You start a study at the HBO and everyone there talks about it: Propaedeutic or called your ‘P’. Questions are often: Do you already have your foundation year? What do you have to get to have your ‘P’? But what exactly is your propaedeutic phase? This article will become more clear about the word Propaedeutic phase.
The word ‘foundation year’
The propaedeutic phase means the propaedeutic phase. This is another word for preparation or prior education. This word is often used in HBO bachelor courses. Universities also ask about your propaedeutic phase if you want to go from HBO to University.
Why is your foundation year so important?
Your propaedeutic phase is important because you have to pass it in order to continue your study or to transfer to the University. You can pass your propaedeutic year in 1 academic year, but it can also take 2 years. If you do not pass your propaedeutic certificate within 2 years, you often have to leave school.
Propaedeutic phase and your further study at HBO level
If you do a higher professional education, you can earn 60 credits or study points in 1 year. You will receive these points when you take tests with a result that is at least sufficient. HBO courses often work in blocks of about 10 weeks. You can obtain a number of credits per block, which together amount to 60 credits at the end of the year. If you have obtained these 60 points, you will have passed your propaedeutic phase or your ‘P’. Of course there is also the chance that you will not pass tests in one go. You can often retake your test in the same academic year. If you pass the test in that year, you will still have passed your propaedeutic phase. It may also be that you have a lot of difficulty with a certain subject and therefore have to retake the test more often. This happens in the second year, you can then take the test with the students from the first year and sometimes take the lessons with them. If you have not obtained your propaedeutic certificate within 2 years, and therefore you have obtained 60 credits, you must leave school because you are not ‘HBO worthy’. Even if you are already in the second year, you have to start the next higher professional education again in the first year. If you have obtained your 60 points within 2 years, you can continue studying in the study program and there is nothing to worry about.
Propaedeutic phase and your further studies at the University
To be admitted to the University you must have a VWO diploma or have completed your HBO education. However, there is still a possibility to be admitted to the University, namely by passing your propaedeutic certificate. When you have passed your propaedeutic year, you can start studying at the University. Suppose you have completed HAVO, it took you 5 years to obtain your diploma. Then you will study HBO for a year and you will pass your propaedeutic certificate in 1 year, then you can simply end up in class with people from your old school who obtained their VWO diploma that year, since this is a 6-year course. So if you pass your propaedeutic phase in 1 year of HBO after HAVO, you will not lose more time than a person who has completed VWO and goes directly to the University.
How do people know that I have passed my propaedeutic year?
Your foundation year is often awarded at school, this is often at the end of the first year. You will then receive an official document stating that you have passed your propaedeutic year. This is also registered at school. If you have not passed your propaedeutic certificate within the first year, you can collect it later from, for example, your mentor or the director. You will therefore always receive a document with your name and the fact that you have passed your propaedeutic year.