PDF with detailed information

Download the PDF with detailed information about the Iraqi education system:

Education system Iraq‌ (217.32 kB)

Overview of Iraqi diplomas

In the overview below you can find the level of Iraqi 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 Iraqi 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 Iraqi diploma? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Intermediate Baccalaureate – وثيقة مدرسية / المرحلة المتوسطة

  • Comparable to: approximately 2 years HAVO (NLQF 2/EQF 2).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: lower general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to upper general secondary education.

Secondary School Certificate/Vocational Baccalaureate – وثيقة مدرسية / الإعدادية المهنية

  • Comparable to: an MBO diploma level 2 or 3 (NLQF 2-3/EQF 2-3).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: upper vocational secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education.

Secondary School Certificate – وثيقة المرحلة الإعدادية / مدرسية

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: upper general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education.

Technical Diploma –دبلوم فني

  • Comparable to: 2 years HBO or an associate degree (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to the labour market.

Bachelor –البكالوريوس (technical institute)

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

Bachelor –البكالوريوس (university/higher institute)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years WO (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to further study in higher education (Master and Higher Diploma); for admission to master programmes the diploma must be obtained with good grades.

Bachelor – البكالوريوس in dentistry, pharmacology, architecture and veterinary medicine

  • Comparable to: a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 years.
  • Type of education: research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to further study in higher education (Master and Higher Diploma); for admission to master programmes the diploma must be obtained with good grades.

Bachelor – البكالوريوس in medicine

  • Comparable to: 4 years WO (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 6 years.
  • Type of education: research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to further study in higher education (Master and Higher Diploma); for admission to master programmes the diploma must be obtained with good grades.

Higher Diploma – دبلوم عالي

  • Comparable to: a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to university masters.

Master – الماجستير

  • Comparable to: a 1-year WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.