Dutch education vocabulary is essential for expat families, international students, and anyone reading Dutch news about society. The Dutch school system: de basisschool (primary school, ages 4–12), het voortgezet onderwijs (secondary education), within which: vmbo (pre-vocational secondary), havo (higher general continued education, 5 years), vwo (pre-university, 6 years). After secondary: het mbo (vocational college), het hbo (university of applied sciences), de universiteit (research university).
Classroom vocabulary: de klas (class/classroom), de leraar (teacher), het schoolbord (blackboard), het bureau (desk), het huiswerk (homework), de toets (test/quiz), het examen (exam), het rapport (report card), het cijfer (grade/mark), slagen (to pass), zakken (to fail — informal), studeren (to study), leren (to learn/to study).
University life: de student (student), het studieboek (textbook), het tentamen (university exam), de scriptie (thesis/dissertation), afstuderen (to graduate), het diploma (diploma/degree), de beurs (scholarship/bursary), het collegegeld (tuition fee), de minor (minor subject), de major (major subject). Dutch universities are internationally respected and many courses are taught in English, making education vocabulary particularly relevant for the international community.