School Immersion in the Netherlands – 14-18 years – 2 months to 1 academic year
This programme is open to motivated students aged between 14 and 18 and 6 months who wish to study from 2 months to 1 full academic year in a Dutch secondary school, while sharing the life of a host family. A good command of English is required to apply for this programme, while good knowledge of Dutch is not necessary.
Why the Netherlands?
The first things that spring to mind when one mentions the Netherlands are tulips, bicycles and windmills. In addition to this, it is a country well-known for their inhabitants’ openness, friendliness and tolerance. The bicycle has become the most used transportation as 19 000 km of bike paths were built all over the country, due to its strong focus on environmental protection.
This programme places students everywhere in the Netherlands, as much as in cities as in the countryside of one of the 12 provinces of the country.
Our local partner organises group excursions during your stay for all participants to the programme (1 for stays between 2 months and a semester, 2 for stays of one year), which is a great opportunity to discover all aspects of the country while getting to know international students. All information about these excursions will be provided on site.
A Museum Card, which guarantees free entrance to all Netherlands museums is part of the programme.
Schools
You will attend a local public high school where you will be placed according to your host family’s place of residence.
You will usually enrol in the grade appropriate to your age and academic achievement. However, the final decision will be made by the school’s headmaster. You have to attend all classes, such as any Dutch student. Please be aware that participants will not be placed in the final grade of the programme which is an examination year. Participants can enrol until they are 18 but will have 17-year-old classmates. Timetables are usually flexible: if your Dutch course is not adapted to your level, you can attend classes in a lower grade, or in 2 different grades.
The subjects taught vary according to the class and usually include: Maths, Dutch, English, Sciences, History and Physical Education.
Timetables vary according to the schools, but lessons usually take place from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm.
Here is a sample of timetable and subjects on offer:
Dutch Course
An online Dutch course is to be completed prior to departure in order to prepare your immersion in the best possible way. One or two days of Dutch lessons are also included in the pre-orientation meeting upon arrival.
Bilingual programme option
Some Dutch schools offer a bilingual programme. If you prefer, you can opt for a bilingual English-Dutch programme.
This option is available at extra cost. Just make sure to specify this when registering on the online booking form.
The Dutch education system is considered one of the best in the world, ranked in the top 10 for the teaching of Maths and Sciences.
Compulsory schooling starts at the age of 5, yet children start attending classes at 4. Full-time schooling is compulsory from 5 to 16, and at least part-time schooling remains compulsory until the age of 18.
Dutch pupils study at primary school for 8 years, from 4-5 to 12. From that point, they can choose between several paths at secondary school.
3 different paths are available at secondary school:
- MBO or vocational training (4 years) enables students to directly enter the labour market.
- HAVO or mixed training (5 years) enables students to enrol in a short upper curriculum.
- VWO or academic training (6 years) prepares students for entry to university.
Dutch host families
Your host family is the defining feature of your study abroad experience, helping you become fully accustomed to Dutch culture and feel part of the local community.
Families are volunteers and take an active interest in choosing a student to host and sharing their homes, lives and culture with their guests, through which they can get to know a new country.
They are selected by a local coordinator. There is no particular type of family, each one is unique and perfectly reflects the Dutch way of life and society. Some of them have children, others do not, some live as a couple, others can be single-parented… Still, your local coordinator will try as much as possible to take your preference into account if you mention it on your application form.
Students can possibly be hosted by several host families, as a placement in the same region and school during the entirety of their stay is not guaranteed.
Students will be placed in single or shared room. The family provides all the meals, except those taken at school.
A bicycle will be provided on site to help you get around for the duration of your stay.
The local coordinator is an experienced staff member who knows the host families and is in regular contact with the students and their host parents throughout the programme. They regularly organize meetings to ensure that your experience is going smoothly, both with your host family and at school. Your local coordinator is on hand to lend assistance in case of any issues and should be your first point of contact on the ground.
Our partner organization’s local coordinator are all experienced and fully qualified to assist international students on the ground, offering support and assistance quickly and efficiently should issues arise.
An emergency number will be given to you, to use in case of emergency.
Upon arrival in the Netherlands, students attend a pre-orientation meeting. This is a mandatory meeting that concerns all participants.
- For stays from 2 to 3 months: 4 days/3 nights – includes airport transfer to your place of residence, accommodation in a hostel, all meals, 1 full day of visiting Amsterdam, 1 day of Dutch lessons and 1 meeting day with your local coordinator and your host family.
- For stays from 1 semester to 1 academic year: 6 days/5 nights – includes airport transfer to your place of residence, accommodation in a hostel, all meals, 1 full day of visiting Amsterdam, bicycle rental, 1 cross-cultural workshop, 2 days of Dutch lessons and 1 meeting day with your local coordinator and your host family.
Dates 2022-2023
Specific dates vary depending on the host region (North, Centre or South). The exact dates of stay will be confirmed after the placement.
- 1 academic year: 22 or 29/08/22 to late July / early August 2023
- 1 academic semester: 22 or 29/08/22 to 06/01/23 – 09/01/23 to late July / early August 2023
- 2 or 3 months: starting 22 or 29/08/22, 17/10/22, 14/11/22 or 09/01/23
Fees 2022-2023
All taxes and registration fees included
Prices include:
- Pre-application interview
- All enrolment, lessons and exam fees in our partner schools
- Online Dutch course (prior to departure)
- Full-board accommodation in a host family (meals at the school canteen are not included)
- Personal assistance and support from your local coordinator throughout your stay
- Regular contact and progress reports
- Certificate of completion
- Bike rental for the whole duration of your stay
- Museum Card
- Pre-orientation meeting upon arrival
- Excursions organised by our partner (1 for 1 semester, 2 for 1 academic year)
- Compulsory health insurance
- Airport transfer from Amsterdam Schiphol airport or railway station to the pre-orientation meeting
- Transfer from the pre-orientation meeting to your place of residence
Prices do not include
- Travel to/from Amsterdam Schiphol airport or railway station
- Return journey from your place of residence
- Local transportation
- Pocket money: about 250€ per month
- School materials
- Excursions or outings
- Visa fees (if applicable, only for non-EU residents)
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