Syrian versus Dutch Diploma’s

Basic Secondary Education Certificate (شهادة الدراسة التعليم الأساسي)

• Dutch comparison: 2 years of HAVO (NLQF* 2 / EQF* 2)
• Duration of studies: 9 years
• Type of education: basic and lower secondary education
• Purpose of diploma: grants access to upper secondary education

Technical / Vocational Secondary Education Certificate (الشهادة الثانوية المهنية …)

• Dutch comparison: MBO diploma qualification level 2 or 3 (NLQF 2-3 / EQF 2-3)
• Duration of schooling: 3 years
• Type of education: vocational upper secondary education diploma.
• Purpose of diploma: grants access to the labour market or post-secondary vocational education in Syria.

General Secondary Education Certificate (الشهادة الثانوية العامة / شهادة الدراسة الثانوية العامة)

• Dutch comparison: HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/ EQF 4)
• Duration of studies: 3 years
• Type of education: general upper secondary education
• Purpose of diploma: grants access to higher education in Syria.

Technical Diploma Certificate (شهادة دبلوم تقاني)

• Dutch comparison: MBO diploma qualification level 4 (NLQF 4 / EQF 4)
• Duration of studies: 2 years
• Type of education: post-secondary vocational education
• Purpose of diploma: grants access to the labour market in Syria

Certificate of Associate Degree/ Certificate of Licensed Assistant (شهادة مساعد المجاز)

• Dutch comparison: MBO diploma qualification level 4(NLQF 4 / EQF 4)
• Duration of studies: 2 years
• Type of education: post-secondary vocational education
• Purpose of diploma: grants access to the labour market in Syria

Bachelor’s degree (4 years) (الإجازة)

• Dutch comparison: HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years of WO (NLQF 6/ EQF 6)
• Duration of studies: 4 years
• Type of education: higher education, can be either research-oriented or professionally oriented
• Purpose of diploma: may grant access to second cycle higher education programmes in Syria.

Bachelor’s degree (5 years, in architecture, engineering, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine) (الإجازة)

• Dutch comparison: WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/ EQF 6)
• Duration of studies: 5 years
• Type of education: research-oriented higher education
• Purpose of diploma: may grant access to second cycle higher education programmes in Syria.

Master’s degree (الماجستير)

• Dutch comparison: 1-year WO or HBO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7)
• Duration of studies: 2 years
• Type of education: higher education, can be either research-oriented or professionally oriented
• Purpose of diploma: may grant access to the PhD in Syria.

More information

Download a more detailed description of the education system of Syria(4.1 MB)

* NLQF = Netherlands Qualifications Framework
** EQF = European Qualifications Framework