If you only remember one thing: the Netherlands has two main kinds of publicly funded institution, and they teach differently. WO institutions are research universities. HBO institutions are universities of applied sciences, called hogescholen in Dutch. Neither is "the better one". They are built for different kinds of student.
What each one is
According to Study in NL’s page on research universities, research universities are mainly responsible for research-oriented programmes in an academic setting. It adds that many of these programmes have a professional component and that most graduates find work outside the research community.
Universities of applied sciences focus on the practical application of arts and sciences, and its page on universities of applied sciences says internships are an important part of the professional programmes.
Length of the degrees
| Degree | Research university (WO) | University of applied sciences (HBO) |
|---|---|---|
| Associate degree | - | 2 years |
| Bachelor's | 3 years (BA, BSc, LLB) | 4 years |
| Master's | 1 to 3 years | 1 to 4 years |
| PhD | 4 years | - |
Those are the durations Study in NL gives on its two institution pages. Individual programmes differ, so use the programme page for the exact length.
How big they are
Study in NL says research universities enrol some 240,000 students altogether, and universities of applied sciences some 446,000. Among international degree students, Nuffic’s 2026 fact sheet reports 27% of all students at research universities were international in 2025-26, against 9% at universities of applied sciences.
What is in our catalogue
This site lists 0 research universities and 0 universities of applied sciences that are publicly funded, taken from the DUO register, plus 0 other recognised providers. If you are drawn to research, start with the research universities, since that is what Study in NL says they are mainly for. If you want a hands-on profession with internships built in, start with HBO. Whether an HBO bachelor's lets you move on to a master's at a research university depends on that master's own entry rules, so ask the programme before you assume it.
Both can lead to a residence permit
The IND's student residence permit page covers both a university and an HBO institution, so your choice does not change which permit you need. The institution has to be an IND-recognised sponsor.
Sources
Opened and checked on 5 October 2026. Figures that change from year to year are marked "as of October 2026"; check the source before you rely on them.