Higher education

Unlike Dutch higher education, Algerian higher education is not divided into HBO i and WO i . Algerian higher education institutions can offer both types of education. This often means that for each diploma we have to determine whether it is HBO or WO. On this page, we describe the diplomas that we often see.

Current education system: LMD

The Licence - Master - Doctorat system was gradually introduced from 2004. For a number of years this LMD system existed alongside the old system (système classique). The LMD system has now been implemented. However, it is possible that institutions still offer degrees from the old system. This concerns the following degrees:

• Diplôme d'Études Universitaires Appliquées (DEUA), duration i : 3 years.
• Licence, duration: 4 years.
• Diplôme d'Études Supérieures (DES), duration: 4 years.
• Diplôme d’Ingenieur, duration: 5 years.
• Diplôme de Magister, duration: 2 years.
• Doctorat, duration: 3 to 5 years.

Exceptions for medical study programmes

Medical study programmes have not adopted the LMD structure. Instead, students obtain a Diplôme de Docteur in a specific field of study after 5, 6 or 7 years of study. They do not get a licence or a master. The names of the diplomas are:

• Diplôme de Docteur en Médecine Vétérinaire (شهادة الدكتوراه في طب البيطري)
• Diplôme de Docteur en Pharmacie (شهادة الدكتوراه في الصيدلية)
• Diplôme de Docteur en Médecine Dentaire (شهادة الدكتوراه في طب الأسنان)
• Diplôme de Docteur en Médecine (شهادة الدكتوراه في طب البشري)

• Duration: 3 years.
• Content: academic education or higher professional education. General subjects in the 1st year. In the 2nd and 3rd year, students specialise in the chosen field of study.
• Admission requirements: the Baccalauréat often with additional requirements, such as certain subjects and/or marks.
• Function of the diploma: access to master's programmes and work.
• Diploma: Licence/الليسانس

Please note: officially all licence study programmes in Algeria last 3 years. They used to last 4 years. We compare a 4-year licence to an HBO or a WO bachelor's degree. This depends on the content of the study programme.

• Duration: 2 years.
• Content: academic education or higher professional education. Students mostly attend lectures. They sometimes do an internship in their 2nd year. To finish their study programme, most students write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a Licence, often with additional requirements, such as high marks.
• Function of the diploma: access to PhD programmes (Doctorat) or work.
• Diploma: Master/ الماستر

• Duration: 3 years.
• Content: scientific research. Students publish at least 1 academic article. They also write and defend a dissertation.
• Admission requirements: a Master.
• Diploma: Doctorat/ دكتوراه