Dutch universities teach thousands of programmes in English, and English proficiency here is the highest in the world. So why learn campus Dutch at all? Because your timetable, your student portal, the canteen, the student association, and half the corridor chatter are still in Dutch. Knowing the common terms stops you from missing a deadline or feeling lost.
Words on your timetable and emails
These appear constantly, even in English programmes:
- “college” (a lecture), “hoorcollege” (a large lecture), “werkgroep” (a tutorial or seminar group)
- “tentamen” (an exam), “herkansing” (a resit), “deadline” (they use the English word too)
- “cijfer” (a grade), “voldoende” (a pass), “onvoldoende” (a fail)
- “rooster” (timetable), “inleveren” (to hand in), “aanwezigheidsplicht” (mandatory attendance)
- “studiepunten” or “EC” (credits, the Dutch ECTS points)
Things you will hear in person
- “Waar is de collegezaal?” (Where is the lecture hall?)
- “Heb jij de aantekeningen?” (Do you have the notes?)
- “Wanneer moeten we dit inleveren?” (When do we hand this in?)
- “Zullen we samen leren?” (Shall we study together?)
- “Ik heb een herkansing.” (I have a resit.)
Campus glossary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| College | Lecture |
| Werkgroep | Tutorial / seminar |
| Tentamen | Exam |
| Herkansing | Resit |
| Cijfer | Grade |
| Rooster | Timetable |
| Studiepunten / EC | Credits |
| Vereniging | Student association |
Grades, explained
Dutch grades run from 1 to 10. A “6” is usually the lowest pass (“voldoende”); anything below is “onvoldoende” (a fail). Tens are famously rare, so do not panic if your marks look low by your home country’s scale; an 8 is genuinely good. Your “studiepunten” (ECTS credits) are what you collect toward your degree, and most full-time years are 60 EC.
Student associations and social life
The fastest way to use Dutch on campus is the social side. A “vereniging” is a student association, a “borrel” is a casual drinks event, and joining one or the other gets you into Dutch conversation in a low-pressure way. Order in the canteen in Dutch, greet people in Dutch, and let the rest follow. According to Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, the Netherlands hosts well over 100,000 international students, so you are far from alone, but the ones who pick up Dutch integrate fastest.
For the wider set of daily lines, see essential Dutch phrases for international students, and if people keep switching to English on you, here is how to keep the conversation in Dutch.
First-week and library vocabulary
Your first days bring their own words. The “introductieweek” (introduction week) is where you meet your cohort, often with a “mentor” or “studieadviseur” (study adviser) to guide you. Around exams you will live in the “bibliotheek” (library) or a “studieplek” (study spot), which you sometimes have to “reserveren” (reserve) in busy periods. A few more lines that come up constantly:
- “Is deze plek vrij?” (Is this seat free?)
- “Waar kan ik printen?” (Where can I print?)
- “Mag ik dit lenen?” (May I borrow this?)
- “Ik snap het niet, kun je het uitleggen?” (I do not get it, can you explain it?)
None of this requires fluency. It requires the ten or fifteen words that actually appear in your week, which is exactly the situation-based way to learn that works best for busy students.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that turns the phrases above into short, five-minute lessons with audio, built for expats in the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking Belgium.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common Dutch phrases heard at a Dutch university?
The most common are timetable and study words: college (lecture), werkgroep (seminar), tentamen (exam), herkansing (resit), cijfer (grade), and rooster (timetable), plus everyday greetings and canteen phrases. They appear in portals and emails even in English-taught programmes.
Are Dutch university classes in English or Dutch?
Many bachelor’s and most master’s programmes are taught in English, but administration, some electives, and campus life often run in Dutch. Knowing a few campus terms helps you follow timetables and emails.
What does tentamen mean?
Tentamen is the Dutch word for an exam or test. A herkansing is a resit, and your cijfer is your grade, on a scale of 1 to 10 where a 6 or higher is usually a pass (voldoende).
Do I need Dutch to study at a Dutch university?
No, you can complete an English-taught programme without Dutch. But basic Dutch helps with admin, housing, part-time work, and making Dutch friends, so most international students pick up a practical level.
