Dutch Degree Evaluation: Diplomas, Transcripts and Translation for U.S. Use

A Dutch degree evaluation tells U.S. universities, employers, licensing boards and USCIS what your diploma from the Netherlands is worth in the American system. If your documents are in Dutch, you also need a Dutch translation that meets U.S. credential evaluation requirements. This guide covers both, for every level from the HAVO and VWO diploma to MBO, HBO and WO degrees and the doctorate, and it is written for people who studied in the Netherlands or Flanders and for the immigration lawyers who prepare their H-1B, EB-2 or green card files. MotaWord evaluates Dutch credentials for $65 with delivery in 72 hours.

The Netherlands Education System

Secondary School: VMBO, HAVO and VWO

After primary school, Dutch students follow one of three secondary tracks:

• VMBO: Four years of pre-vocational education that lead to MBO.
• HAVO: Five years of senior general secondary education that give access to HBO.
• VWO: Six years of pre-university education (atheneum or gymnasium) that give access to WO and HBO.

Each track ends with a national final exam (eindexamen) and a diploma with a list of grades.

MBO, HBO and WO

• MBO (Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs): Vocational education at four levels. Level 4 gives access to HBO.
• HBO (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs): Professional higher education at universities of applied sciences (hogescholen). It offers the two-year Associate degree (120 ECTS), the four-year bachelor's degree (240 ECTS) and professional master's programs.
• WO (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs): Research-oriented education at research universities. It offers a three-year bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), master's programs of one to three years (60 to 180 ECTS) and the doctorate (PhD).

Before the Bologna reform, WO graduates earned the doctoraal degree with titles such as drs., mr. (law) and ir. (engineering), and HBO graduates used titles such as ing. and bc. Programs in both the Netherlands and Flanders are accredited by the NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders). Read our guide to Bologna Process degrees across Europe.

The Dutch Grading System

Dutch grades run from 1 (very poor) to 10 (excellent), and 5.5 or 6 is usually the lowest passing grade. Grades of 9 and 10 are rare, and an 8 is already a very good result. A degree awarded with distinction says cum laude or met lof. A literal conversion, such as 7/10 to 70%, would understate a solid Dutch record, so evaluators use a scale built for Dutch institutions.

How Dutch Credentials Are Evaluated in the U.S.

A U.S. evaluator looks at the level of each credential, its length in years and ECTS, its entry requirements, the accreditation of the program and your results. The table shows how Dutch credentials are often compared. Results depend on the program and the evaluator, and the evaluation report decides. Find out how a diploma evaluation compares Dutch and Belgian degrees to U.S. ones.

HBO and WO Bachelor's Degrees

The four-year HBO bachelor's degree is usually the simplest case. The three-year WO bachelor's degree needs more detail: many evaluators find it comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree because it follows the six-year VWO track, while others describe it as three years of undergraduate study, depending on the program and the purpose. For USCIS cases, a three-year degree is sometimes combined with a master's degree or work experience.

Master's Degrees and the Doctorate

A WO master's degree after a WO bachelor's degree is often found comparable to a U.S. master's degree, and longer research master's programs support that result well. HBO master's programs are evaluated by their length and content. A Dutch doctorate is usually found comparable to a U.S. doctoral degree. In licensed fields such as medicine, law or engineering, U.S. boards have their own requirements beyond the evaluation.

Belgian Degree Equivalency for U.S. Use

Dutch is also the language of Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, so many Dutch-language diplomas are Belgian. Flemish universities award academic bachelor's degrees of 180 ECTS and master's degrees of 60 to 120 ECTS, and university colleges (hogescholen) award professional bachelor's degrees of 180 ECTS. Belgian grades usually run from 0 to 20, with 10 as the pass mark, and distinctions such as met onderscheiding or grote onderscheiding show honors.

U.S. evaluators look beyond credit totals to the type of program, its recognition and its admission requirements. A Belgian master's degree is often found comparable to a U.S. master's degree, but not automatically, so a full review of the program matters.

Transcripts, Grade Conversion and GPA

Your transcript (cijferlijst, or the list of grades attached to your diploma) shows each course, its ECTS credits and your grade. There are two types of report:

• General Evaluation: States the U.S. equivalent of each diploma. It is usually enough for USCIS petitions and most employers.
• Course-by-Course Evaluation: Lists every course with U.S. credits and grades and calculates a U.S. GPA. U.S. universities, credit transfer offices and many licensing boards ask for it.

See how a course-by-course evaluation converts Dutch grades into a U.S. GPA.

Documents You Need for a Dutch Degree Evaluation

Prepare clear scans or photos of:

• Your diploma (getuigschrift) and the list of grades attached to it
• Your full transcript, including the grading legend on the back
• Your Diploma Supplement, which many Dutch universities issue in English
• An extract from the DUO diploma register, if your school or employer asks for proof
• Certified English translations of every document that is only in Dutch

Include every page, even if the back only shows a grading scale, and keep names exactly as they appear on your passport. Read our answers to commonly asked questions about academic evaluations.

Dutch Translation for U.S. Credential Evaluation Requirements

An evaluation-ready translation covers more than the main text. It includes every stamp, seal, signature block and registrar note, terms such as Examencommissie, and the grading legend, in the same order as the original. A summary translation is not enough for official use, and a single skipped page can send your file back. See how we translate diplomas for academic evaluations.

Every certified translation from MotaWord carries a signed certificate of accuracy. USCIS asks for a full English translation with a certification from a competent translator, and it does not require the translator to belong to a particular association. If you already have a professional translation, our evaluators can review it with your evaluation. If not, certified translation can be added to your evaluation order at the quote stage, where our system detects non-English documents.

Certified Dutch and Flemish Translation

Certified translations cost $24.50 per page, with delivery in as little as 12 hours and free digital notarization. See our certified Dutch translation services. Flemish records use their own terms and grading, and our translators keep them exactly as printed. See our certified Flemish translation services. Our 26,000+ professional translators work in 120+ languages.

How MotaWord Evaluates Your Dutch Credentials

Our evaluators write each report to the standard the USCIS Policy Manual describes for credential evaluations: credible, logical and well documented. The officer, the school or the employer makes the final decision, and a clear report helps them make it. Some universities and licensing boards accept only reports from NACES member agencies, and MotaWord is not a NACES member, so check their list before you order.

1. Upload: Upload your diploma, list of grades and transcript and get an instant quote with price and delivery time.
2. Document Check: We confirm that your file is complete and add certified translation if your documents are in Dutch.
3. Evaluation: Our evaluators review the HBO or WO level, ECTS totals, program length, accreditation and grades, and state the U.S. equivalent.
4. Download: Your report appears in your MotaWord client dashboard, where you can follow your order and download your invoices.

A general evaluation costs $65 with delivery in 72 hours, or $115 for same-day delivery when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday. A course-by-course evaluation costs $120, or $200 same day. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified, and live chat is available 24/7 for support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an HBO bachelor's degree equal to a U.S. bachelor's degree?

A four-year, 240 ECTS HBO bachelor's degree is usually found comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

Is a three-year WO bachelor's degree recognized in the U.S.?

It is a recognized degree, and many evaluators find it comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, while others describe it as three years of study. The program and the purpose of the evaluation matter.

Does USCIS require NACES membership?

USCIS does not require a NACES member for translations, and its policy does not name specific evaluation agencies. Some universities and licensing boards do require NACES members, and MotaWord is not one, so check their rules.

Which Dutch documents need to be translated?

Your diploma, your list of grades, your full transcript and any registrar notes or Diploma Supplement pages that are not in English. Include the back of each page.

Can you use my existing Dutch translation?

Yes. If you already have a professional translation, our evaluators can review it. If not, you can add certified translation to your evaluation order.

Which evaluation do I need for an H-1B petition?

A general evaluation that states the U.S. equivalent of your degree is usually enough. See how our education evaluation supports H-1B petitions.

Get Your Dutch Degree Evaluated

With a complete translation and a clear report, your Dutch or Belgian degree is ready for school, work or immigration. Order an academic evaluation of your Dutch diplomas with MotaWord, and talk to us on live chat 24/7 if you have a question.

Mark Rogers - Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord

Written and reviewed by Mark Rogers, Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord, drawing on the team's experience evaluating and translating Dutch and Belgian diplomas and transcripts for U.S. use. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified and a corporate member of the ATA and ITI, providing academic evaluations and certified translations in 120+ languages. See our academic evaluation for employment in the U.S. →