Havo en vwo.

The difference between havo and vwo?

Vwo lasts six years and is mainly a preparation for the wo (scientific education). With a vwo diploma your child can go to university or hbo. Your child can also go to mbo, if they have a transition certificate from 3 to 4 vwo.

Havo lasts 5 years and prepares for hbo (higher professional education). Your child can also go to mbo, if they have a transition certificate from 3 to 4 havo.

The structure of havo

Havo stands for higher general education. With a havo diploma your child can go to an hbo course or vwo. Havo students are called ‘havisten’. Havisten take exams in 7 subjects.

The structure of vwo

Vwo stands for preparatory scientific education. Vwo lasts 6 years. With a vwo diploma your child can go to university or hbo. Your child can also go to mbo, if they have a transition certificate from 3 to 4 vwo. Vwo students take exams in at least 8 subjects.

Within vwo there is a difference between atheneum and gymnasium. At gymnasium all students learn Greek and Latin in the lower years and Greek and/or Latin in the upper years. The diploma shows if a student followed gymnasium or atheneum.

Broad bridge classes

Many schools offer broad bridge classes in the lower years, such as havo/vwo. This gives students more time to develop and reach a suitable level.

Mandatory subjects and profile choice

In the first three years of havo and vwo students follow a general set of mandatory subjects. At the end of the third year each student chooses a profile. Students can choose from four profiles.

• nature and technology;
• nature and health;
• economy and society;
• culture and society.

Moving from havo to vwo

If your child wants to go to vwo after getting the havo diploma, the school entry requirements must be met. You can ask the school where your child wants to follow vwo about this.