In university-type institutions, university-level studies dominate; in colleges, non-university-level studies dominate. Higher education institutions can be of two types: state and non-state. Non-state higher education institutions can carry out their practice according to a license issued by the Government. STUDIES AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: Higher education qualifications can only be acquired at higher education institutions. Non-university-level studies are organized in one-cycle undergraduate studies. University-level studies are organized in three cycles: first cycle (undergraduate); second cycle (graduate); and third cycle (post-graduate). Integrated studies lead directly to a Master's Degree and/or a professional qualification, by combining the first and second cycles of university-level studies. Professional specialization studies are organized at the second cycle after university-level studies (Bachelor or equivalent in the field of the specialization) to acquire a professional qualification in a certain field the third cycle trains researchers; art teachers, artists and medical practitioners. Studies follow the programmes registered by the Ministry of Education and Science. The quality of the programmes as well as the educational and scientific activities of higher education institutions are periodically assessed by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education.

Study is finished by a certificate, a specific exam on selected subjects, a practical exam and the defense of a graduate examination paper – of course, everything in relation to the subject studied. Together with the certificate, students are awarded the title of certified specialist (the abbreviation DiS. is added after a name).

 At vocational colleges, students must pay tuition fees. These tuition fees range from several thousand Czech crowns per year to several tens of thousands.

University education is available to all applicants with completed secondary education (i.e. leaving exam) who successfully pass the entrance exam. The system of entrance exams is specified individually by each college, and serves for testing the knowledge and skills of applicants.

Upon obtaining a Master's Degree or Specialist, a student may enter a university or a scientific institute to pursue postgraduate education. The first level of postgraduate education is aspirantura that usually results in the Candidate of Sciences. Candidates must pass three qualifying exams (in the field of specialty, in a foreign language of their choice and in philosophy), publish at least three scientific articles, write a dissertation and defend it. This degree is roughly equivalent to the Ph.D. in the United States. After graduation a student may continue postgraduate education.

Higher education in Belgium is organized by the two main communities, the Flemish Community and the French Community. German speakers typically enroll in institutions in the French Community or in Germany.

In Belgium anybody with a qualifying diploma of secondary education is free to enroll at any institute of higher education of their choosing.

The registration fee for any university or college is fixed by the government, and indexed yearly. Depending on whether the student is eligible and applies for financial aid.

The higher education sector comprises educational programmes at the universities and university colleges. Admission to these programmes is normally contingent upon completion of three years of upper secondary education. With the exception of a few privately-run institutes, all institutions of higher education are operated by the state. However, each institution enjoys a large degree of academic and administrative autonomy.

There are two sectors in the tertiary education: universities and polytechnics. When recruiting new students, the national matriculation examination and entrance examinations are used as criteria for student selection. The focus for universities is research, and they give a more theoretical education. The polytechnics focus on practical skills and seldom pursue research, but they do engage in industry development projects.

Educational system in Iceland is one of the best in the world. The fundamental principle of the Icelandic educational system is that everyone should have equal opportunities to acquire an education, irrespective of sex, economic status, residential location, religion, possible handicap, and cultural or social background. Education in Iceland has traditionally been organized within the public sector, and there are very few private institutions in the school system. Almost all private schools receive public funding.

Higher education in the Netherlands is offered at two types of institutions: research universities and universities of professional education. The former comprise general universities and universities specializing in engineering and agriculture. The latter comprise general institutions and institutions specializing in a particular field, such as agriculture, fine and performing arts, or teacher training.

Since September 2002, the higher education system in the Netherlands has been organized around a three-cycle system consisting of Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degrees. At the same time, the ECTS credit system was adopted as a way of quantifying periods of study. The higher education system continues, however, to be a binary system with a distinction between research-oriented education and professional higher education.

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