Education
Your qualification, explained.
Understand what a job asks for, describe what you hold and plan what comes next. Aruban, Dutch, US and other international qualifications are read the same way: what was awarded, by whom, under which system.
Start with your situation
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I am hiring
Ask for the qualification the role really needs, and say what else is acceptable.
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I hold a qualification
Describe it the way it was awarded, so an employer can read it.
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I plan to study in the Netherlands
Entry, funding and settling in, with who decides each.
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I am looking at the US or elsewhere
Recognition first. The same questions work in any system.
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How education works in Aruba
Three routes, and how they connect
School is compulsory from age 4 to 16. Primary school runs from 6 to 12.
General secondary
- MAVO 4 years Opens vocational education (EPI).
- HAVO 5 years Opens higher professional education (HBO).
- VWO 6 years Opens university (WO) and HBO.
Vocational
- EPB 4 years Three levels. The advancement level opens EPI.
- EPI 3 or 4 years Levels 3 and 4. Leads to work, and in some cases to HBO.
Higher education
- IPA 4 years Teacher training only (HBO bachelor).
- University of Aruba 1 to 4 years HBO and WO bachelor and master programmes.
Structure and years as described by Nuffic. Colegio EPI and the University of Aruba publish current programmes. Nuffic read 17 October 2026 (opens another site)
Compared with Dutch qualifications
What Nuffic says an Aruban diploma compares with
These are Nuffic's published general comparisons. They help you read a qualification. They are not an admission decision, a hiring rule or a ranking. For the EPI level 4 diploma Nuffic says its comparison applies to checking access to Dutch higher education; for work, it points to the Dutch evaluation bodies.
| Aruban qualification | Compared with | NLQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma Educacion Profesional Basico (EPB), advancement level | VMBO kader (vocational pathway) | Level 2 |
| Diploma Middelbaar Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (MAVO) | VMBO-T | Level 2 |
| Diploma Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs (EPI), level 4 | MBO level 4 | Level 4 |
| Diploma Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs (HAVO) | HAVO | Level 4 |
| Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) | VWO | Level 4+ |
| Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Aruba | HBO bachelor | Level 6 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Organization, Governance and Management, University of Aruba | WO bachelor | Level 6 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Aruba | HBO master | Level 7 |
A selection. Nuffic lists 17 Aruban diplomas. Nuffic read 17 October 2026 (opens another site)
Four habits that keep a qualification honest
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Original first
Keep the title as awarded. Never replace it with another country's label.
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Recognition before comparison
Check the institution and programme before asking what it equals.
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A comparison has a scope
Who compared it, when, and for what: admission to study is not a hiring rule.
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Admission is a separate decision
The receiving programme or authority decides. A comparison does not.
Sources and how they were read
- Nuffic · Aruban diplomas compared with Dutch ones Read in full, with the primary, vocational and higher education pages. Compared 17 October 2026. Official source · Verified · next check due 15 April 2027 General comparisons, not decisions about one person.
Planning guidance only. The authority or institution named on each step decides; requirements, fees and deadlines change.
Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice.