Opportunities beckon in the land of tulips

The Hindu
27 July 2009, by Chitra Deepa A.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/edu/2009/07/27/stories/2009072750610800.htm

A multi-cultural nation, the Netherlands is known for its high standards of education, and it was the first non-English speaking country to offer international degree programmes in English.

For those keen on pursuing higher studies in Europe, the education system of the Dutch that stress on internship and focus on interactive learning and workshop may be a good option. Known internationally as the knowledge centre, the universities in the Netherlands offer 1,391 bachelors, masters and Ph.D programmes in English.

Speaking at the seminar on Study in Holland, organised at Anna University recently, Ms. Sudha Sudeep of Study in Holland Desk, Chennai, highlighted the various aspects of the Dutch education system. “The Dutch were the first non-English speaking country to offer degree programmes in English, making it the most preferred choice for many international students who wish to pursue education in Europe,” she pointed out. International students may not face the problem of language barrier because 95 per cent of the inhabitants of the Netherlands speak English.
Advantages

“As a multicultural country, the Netherlands (also known as Holland) opens up many opportunities for international students,” she says. The Netherlands has won 15 Nobel prizes so far and their international study programmes in the area of agricultural sciences, medicine, civil engineering and remote sensing are well known worldwide. “The country has received international acclaim for its ground breaking Problem-Based Learning system, which trains students to analyse and solve practical problems independently through emphasis on self-study and self-discipline,” Ms. Sudeep says.

Education in the Netherlands is not free, but when compared to countries such as the U.S, the U.K or Australia, it is reasonable. “Annual tuition fee in Dutch higher education institution is approximately 1,500 Euro for students from the European Union. For the international students, it is higher,” says Ms. Sudeep.

Since 2006, the Code of Conduct with respect to international students in Dutch higher education has been into effect and it sets out standards for Dutch higher education institutions in their dealing with international students. Only those institutions that have signed up for the Code of Conduct are allowed to recruit international students.
Requirements

Ms. Sudeep says that Indian students desirous of doing their master’s or Ph.D in the Netherlands can directly establish contact with the university that has signed the Code of Conduct.

Students must submit their IELTS or TOEFL marks. “In the Netherlands, doctorate degrees or PhD is offered only in the research institutes. Students must start looking out for a PhD supervisor, i.e, a professor who will support the applicant’s proposal.