PDF with detailed information

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

Education system Tanzania‌ (214.95 kB)

Overview of Tanzanian diplomas

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

Certificate of Secondary Education (an A, B or C in at least 5 subjects)

  • Comparable to: a VMBO-T diploma (NLQF 2/EQF 2).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to advanced secondary school level.

Certificate of Secondary Education (an A, B or C in at least 6 examination subjects + the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education with a principal pass for at least 1 subject

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to all higher education programmes.

Certificate of Secondary Education (an A, B or C in at least 5 examination subjects + the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education with a principal pass for at least 2 subjects and a subsidiary pass for at least 1 subject

  • Comparable to: at least a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to all higher education programmes.

Bachelor’s degree (3 years)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years of WO (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: 1st cycle higher education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to master’s programmes.

Bachelor’s degree (4 years)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: 1st cycle higher education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to master’s programmes.

Master’s degree (1 year)

  • Comparable to: a WO bachelor's degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6) or an HBO master's degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 year.
  • Type of education: 2nd cycle higher education.
  • Purpose of diploma: grants access to PhD programmes.

Master’s degree (2 years)

  • Comparable to: a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: 2nd cycle higher education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to PhD programmes.