Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES islands

To which Dutch diplomas can you compare certain diplomas from Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES islands? Use the overview or download the PDF with more detailed information.

PDF with detailed information

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Education system Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES islands‌ (209.80 kB)

Overview of diplomas from Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES islands

In the overview below you can find the level of diplomas from Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES islands. You cannot derive any rights from it.

Working in the Netherlands

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Studying in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can study in the Netherlands with your diploma from Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES islands? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

VSBO-tkl/MAVO-diploma

  • Comparable to: a VMBO-T diploma (NLQF 2/EQF 2)
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to secondary vocational education (SBO).

HAVO-diploma

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education

VWO-diploma

  • Comparable to: a VWO diploma (NLQF 4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education

Certificate of Secondary Education (CXC-examen) met ten minste 5 vakken op het niveau van general en met de cijfers 1, 2 of 3 (St. Maarten, Caribbean Examination Council)

  • Comparable to: approximately a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Type of education: general secondary education.

SBO-diploma (niveau 4) van de opleiding tot middenkaderfunctionaris

  • Comparable to: an MBO diploma level 4 (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 4 years.
  • Type of education: vocational secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to further study in higher education.

Associate of Arts (in Business/in General Liberal Arts) (University of St. Martin)

  • Comparable to: an MBO diploma level 2 or 3 (NLQF 2-3/EQF 2-3).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: vocational secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to Bachelors within the same university (University of St. Martin).

Bachelor of Arts in Education (University of St. Martin)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree in education (teaching - lobo) (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.

Bachelor of Science (Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen)

  • Comparable to: a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: research-oriented education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to subsequent university Masters.

Bachelor of Applied Science

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.

Bachelor (Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree in engineering (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to subsequent university Masters.

Bachelor of Education (Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree in education (teaching - lovo) (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to subsequent university Masters (Master of Education).

Bachelor of Law (Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen)

  • Comparable to: a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: research-oriented education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to subsequent university Masters (Master of Law).

Akte van Bekwaamheid tot volledig bevoegd onderwijzer (Akademia Pedagógico Kòrsou)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree in education (teaching - lobo) (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.

Getuigschrift Operatieassistent (Instituto para Formashon den Enfermaria)

  • Comparable to: 3 years HBO (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.

Master of Law/Meester in de Rechten (Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen)

  • Comparable to: a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 year.
  • Type of education: research-oriented education.