First of all those from the 'hogescholen' (higher vocational education or HBO). Attending a HBO school students can become a bachelor in four years. After graduation they can start working and if they want to go back to school later they can become a master at an HBO-master programme.
HBO graduates (i.e. bachelors) can also attend a university-master programme - as long as they meet the conditions set by the university. They can even be admitted immediately as a PhD-student. This last is already the case.
At university students become a bachelor in three years. They can get a job then, but the expectation is that most will go on to a master programme. Most studies will have a master programme of one year only. University students, therefore, can become a master in four years. The titles granted by hogescholen and universities will not be identical. Hermans has asked the hogescholen to formulate an addition to the HBO-title that will prevent confusion with the university titles.
Hermans expects that there will be increased variety because of the bachelor-master model, especially at universities. There will be broad bachelor programmes, preparing for different masters. But there is also room for bachelor programmes targeted at one specific subject, who will allow entry into just as specific master programmes.
Differentiation is also expected in the master phase. There certainly will be top master programmes for so-called 'excellent' students. Besides that there can be varieties of purpose (profession or research) and form (full time or in combination with a job).
