Choosing a course
Not everybody can choose their own course.
Asylum status holder
If you are an , the decides which course you take. The municipality also determines when your integration is complete. This is written in your personal integration and participation plan (PIP).
No asylum status holder
Are you not an asylum status holder, but did you for instance come to the Netherlands to be with your family or partner? Then you can choose your own course. But the municipality decides what educational route you need to take. This is written in your personal integration and participation plan (PIP). The municipality also decides when your integration is complete.
You need to choose your own course. You have completed your integration once you have passed the integration exam. If you want to integrate with the Dutch as a second language (Nt2) state exam, the following applies:
- If you were already required to integrate before 2015, you only need to pass the Nt2 State exam.
- Are you required to integrate from between 1 Januari 2015 and 1 October 2017? Then you need to pass the Nt2 State exam and 2 other exams: Knowledge of Dutch society (KNM) and Orientation on the Dutch Labout Market (ONA).
- Are you required to integrate from between 1 Januari 2011 and 1 January 2022? Then you need to pass the Nt2 State exam and 2 other exams: Knowledge of Dutch society (KNM) and Orientation on the Dutch Labout Market (ONA). You also need to sign the participation statement.
There are 3 types of courses:
- Dutch as a second language (Nt2)
- Integration course
- Literacy course
1. Dutch as a second language course
During a Dutch as a Second Language (Nt2) course you will learn Dutch well. After the course, you take the Nt2 State exam. Link opent externe pagina
Do you want to study or work? If so, an Nt2 course is the best option for you. There are 2 exam programmes: programme I en programme II.
- Programme I (language proficiency level B1) is suitable for people aiming to work or study at the level of MBO (secondary vocational education) 3 or MBO 4.
- Programme II (language proficiency level B2) is suitable for people aiming to work or study at the level of HBO (higher professional education) or university.
2. Integration course
You will learn Dutch in the integration course (language proficiency level A2). After following this course, you take the integration exam.
3. Literacy course
Only if you can’t read or write (well), you choose a literacy course. There you will learn to read and write. And you will learn Dutch as well.
Usually you still need to take the integration course after the literacy course, and pass the integration exam.