There are many types of master’s programmes that you can follow in the Netherlands. These are available at both HBO (higher professional education) and WO (university) level. The level of a master’s programme at a university of applied sciences is equivalent to that of a master’s programme at a university. The difference between an HBO master’s and a WO master’s lies mainly in their different focus. That is why we refer to an HBO master’s as a professional master’s and a WO master’s as an academic master’s. This is the best way to describe the difference between the two master’s programmes.
Admission to a master’s programme varies greatly between the different master’s programmes and educational requirements. If you do not meet the admission requirements, in some cases you will be offered a bridging programme/pre-master’s programme. Some master’s programmes are accessible with an HBO bachelor’s degree in combination with a pre-master’s programme, while other master’s programmes are not accessible with an HBO bachelor’s degree.
For a master’s programme, you will receive student finance in the form of a basic grant and, if applicable, a supplementary grant for the nominal duration of the master’s programme in question. Some master’s programmes last two years, while others last only one year. It is best to check the duration of your master’s programme on the website of your educational institution. You can borrow money for a pre-master’s or bridging programme, but you will not receive any additional supplementary grant or basic grant.
For more information about pursuing a second master’s degree, see the page Two studies.