic document, but it is not valid if you print the credential evaluation. You can find more information about electronic signatures on the website of the Dutch Point of Single Contact for Entrepreneurs.

If your diploma cannot be evaluated, you will receive a Bericht geen waardering (Notification no evaluation).

For which diploma's do we make credential evaluations?

We can evaluate the following diplomas and certificates:

• diplomas that are nationally recognized; and
• of which the study programme took at least 1000 hours.

We do not evaluate:

• certificates and diplomas for short programmes and courses;
• diplomas that are not nationally recognized;
• Dutch diplomas.

Incomplete programmes of study

We can give you an evaluation about your programme even if you did not complete it. You must have finished at least one year of the programme. You will then receive an educational evaluation. An educational evaluation contains the same information as a credential evaluation.

Diploma not yet received

Have you completed a programme of study but not yet received the diploma? Ask your educational institution to give you a statement with your name on it saying that you will receive your diploma at a later time. Are you required to pay for your diploma? The statement must then say that you applied for your diploma and have paid the fee.

Dutch education system

A credential evaluation is a comparison of your foreign study programme with the Dutch educational system. That is why we provide here information on the Dutch education system.

In the Netherlands, all children enroll in primary education from 4 to 12 years. After primary education there are three kinds of secondary education:

• Pre-university education (vwo)
• Senior secondary general education (havo)
• Preparatory secondary vocational education (vmbo)

After secondary education there are three kinds of further education:

• Academic higher education (wo)
• Higher professional education (hbo)
• Senior secondary vocational education (mbo)

Diagram in Arabic, Farsi or French

In the diagram of the Dutch educational system, arrows indicate how a student can transfer horizontally or vertically, for example from hbo to wo or from vmbo through mbo to hbo. Are you interested in this diagram in Arabic, Farsi or French? Please send an e-mail to info@idw.nl.