News item | 30-03-2026 | 07:00
In the Netherlands, you can now only obtain a doctorate at university. But if it is up to the government, you will soon also be able to obtain a doctorate degree at higher professional education. Today the first draft of the legislative change required for this will be made public.
Responsible Minister Rianne Letschert (Education, Culture and Science): “Practical research is of great value in providing us with solutions to social problems, and is often directly applicable for companies, for example. I think it is important to really appreciate such research. A legally recognized degree is part of that. It is good that it is now available, this is really a missing piece of the puzzle.”
Two new degrees in education system
The change in the law adds two official degrees in education. A degree is an internationally recognizable title that you obtain after completing a course or research. Well-known examples are Doctor or Master. Professional Doctor (PD) will soon be added, which you can become after a practice-oriented research project of 4-6 years. And you can also obtain a new legal degree at university: Engineering Doctor (EngD). This process has been around for some time, but until now there was no degree or title associated with it. It lasts two years and focuses on technological designs.
Practice-oriented research of great social importance
Various reports, for example from OECD and Rathenau, show that the Netherlands needs more people who further develop their knowledge and skills after their master’s degree. They are needed to solve the major problems of our time. Practice-oriented research is of great value.
The fact that this is of great value is evident from a trial that has been running in recent years in collaboration with the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences and the Regieorgaan SIA. An example is research together with the catering industry into reducing plastic soup in the sea. Or developing AI-controlled energy systems in buildings that relieve the burden on the power grid. Also consider innovations to quickly detect illegal graves, important in forensic investigations. Each one is valuable and immediately applicable.
Maurice Limmen of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences: “The professional doctorate trains people who, together with companies and institutions, create innovations in a professional practice that is changing rapidly due to technological developments such as artificial intelligence. The legal anchoring of the PD would therefore be very good news for our economy and society, especially at this time. And a milestone for higher professional education.”
Comparable to a promotion at university
It is planned that students with a master’s degree will be able to follow the legally recognized PD or EngD trajectory from the 2027-2028 academic year. The bill stipulates that both paths have the same level of difficulty as obtaining a PhD at university, but with a different orientation. This really enriches the education system, offering a great new opportunity for further development for both higher professional and university master students and professionals.
Amendment to the ambition of the coalition agreement
The government’s ambition is to stimulate practice-oriented research, as stated in the coalition agreement. Being able to do a PhD at higher professional education fits in with this. To regulate this, the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act (WHW) must be amended. The legislative process starts today with internet consultation, the next steps are advice from the Council of State and discussion of the law in the House of Representatives and Senate.
