Adult education in the Netherlands?

[chickenwing]

I am currently residing in the Netherlands with my family and finding myself a bit at a loose end. My days at the minute consist of washing clothes, dishes, floors and dogs. Very slowly to pass the time!

I am originally from Scotland and left school at the grand age of 15 with only standard grades, no highers. I have done several college courses back home but none of these have amounted to anything and basically worked minimum wage jobs to pay the bills.

I find myself desperately wanting to finish school properly now and then have the option to move onto further education. Now that I have matured and have some life experience I have a couple of options I would like to look into.

My dilema is do I finish Scottish school online or is there potential for me to do this in the Netherlands through the Dutch education system? I have been scouring the net looking at local Universities but so far have found nothing and I'm at a loss as to where to turn to next!

Does anyone know what I could do?

Depending on where you are there may be suitable university courses in English. Definitely quite a few Masters, also some HBO courses (slightly lower level than university).

Not sure if they accept you without a diploma similar to VWO/gymnasium for university or Havo/MBO for HBO. The latter may be slightly easier but you still need to have your diplomas assessed before gaining entry.

You will not receive any funding at all unless you are 25 or younger. However, fees are low compared with the UK (not Scotland though).

Clearly, if your Dutch is quite good you could go to evening college to get a secondary school diploma and then go to university or HBO.

Do you know what you want to do and whereabouts are you?

I have no idea! But will be seeing some friends at the weekend who may know. I'll ask and post back.

I'm in Middelburg. There are a few English speaking universities in my area, but it's the HBO and MBO that's confusing me!

All I have is standard grades from school so I definitely need to gain something before I can apply to university, I just don't know what.

I am interested in physiotherapy, but I haven't carried out enough research on it yet. My other interest is something based around addiction work.

Have you looked at the HBO and MBO explanations on Wiki? They have them in English. Can't link on the iPhone, sorry. I'm still getting the hang of it.

During the last year of primary school Dutch kids need tomsit the Cito toets. The outcome determines which secondary school they can go to:
If you have a low score you go to the VMBO, after you hace completed the VMBO you can go to the MBO and after that you are allowed onto the HBO - for ezample to be ome a teacher, few make it as their literacy and numeracy is still too poor but there are exceptions.
If you are in the middle bunch of Cito scores you can go to the HAVO, after the Havo you are allowed to move to Fifth year of VWO if your marks were sufficiently high and then if you manage six VWO you get the diploma, however most Havo students will go to the HBO
If you are in the higher end Cito scores then you go to VWO or gymnasium and then you can go to university or if you prefer HBO.

I expect that physiotherapy will be HBO but there maybe something assistant wise at MBO level. the Dutch are very strict wrt having correct paperwork in order to gain entrance on a course, no exceptions are made, ie in UK they may let you on the course due to relevant work experience, not here, the system is quite inflexible.

I expect that youth work will be HBO but there may also be something at MBO level.

How is your Dutch? if it is reasonable you may eant to try an evening college to get your Havo Staats examen. Not sure if there is funding, there may be.

Sorry for all the typos ipad has life of its own

Middelburg - look at Scalda.nl. You can also look at LOI (leidse onderwijs instelling, eg distant learning)

You can also contact DUO as they will probablyhave to assess your grades.

DUO.nl there is an english section for international students

Thank you for all the information, I've got a starting point now to start looking into things.

Bugger, bugger, bugger! There was just an advert on Sky Radio for adult education courses and in the time it's taken me to log in I've forgotten the name of the company.

Ta-daa!

Only that's not physiotherapy.

Please be careful with BaronessBomburst link. These are gimmick courses. they are not diplomas which will enable you to get employment instead after you have completed the one year 'basis' course you still need to go to MBO to get proper training. MBO is the lowest level of qualification, so below MBO is a gimmick. Most employers will require HBO especially in the current job market where competition is fierce.

Really, contact DUO to have your qualification assessed and take it from there. You will need this in order to enrol somewhere anyway, so it is not a waste and you will know what your options are.

Whatever course you decide on DO make sure it leads to a recognised qualification, DUO may be able to give you guidance re this as well.

If you go on the DUO website you can also search for courses in the international students section but you have to type in search words in Dutch.

Physiotherapy in Dutch is fysiotherapie

They have raised cut off date for funding to 30 I noticed.

Addiction is 'verslaving'

I couldn't comment on the courses; it was just an advert I heard on the radio.

I'd run with LoveSewingBees's advice.