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IDW compares your foreign study programme with the Dutch educational system

Studying in the Netherlands with your foreign diploma? Read here how to apply for a credential evaluation.

Working in the Netherlands with your foreign diploma? Read here how to apply for a credential evaluation.

Integrating in the Netherlands as a newcomer or refugee? Read here how to apply for a credential evaluation.

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.

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.

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Refugees from Ukraine

Are you a refugee from Ukraine? You can apply for 1 free credential evaluation. You continue reading which documents you need to apply and how you apply.

Refugees from Ukraine: How to apply?
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Біженці з України

Ви є біженцем з України?
Ви можете подати заяву на проведення 1 безкоштовної оцінки відповідності диплома. Ми з радістю пояснимо, як подати заявку та які документи вам потрібні.

Refugees from Ukraine
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Procedure

How to apply for a credential evaluation depends on your situation:

  • Do you need need to integrate (inburgering) as a refugee or newcomer in the Netherlands?
  • Do you want to work or to study in the Netherlands?

Click below on the situation which is most applicable to your situation.

Start an application in My IDW

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.

Complete description of the Dutch educational system

General Frequently Asked Questions

When your application is complete, you will receive an email from us. From that moment on, an application takes 6 working weeks.

The costs of a credential evaluation depend on your situation. Are you a refugee and do you need to integrate into Dutch society (inburgering)? You can apply for 1 free credential evaluation. Please read more on the page Inburgering.
Do you want to work or study in the Netherlands? An application for a credential evaluation costs €148,83. This includes VAT. Please read more on the page To work or To study.

Which documents you need depends on your situation, the country where you graduated, and the reason of application.

Do you need to integrate into Dutch society (inburgering)? The page Inburgering explains which documents are required to apply for a credential evaluation.
Do you want to work in the Netherlands? The page To work explains which documents are required to apply for a credential evaluation.
Do you want to study in the Netherlands? The page To study explains which documents are required to apply for a credential evaluation.

Send an email with your questions to info@idw.nl within 6 weeks of the date stated on the credential evaluation.

Upload all documents you have of your education, such as a diploma or a list of subjects. Do you have other documents about your occupation? In that case upload these as well. After uploading these documents, please contact us. Please visit our contact page.

Depending on the documents you uploaded you will receive a Diplomawaardering, an Opleidingswaardering (EducationEvaluation), a Bericht geen waardering or an Indicatie Onderwijsniveau.

You can reset your password for My IDW. Please read here how you reset the password.

How you apply and which documents you need you can read on this page information for refugees from Ukraine.

Your credential evaluation remains available for 3 years. After 3 years, your personal data will be deleted by IDW and you will no longer be able to receive the previously issued credential evaluation.

Did you receive a credential evaluation more than 3 years ago?
Your credential evaluation is no longer available. Submit a new application for a credential evaluation.

Did you receive your credential evaluation less than 3 years ago?
Download the credential evaluation via your Mijn IDW account. A digital credential evaluation remains available for download for 3 years.