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Hbo Bachelor's programmes take four years (240 ECTS). Wo Bachelor's programmes take three years (180 ECTS). The minimum admissions requirement for an hbo Bachelor's programme is a diploma at Dutch mbo level 4 (senior secondary vocational education) or Dutch havo (higher general secondary education).
Let's summarise the two below first. HBO (Higher Professional Education) -Concrete and practical (Focused on the 'HOW do I make and/or do something?' -Practical and theoretical applications go hand in hand. -Two internships are almost always mandatory in order to gain a degree. -Degree trains for specific and concrete professions.
Research university (WO): The emphasis is on learning to look analytically and critically at the way a certain field can be approached. Higher professional education (HBO): Higher professional education trains for a specific profession. You apply your knowledge and work in a solution-oriented way.
The overview below sets out the most important differences between studying at a research university and at a university of applied sciences. Research University (WO) University of Applied Sciences (HBO) ‘Why’. Abstract, analytical skills, theoretical, asking questions.
HBO or Hogeschool institutes are focused on applied higher education and usually offer 4-year Bachelor programs geared more towards the practical labor market. The academic universities (WO) are the highest possible level of education in the Netherlands.
In this dual system, higher professional education (HBO) is offered by universities of applied sciences (hogescholen), while research-oriented education is traditionally offered by research universities, such as Radboud University.
Because of this HBO's are 4 years, while a WO bachelor takes only 3 years. You can get into a HBO with the intermediate level of high school education in the Netherlands, called HAVO. You're only allowed into a WO with the highest level of high school edu in the Netherlands (VWO), or after an HBO.
