Different focus

Universities offer scientific, research-oriented education, while universities of applied sciences offer higher professional education. Universities of applied sciences also carry out research, but it’s always practice-based.

Bachelor and master degrees

At both types of institution, students can earn a bachelor and master degree. Here’s an overview of the typical number of credits and study durations for bachelor and master degrees at both types of institutions:
 

	Bachelor	Master
University of applied sciences	240 credits  4 years	60 - 120 credits  1-2 years
University	180 credits 3 years	60 – 120 credits 1-2 years

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The Netherlands uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). According to that system, one credit represents 28 hours of work. So, 60 credits represent 1 year of full-time study.

Transfer from university of applied sciences to university

With a ‘propaedeutic certificate’ from a university of applied sciences, i.e. a certificate showing the student has passed all the 1 st -year subjects in their bachelor program, a student can start a bachelor program at a university.

Students with a bachelor degree from a university of applied sciences can transfer directly to a master at a university of applied sciences. If they want to transfer to a master at a university, they need to do a pre-master or bridging program first.

PhD or PD

A PhD can only be earned at a university. There are plans for "professional doctorates" (PDs) at universities of applied sciences starting in 2022.