Level of diplomas
To which Dutch diplomas can you compare diplomas from the Flemish Community?
| Diploma | FQF | EQF | Comparable to | NLQF | EQF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Beroepssecundair Onderwijs (BSO) | 4 | 4 | a HAVO diploma for the general education part, an MBO diploma for the vocational education part | 4 + 3 | 4 + 3 |
| Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Kunst Secundair Onderwijs (KSO)* | 4 | 4 |
a HAVO diploma for the general education part and an MBO diploma for the vocational education part, if the diploma was obtained with a dubbele finaliteit (two-fold orientation) a VWO diploma, if the diploma was obtained with a doorstroomfinaliteit (higher education orientation) |
4+ or 4 | 4 |
| Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Technisch Secundair Onderwijs (TSO)* | 4 | 4 |
a HAVO diploma for the general education part and an MBO diploma for the vocational education part, if the diploma was obtained with a dubbele finaliteit (two-fold orientation) a VWO diploma, if the diploma was obtained with a doorstroomfinaliteit (higher education orientation) |
4+ or 4 | 4 |
| Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (ASO) | 4 | 4 | a VWO diploma | 4+ | 4 |
| Graduaat | 5 | 5 | an associate degree | 5 | 5 |
| Bachelor via a professioneel gerichte bacheloropleiding | 6 | 6 | an HBO bachelor’s degree | 6 | 6 |
|
Bachelor via an academisch gerichte bacheloropleiding**
|
6 | 6 |
a WO bachelor’s degree |
6 | 6 |
| Bachelor-na-bachelor | 6 | 6 | an HBO bachelor’s degree | 6 | 6 |
| Master** | 7 | 7 | usually a WO master’s degree | 7 | 7 |
| Master-na-master** | 7 | 7 | usually a WO master's degree | 7 | 7 |
| Doctor / PhD | 8 | 8 | a completed academic doctoral programme | 8 | 8 |
* Before 2025, these diplomas did not yet have specific orientations (finaliteiten). In such cases, the assessment depends on the content of the study programme.
* In accordance with the Accreditation Agreement between the Netherlands and the Flemish Community, arts education programmes may also be evaluated as an HBO bachelor’s programme.