General info
Dutch higher education programmes (or tracks contained within such programmes) may get permission from the Minister of Education, Culture and Science to select students at the start of the programme and demand a higher legal tuition fee, if they meet the criteria for the special feature “Small-scale and intensive education”.
This concerns programmes with small-scale and intensive education that aim for an above average education efficiency and where the activities inside and outside the curriculum are connected. The criteria for the special feature are included in the framework: ‘criteria pertaining to distinctive feature of “Small-scale and intensive education”’ of January 2018 of NVAO.
Cross check with the practice
The first awarding of this special feature is based on an ex ante assessment, based on plans that provide a clear picture of the ambitions regarding small-scale and intensive education. Six years after obtaining the permission by the Minister, the programme carries out a practice-based assessment on the basis of the achieved results of the small-scale and intensive education. The practice-based assessment may also take place earlier than after six years if there is enough achieved result to be assessed.
NVAO prefers that the special feature small-scale and intensive education is assessed in the context of a regular assessment of existing or new programmes. However, an application for the special feature can be submitted separately. In that case, NVAO convenes a panel for the assessment. A site visit is always part of the procedure.
The criteria and the procedure of the practice-based assessment are described in: ‘criteria pertaining to distinctive feature of “Small-scale and intensive education”’. Programmes or tracks within that have obtained the special feature on the basis of the 2011 frameworks should apply the separate Guidelines for the practice-based assessment of January 2018 for the practice-based assessment.
Rates
In 2024, the rate for the assessment of a special feature small-scale and intensive education outside an accrediation procedure for new programmes is EUR 23.000. The rate for an accrediation procedure for new programmes including special feature small-scale and intensive education amounts EUR 23.000.
Different rates apply for other or non-standard procedures. The costs of visits abroad, work performed by external experts, advisory work, or work associated with additional requirements will be invoiced additionally. Residual rates apply if applications for the accreditation of a new programme are withdrawn.
