FAQ
May 31, 2010
General
A Neso Certificate is required by the Dutch government. Since 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 Neso China for a Neso Certificate before their visa applications can be processed. After assessing your documentation of the English language proficiency and the educational degree, diplomas and transcripts, Neso China will issue a Certificate when the assessment result is positive. This Certifi cate is called the Neso Certificate.
2. What is the usage of Neso Certificate?
The Neso Certifi cate is one of the necessary documents for applying Study MVV visa through the so called “Short MVV Procedure”. The Neso Certificate will not only ensure you that you are 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 Neso 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 forresearchers who will be employed by Dutch institutions.
4. Is the application criteria for Neso Certificate made by Neso China?
No. The application criteria are made by Dutch higher education institutions. Neso China will merely assess whether you meet the minimum requirements of the institution and the programme you apply for.
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. And Chinese students enjoy preferential treatment because they are allowed to obtain their visas for the Netherlands via the “Short MVV Procedure”. The success rate of Chinese students in the Netherlands since the introduction of the Neso Certificate is very high.
6. Are there any other organizations in China who also issue Neso Certificates?
No. Neso China is the only organization appointed by the Dutch Government to deal with this Neso Certificate for students from mainland China.
Recruitment by Dutch Institutions
7. Will the application of Neso Certificate lead to a delay of my visa application and admission to the Dutch institution?
No, you should apply for the Neso Certificate as soon as you apply for the admission to the Dutch institution. You should not wait until you have received the admission notice from the Dutch institution or programme. Your registration for the Neso Certificate should reach Neso China at least 4 months before your intended departure to the Netherlands. In most cases this will coincide with the deadline for application to the Dutch institutions.
8. Do I have to apply for a Dutch school or programme via Neso China?
Neso China provides information about Dutch institutions of higher education and study opportunities in the Netherlands, but it is not involved in the recruitment or admission of Chinese students. You can apply for a Dutch school in a variety of ways, for instance directly via internet and e-mail, or with the assistance of recruitment agencies, or through exchange programmes between institutions, or via scholarship programmes such as Huygens and the NFP programme, etc.
9. Does Neso China’s assessment replace the Dutch higher education’s assessment?
No. The assessment of the student's qualification is an independent procedure besides the admission procedure of Dutch higher education institutions.
10. Can Neso China help me to apply for an international study programme in the Netherlands?
Neso China will provide you general information about study opportunities in the Netherlands, free of charge, but it does not provide study abroad recruitment services to Chinese students. You can find relevant information at www.nesochina.org or through recruitment agencies.
Registration of Neso Certificate
11. What kind of documents are needed ?
Together with the Neso Certificate Registration Form, you need to supply a (photo)copy of a valid English Test Scores (either IELTS Academic Module or TOEFL iBT ), and, (photo) copies of your diplomas,degrees and transcripts both in English and Chinese as well as clear (photo)copies of your ID or passport.
A schooling certificate from a Chinese University or a GaoKao result are amongst the obligatory documents for students who apply for research universities (Click here). This is according to the Agreement on the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications and diplomas of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the People's Republic of China, signed in 2005.
For some senior high school applicants, GaoKao and HuiKao results (both in English and Chinese) are also required.
12. Can Chinese recruitment agency or someone else apply for “Neso Certificate” on my behalf?
In principle, yes. But you always need to provide Neso China with your home address and your private telephone and/or mobile phone numbers. Your personal signature on the Registration Form is obligatory. Registration Forms that are not properly filled-out will not be considered.
13. Can I modify my Registration Form?
The online registration form can not be modified once submitted. In case of need, you can submit a request in written form, please indicate clearly your name in Chinese, date of birth and the last school attended.
14. What is the minimum English score required to obtain a “Neso Certificate”?
Neso China does not decide the minimum IELTS or TOEFL iBT score, required to qualify for a Neso Certificate. The Dutch insititutions of higher education will specify their minimum scores. Detailed information can be found at Neso China website or Nuffic website at: http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students/dutch-higher-education/search-internationalstudy-programme/ispac_search_form
15. Can I also apply with another English proficiency test, like CET or PETS?
IELTS and TOELF iBT are the only two accepted English profi ciency tests to obtain a Neso Certifi cate.
16. Shall the diploma and transcripts be notarized before handed over to Neso China office?
No need. Legible (photo)copies in both English and Chinese language will be sufficient.
17. Do I have to go all the way to Beijing to register for a “Neso Certificate”?
No. You only need to send in your Registration Form and supplementary materials by mail or by fax (Neso China strongly recommends you to send the application materials by post mails). It is not yet possible to register by e-mail.
18. Do I need to register for a “Neso Certificate” when I am already in the Netherlands and decide to change to another Dutch school or programme?
Normally no need.
19. Do I have to register to Neso China for a “Neso Certificate” when I already study in a third country and want to apply for a Dutch institution?
Yes, you will need a MVV visa to enter the Netherlands and the Neso Certificate is required to apply for the MVV visa through the “Short MVV Procedure”. It is not a problem to apply for the Neso Certificate when you live in another country than China, because you can submit the Registration Form and required documents by mail or fax.
20. Do the applicants for PhD also need to apply for verification through CSCSE Neso?
In general no need. But if the hosting Dutch Institution will apply a ‘Study Visa’ for you through the so-called Short-MVV procedure,then Neso Certificate is necessary.
21. How about the students via exchange program?
The assessment applies to all Chinese students, whose MVV are applied for via the short MVV procedure, and who intend to stay in the Netherlands longer than three months. This includes exchange students and those with Dutch scholarships (such as Huygens and NFP). Scholarship recipients are advised to indicate this on their Neso Certificate Registration Form.
22. If I want to apply to study the courses taught in Dutch, do I need to apply for Neso Certificate?
No.
23. I will receive my diploma or degree only in July, can I also register for a “Neso Certificate” without ?
Yes. In case you are a final-year student and you have not yet received your diploma or Bachelor degree, you should submit a statement showing that you are at the time being registered as a student at the school or the university(both in the English and in the Chinese language).
24. Can we apply again if the result is negative?
Yes. You can apply again if your qualification has changed (for instance you have obtained a higher English test score or diploma/degree) or you wish to apply for a different programme in the Netherlands. The results of the assessment by Neso China may be different.
25. Can I go to the Neso China office to check whether the materials have been received?
You do not need to come to the Neso China office for checking. You can log in Neso Certificate online application system to check your status. Neso China will also inform you by e-mail. When there is no such response, you can send your enquiries to the Neso China Helpdesk:Tel: 010-6708.9311/12 ext. 218/219/208, E-mail: helpdesk@ nesochina.org.
26. Can I apply for NESO Certificate with a secondary vocational diploma?
From the academic year 2009 onwards, a secondary vocational diploma is not eligible.
About Certificates
27. How do I know when my Neso Certificate has been issued to my host institution?
You can log in Neso Certificate online application system to check the verification status. In the mean time, Neso China will inform you by e-mail as soon as it has issued your Neso Certificate and sent it to the institution in the Netherlands. Neso China will send the Certifi cate to the Dutch institution directly. You will not receive the Neso Certificate.
28. How long will it take for Neso China to issue a “Neso Certificate”?
You can register for a Neso Certifi cate at any time throughout the year. Generally speaking the average processing time per application is 3-4 weeks, but in special cases it may take maximum two months (Note:due to winter/summer vacations, some cases might need longer time). You must allow yourself an additional two months to complete the visa application procedure, therefore Neso China strongly recommends you to register for the Neso Certifi cate at least four months prior to your intended departure for the Netherlands. Thus, if you are due to start your studies at September 1, you are recommended to register for your Neso Certificate before May 1 of the same year. In case you do not yet have an efficient IELTS or TOEFL iBT scores, you must also allow yourself enough time to take the IELTS test or the TOEFL iBT test and receive the scores prior to registration to Neso China.
29. What is the period of validity of a Neso Certificate?
A Neso Certificate is valid for one programme in one institution starting from a designated date.
30 .Can I apply more than one Neso Certificate?
Yes . You can choose maximum 4 programmes in the online application system. If you have more choices than that number, please send a motivation letter to Neso China.
31 . If I have been rejected by NESO China because of providing a falsified document/information, can I register for the Neso Certificate again with corrected documents?
No. You can not apply for Neso Certificate within 2 years.
About Payment
32. How to pay the registration fee?
At present there is no payment required for a Neso Certifi cate. The Neso Certifi cate will be issued, free of change.