{"id":176824,"date":"2025-03-13T14:13:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T13:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=176824"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:44","slug":"a-quarter-of-university-masters-programs-exclude-hbo-graduates-they-are-bad-for-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/03\/13\/a-quarter-of-university-masters-programs-exclude-hbo-graduates-they-are-bad-for-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"A quarter of university master’s programs exclude hbo graduates. They are ‘bad for quality’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A quarter of master’s programmes do not accept graduates from universities of applied sciences, according to research by the Education Inspectorate. Universities are concerned that they drop out and lower the quality of education. In Rotterdam, 14 out of 52 master’s programmes are not accessible for these students.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSonja Schravesande<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In theory, the bachelor\u2019s degrees from universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS, or hbo or hogeschool in Dutch) are equally valued. However, this is not the case in practice, as observed by the Education Inspectorate. With a certificate from a university of applied sciences, one cannot enter every university master\u2019s programme.<\/p>\n

Inaccessible master\u2019s programmes<\/h2>

A quarter of master\u2019s programmes do not accept graduates from universities of applied sciences, even after a premaster in which they enhance their foundational knowledge and academic skills. In discussions with the inspectorate, programme directors and other university representatives indicate that they view these graduates as a threat to both success rates and quality, as revealed in last month\u2019s report<\/a> Hbo\u2019ers gelijkgeschakeld<\/em>.<\/p>\n

At Erasmus University, currently 14 out of 52 master\u2019s programmes are inaccessible to UAS graduates, including six regular master\u2019s and eight research master\u2019s programmes. Many of these programmes are offered at Erasmus MC, such as Medicine, Nanobiology, and the research master\u2019s Genomics in Society. However, students with a UAS bachelor\u2019s degree are also not welcome in the research master\u2019s programmes in Philosophy, Media Studies, and Business Data Studies or in the regular master\u2019s programmes in Criminology and Tax Law.<\/p>\n

Lack of academic skills<\/h2>

Programs often cite the requirement of academic skills that cannot be acquired in a sixty-credit bridging programme as their reason for exclusion. One programme director tells the Education Inspectorate that some UAS graduates \u2018have a particularly small chance of success because they struggle with the level\u2019. The risk exists, says another, that due to these students, \u2018the bar has to be lowered\u2019. In the report, lack of academic skills is the argument for all EUR master\u2019s programmes that are not accessible, except for one.<\/p>\n

Especially for research master\u2019s programmes, a pre-master is often not sufficient to gain the necessary research skills. But there are more reasons, as revealed by inquiries from EM<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For instance, there is not always a programme in the same field at universities of applied sciences. Or a particular master\u2019s programme requires more technical or medical knowledge or skills. \u201cWe want to facilitate and secure accessibility of university master\u2019s programmes for UAS graduates as much as possible\u201d, says rector magnificus Jantine Schuit. \u201cBut in some cases, the nature of a programme requires more than what can be offered in a one-year bridging programme or pre-master. Think for example of Medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes practical or financial considerations also play a role. For example, with \u2018a very limited intake from universities of applied sciences, it is financially unfeasible to offer a separate route to catch up on any deficiencies\u2019.<\/p>\n

Majority is accessible<\/h2>

Schuit believes that the university has a broad range of master\u2019s programmes available for students with a UAS diploma. \u201cThe majority is<\/em> accessible. If we exclude the medical master\u2019s programmes, which are not open to UAS graduates, only eight programmes from our entire master\u2019s portfolio are inaccessible. And even among the medical programmes, two research master\u2019s are accessible to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the recommendations from the Inspectorate is to reassess admission criteria: is it necessary for some master\u2019s programmes to exclude all UAS graduates? Admission and selection are areas of focus in the university\u2019s \u2018Access & Equity\u2019 policy. \u201cIn the past year, we conducted a thorough evaluation of the assessment and selection procedures for our programmes with selection. These procedures will be revised where necessary this year in light of equal opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unclear law<\/h2>

Officially, master\u2019s programmes must be accessible to everyone with a bachelor\u2019s degree. While master\u2019s programmes may set requirements for entry, they cannot \u2018exclude entire groups based on prior education\u2019, says the Inspectorate. But in practice, this does happen.<\/p>\n

Part of this is due to the law being unclear. It states that universities may refuse students if they cannot raise the knowledge and skills of an applicant within a \u2018reasonable time frame\u2019.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the inspectorate points out that it is unclear whether an inaccessible master\u2019s programme is necessarily a problem. Do all master\u2019s programmes need to provide UAS graduates with the opportunity to be admitted? Or do all UAS graduates need to have the chance to pursue a university master\u2019s?<\/p>\n

Right place<\/h2>

Rector magnificus Schuit believes it is important for the right student to end up in the right place. \u201cIn addition, we must be able to guarantee the quality of the master\u2019s programme and its alignment with the job market. This means that some programmes must be more selective, which should not be a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also see that universities of applied sciences are increasingly developing their own master\u2019s programmes, allowing UAS graduates to further specialise and develop their skills within the professional education sector\u201d, Schuit continues. \u201cThis also increases the opportunities for them to pursue a master\u2019s programme, which I consider a positive development.\u201d<\/p>\n

The inspectorate has requested clarification from the minister. Education Minister Eppo Bruins has stated that he will respond to the research before the summer.<\/p>\n\n\t

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