Propedeuse

Upon the introduction of the international bachelor-master system, the Netherlands has maintained a diploma called the propedeuse

cite web
url=http://www.minocw.nl/factsheets/424#A1112
publisher=Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap
title=Algemene informatie over bachelor-master
date=June 24, 2006

] , often referred to as "P" by students in The Netherlands. A university or hogeschool is not forced by law to make use of the propedeuse

cite web
url=http://www.wetboek-online.nl/wet/Whoho/7.8.html
publisher=Wet hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek
title=Artikel 7.8
date=June 24, 2006

] , but nearly all do. In that case, it is a mandatory diploma which a student acquires after having successfully completed the first year at a university or hogeschool (see also: Education in the Netherlands). This first year is therefore also known as the "propedeuse" or the "propedeutical phase" (propedeutische fase).

The diploma is awarded to students who have obtained all 60 ECTS-credits of the first year. Mostly this is done in early October during a formal event, sometimes followed by an informal celebration, although an increasing number of universities and hogescholen choose to no longer organise these events for financial reasons. Some study programs require the student to score sufficient on an additional examination.

The propedeuse was introduced as a means to determine whether a student is suited for studying in the direction of his or her choice. To date, a university or hogeschool is obliged to inform the student of their take on this including the issuing of an advice

cite web
url=http://www.wetboek-online.nl/wet/Whoho/7.8b.html
publisher=Wet hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek
title=Artikel 7.8b
date=June 24, 2006

] . In most cases this will be a positive advice. It traditionally means a student is officially accepted at the university or hogeschool

cite web
url=http://wiki.student.utwente.nl/wiki/Propedeuse
publisher=Campuswiki
title=Propedeuse
date=June 24, 2006

] , but with this diploma a student can also enroll at a different university or hogeschool for the same or a similar study program

cite web
url=http://www.minocw.nl/factsheets/424#A1113
publisher=Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap
title=Algemene informatie over bachelor-master
date=June 24, 2006

] . It is also possible to enroll at university with a hogeschool propedeuse. This method is often used by students who did not obtain the required secondary education.

The two possible consequences of not obtaining the propedeuse in one year are a "negative advice" which implies that the university or hogeschool recommends the student to enroll in a different study program, and a "binding" negative advice which simply prohibits the student from continuing. Furthermore, most hogescholen have included in their statutes that should a student fail to meet the requirements for the propedeuse within a set period of time, which is usually two years, the student cannot complete his or her bachelor study.

References