Vocational education
There is also vocational education that students follow after secondary school, but which is not part of Polish higher education. The official name of this type of education is post-secondary education.
In post-secondary education students take vocational study programmes of 1 to 2½ years at a szkoła policealna ('school after lyceum'). These study programmes are for students who have completed secondary education but did not attain the maturity certificate, or for students who do not want to continue to higher education.
These programmes can usually be compared to a programme at or level, depending on the and content of the study programme.
MBO
Secondary vocational education (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, MBO). MBO prepares pupils for the professional practice or further study. This type of education follows on from VMBO; its duration will depend on the chosen qualification. MBO comprises 4 levels (I-IV). Read more on the website of SBB.
HBO
Higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). HBO is more oriented towards professions in specific areas than WO, and has traditionally been offered at universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).
Duration
The official length of the full-time programme (not part-time) without study delay.
Want to know more?
Do you have questions about (secondary) vocational education in Poland? Please contact the SBB. The SBB compares foreign (secondary) vocational education diplomas for people looking for work.