Code of Conduct
Nov 24, 2011
On 1 May 2006, the Code of Conduct with respect to international students in Dutch higher education came into effect. This Code sets out standards for Dutch higher education institutions in their dealings with international students.
By signing the Code of Conduct, the institutions are offering international students a guarantee of the quality of their programmes, student recruitment, selection and counselling procedures. Only institutions that have signed up to the Code are allowed to recruit international students. This Code of Conduct is an initiative of the Dutch institutions.
The Code of Conduct requires educational institutions to provide timely, reliable and easily accessible information to international students about their study programmes. Specifically, this includes information such as accreditation status, quality, admission requirements as well as many more important rules and procedures for international students.
The information provided by the educational institutions to international students on the basis of the Code of Conduct must be in English, in the language used for the study programme, or in the native language of the international student. The educational institution must make clear what services it provides to international students, such as help with obtaining a visa and a residence permit, housing, introduction sessions and student counselling. In their information materials, educational institutions must specify clearly what services they offer and what the associated costs are.
Students from outside the EU, seeking a course at an institution of higher education that has not signed the Code of Conduct, will not be able to obtain visas. The full version of the Code of Conduct can be found at the International Study webpage.
This website provides a list of the institutions that have signed the Code and also provides information on what to do if you feel that your institution is not meeting the terms of the Code of Conduct.