Hong Kong

To which Dutch diplomas can you compare certain Hong Kong diplomas? Use the overview or download the PDF with more detailed information.

PDF with detailed information

Download the PDF with detailed information about the Hong Kong education system:

Education system Hong Kong‌ (410.69 kB)

Overview of Hong Kong diplomas

In the overview below you can find the level of Hong Kong diplomas. You cannot derive any rights from it.

Working in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can work in the Netherlands with a certain Hong Kong diploma? Go to Working in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Studying in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can study in the Netherlands with your Hong Kong diploma? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) in 5 subjects with grades 2-5**, including English and Chinese

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

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) with a mark of 3-5** for the subjects English and Chinese and grades 2-5** for the subjects mathematics, Liberal Studies and 2 electives (6 different subjects in total)

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

Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in 6 subjects with grades 3-5* of A-E

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 7 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education.

Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in 6 subjects with grades 3-5* of A-C + Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary Level Examinations (HKASLE) with grades A-E

  • Comparable to: at least a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 7 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education.

Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) in 6 subjects with grades 3-5* of A-C + Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations (HKALE) with grades A-E

  • Comparable to: a VWO diploma (NLQF 4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 7 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education.

Diploma of Vocational Education/Diploma of Foundation Studies

  • Comparable to: an MBO diploma level 3 (NLQF 3/EQF 3).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 year.
  • Type of education: vocational secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the labour market and Higher Degree programmes.

Diploma Yi Jin/Yi Jin Diploma

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma for the general education part (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 year (full-time) or 2 years (part-time).
  • Type of education: general and vocational secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the labour market, and Associate Degree and Higher Diploma programmes (or similar programmes).

Associate Degree/Higher Diploma

  • Comparable to: 2 years of HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the labour market and bachelor's programmes in the same field of study (possibly with additional admission requirements).

Bachelor (4 years), obtained after 2012

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the labour market and master’s programmes.

Bachelor (3 years), obtained before 2012

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the labour market and master’s programmes.

Master

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1-2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the PhD programme.

Master of Philosophy

  • Comparable to: a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: research-oriented.
  • Purpose of the diploma: gives access to the PhD programme (possibly with exemptions).