South Korea

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

PDF with detailed information

Download the PDF with detailed information about the South Korean education system:

Education system South Korea (371.63 kB)

Overview of South Korean diplomas

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

Vocational high school certificate

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

High School Certificate (general high school)

  • 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, upon successful completion entrance examinations.

High School Certificate (science high school)

  • Comparable to: at least a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years, but can also be completed in 2 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education (to prestigious institutions, without entrance examinations).

Associate degree (2 years)

  • Comparable to: 2 years HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to the third year of university bachelors.

Bachelor (4 years)

  • 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: access to university masters, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Higher Diploma in Technical Education

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6)

Master (2 years)

  • 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 doctorate programmes.