- Higher professional education (hbo)

Practice-oriented higher education
Higher professional education (HBO) is a more practice-oriented type of higher education. Its main objective is preparation for professional practice and entry of the labour market. HBO is offered at universities of professional education (hogescholen), but the new bachelor/master (bama) structure will also enable academic universities to offer HBO education. Educational programmes in HBO last 4 years (240 credits) and they are divided into a propaedeutic year (the first year), followed by a main phase of 3 years. Usually in the third year, students perform a mandatory internship approximately 9 months to gain practical experience. On the basis of this internship, they complete a thesis or final project. HBO is offered in 7 sectors: Teacher Training, Higher Education in Agriculture, Higher Technical and Scientific Education, Higher Education in Health Care, Higher Education in Economics and Management, Higher Education in Social and Community Work and Higher Education in Fine Arts and Performing Arts.

Admission to hho
A diploma of senior general secondary education (HAVO) or pre-university education (VWO) is required for admission to HBO, in some cases with additional requirements regarding specific subjects.  A middle management or specialist training certificate of secondary vocational education (MBO) also gives access to HBO. Graduates are conferred the degree of Bachelor, stating the professional field in which the degree was earned (Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Education). Graduates of HBO bachelor programmes can also still opt for the 'old' titles, namely 'baccalaureus (bc.) and 'ingenieur (ing.)'. Universities of professional education are also allowed to offer master programmes.