NUFFIC Application - Nuffic Certificate FAQ - 31 May 2010

General

1. What is Nuffic (Neso) Certificate?
The Nuffic Certificate (which was known as a Neso Certificate until 1 June 2010) is a document that provides an assessment of your English language proficiency as well as of the educational degrees and diplomas. It ensures that all Chinese students are sufficiently qualified to pursue their studies and will benefit from their stay in the Netherlands. It is required by the Dutch government that after 1st of February 2004 all Chinese students who wish to apply a ‘Study Visa' of over 90 days through ‘short MVV procedures' to the Netherlands need to register to Nuffic (Neso) China for a "Nuffic (Neso) Certificate" before their visa applications can be filed. After assessing your documentation of English language proficiency and the educational degree, diplomas and transcripts Nuffic (Neso) China will issue a Certificate to you when the assessment result is positive. This certificate is called Nuffic (Neso) Certificate.

2. What is the usage of Nuffic (Neso) Certificate?
Nuffic Certificate is one of the necessary documents for applying Study MVV visa through the so called short MVV procedures.

Nuffic Certificate will not only ensure you and other Chinese students sufficiently qualified to pursue your study but also enhance your chances to have a successful and meaningful stay in the Netherlands.

3. To whom does Nuffic Certificate apply?
This criteria applies for Chinese students who are invited by a Dutch institution of higher education via the so-called "Short MVV Procedure". It does not apply for researchers who will be in the employ of these Dutch institutions.

4. Does Nuffic itself draw up the application criteria for the Nuffic Certificate?
No. The application criteria are made by Dutch higher education institutions.

5. Is the new procedure not a form of discrimination against Chinese students?
No. On the contrary, the Netherlands government and the Dutch institutions of higher education very much welcome qualified Chinese students. In fact, the number of Chinese students in the Netherlands has risen considerably since the introduction of the Nuffic Certificate.

6. Are there any other organizations that can also issue Nuffic Certificates?
No. Nuffic is the only organization appointed by the Dutch Government to issue the Nuffic Certificate to students from China.

Recruitment by Dutch Institutions

7. I need the Nuffic certificate soon. Do you have a fast-track application procedure?
No. We recommend that you apply for the Nuffic Certificate at least four months prior to your planned departure for the Netherlands.

8. Will the application of Nuffic Certificate lead to delay the procedure for my visa application and admission to the Dutch institution?
No. Your registration for the Nuffic Certificate should reach Nuffic at least four months before your planned departure to the Netherlands.

9. Does Nuffic China's assessment replace the Dutch higher education's institution's assessment?
No. The assessment of the student's qualification for a Nuffic certificate is an independent procedure. It does not affect the admission procedures conducted by Dutch higher education institutions.

10. Do Chinese nationals who live outside China have to apply for a Nuffic Certificate too?
Yes, they will need a long stay entry visa to enter the Netherlands, and it is not possible to apply for the visa without a Nuffic Certificate.

Registration of Nuffic (Neso) Certificate

11. What kind of documents are needed for applying Nuffic Certificate?
All documents for new applications on or after 1 June must be submitted online through the application database. This applies to both the application form and all supplementary documents. This means that you will have to scan all relevant documents.Please note that you can only do this if you have createdan online accounton or after 1 June. If you have created your account before 1 June, without submitting an application, you will have to submit your documents through email.

12. Do the diploma and transcripts have to be notarized before handing them over to Nuffic?
No. Legible (photo) copies in both English and Chinese are sufficient.

13. Can I contact Nuffic to check whether my documents have been received?
There will be no need to contact Nuffic. You can log in to the Nuffic Certificate online application system and check your status by using the 'online status tracker'.

14. What is the minimum IELTS score required to obtain a "Nuffic Certificate"?
Nuffic does not decide the minimum IELTS or TOEFL iBT scores required to qualify for a Nuffic Certificate. Check the minimum requirement for your programme in our database.

15. Can I also apply with another English proficiency test, like TOEFL, CET or PETS?
No. IELTS and TOELF iBT are the only two English proficiency tests that are accepted for Nuffic Certificate applications.

16. Shall the diploma and transcripts have to be notarized before handing them over to Nuffic?
No need. Legible photocopies in both English and Chinese language will be sufficient.

17.Can my Chinese recruitment agency or someone else apply for a Nuffic Certificate on my behalf?
Yes.

18. Do students who are already in the Netherlands and decide to switch to a different Dutch school or programme need to register for a Nuffic Certificate?
No.

19. Can I apply for a Nuffic Certificate with a secondary vocational diploma?
No. From the academic year 2009 onwards, a secondary vocational diploma is no longer accepted.

20. Do the applicants for PhD programmes also need to apply for a Nuffic Certificate?
No. In Dutch immigration law, PhD candidates are not considered to be students and therefore need a different type of visa for which a Nuffic Certificate is not required.

21. How about the students via exchange program?
The assessment applies to all Chinese students, who intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than three months. This includes exchange students and those with Dutch scholarships (such as Huygens and NFP). Scholarship recipients are advised to indicate their scholarship programme on their Nuffic Certificate registration form.

22. If I want to apply to study the courses taught in Dutch, do I need to apply for Nuffic Certificate?
No.

23. I will receive my diploma later this year. Can I register for a Nuffic Certificate even though I haven't received my diploma yet?
Yes. If you are a final-year student and you have not yet received your diploma or bachelor's degree, you can submit an official statement (in Chinese and English) issued by your school or university to prove that you are currently registered as a student.

About Certificates

24. I submitted my application four weeks ago. Why hasn't my Nuffic Certificate been issued yet?
Please check first whether you have submitted all the required documents. The verification process will not start until we have received all relevant documents. In addition, the verification process may take more time around winter/summer holidays and national holidays.

25. How long will it take for Neso China to issue my Nuffic Certificate?
The average processing time is four weeks, but in special cases it may take up to two months. Please bear in mind that winter/summer holiday periods and national holidays may extend the processing time.

26. What is the period of validity of a Nuffic Certificate?
A Nuffic (Neso) Certificate is valid for one programme in one institution starting from a designated date. In case you decide to postpone your studies for the same programme in the same institute Nuffic (Neso) China can issue a new Certificate provided that the requirements of this programme is not enhanced and your IELTS score is still valid.

27. Will you send the Nuffic Certificate to me personally?
No. Your Nuffic Certificate will be sent directly to the Dutch higher education institution concerned.

About Payment

30. How to pay the registration fee?
At present there is no payment required for Nuffic (Neso) Certificate.

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