Choosing an inburgering school: who chooses, loans, and questions to ask

Choosing an inburgering school starts with one question: are you allowed, or required, to choose it yourself? Under the Wet inburgering 2021, asylum status holders normally have their school and course arranged by the gemeente (municipality). Family migrants and most people under the old Wet inburgering 2013 usually choose a school themselves. If you use a DUO loan, choose a school listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl with the Blik op Werk quality mark.

• An asielstatushouder (asylum status holder) under Wet inburgering 2021 normally does not choose the school; the gemeente arranges this.
• A gezinsmigrant (family migrant) under Wet inburgering 2021 usually chooses and pays for the school, but the gemeente decides the learning route in the PIP.
• People under Wet inburgering 2013 usually choose their own course and should check Mijn Inburgering for the required exams.
• If you want to use a DUO loan, the course must be at an approved school on zoekinburgerschool.nl.
• DUO loan money is not paid into your bank account. DUO pays the course or exam provider, and that amount becomes your loan.
• Do not compare only the monthly price. Compare total cost, lesson hours, class size, teacher support, computers, level mix and student reviews.
• Ask for contract rules before you sign: cancellation, payment schedule, missed lessons, switching groups and support after a failed exam.

The confusing part is that Dutch rules separate the school, the course and the learning route. A taalschool is the language school. A cursus is the course you follow there. The leerroute is your official route, such as the B1 route, education route or Z-route. Your PIP, the persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie, says what applies to you under the 2021 law.

• Wet inburgering 2021, asylum status holder: the municipality chooses the school and decides which course fits your PIP.
• Wet inburgering 2021, not an asylum status holder: you usually choose the school and course yourself, but the municipality still sets the learning route in your PIP.
• Wet inburgering 2013: you choose your own course. Use Mijn Inburgering to check which exams you still need.
• Voluntary integration: you usually choose your own school. Check DUO loan rules first if you want financial help.

DUO says that if you must choose a school yourself, you should use zoekinburgerschool.nl. The schools there have the Blik op Werk-keurmerk, a quality mark for integration schools. The practical reason is simple: DUO loans can be used only for approved schools. If you sign with another provider, DUO will not pay that course with your integration loan.

This does not mean every approved school is perfect for you. It means the school is eligible for the official system. You still need to compare the daily reality: how many hours you get, how big the group is, whether students have the same level, whether computers are available, and whether other students are satisfied.

A friendly school is not enough if the course does not match your goal. DUO describes three main course types: a Dutch course at B1 or B2 level, an A2-level integration course, and an alfabetiseringscursus for people who first need to learn to read and write well. If you want to work or study at a higher level, ask whether a B1 or B2 path is realistic. If reading and writing are difficult in any language, ask about literacy support before starting a normal A2 group.

A good school should be able to answer practical questions clearly. If the answer is vague, slow down. You are not just buying lessons; you are choosing the routine that will shape your week for months.

• What is the total course price, including books, intake, tests, online material and administration costs?
• How many lesson hours do I get each week, and how many hours must I study at home?
• How many people are in one class, and are they at the same Dutch level?
• Is the teacher experienced with NT2 learners and inburgering exams?
• Can I use computers at school if I do not have one at home?
• Can I try one lesson or speak with a current student before signing?
• What happens if I miss lessons because of work, childcare, illness or an appointment at the gemeente?
• Can I change group, pause, cancel or get money back if the course does not fit?
• Does the school help with exam planning, or only with language lessons?

Some inburgeraars can borrow from DUO for a course and exams. DUO says asylum status holders under Wet inburgering 2021 cannot borrow because the municipality pays the course and two exam attempts. Many other inburgeraars can usually borrow, but you must check your own situation. The important detail is that DUO does not put the money in your bank account. DUO pays the approved school or exam provider, and the paid amount becomes your loan.

Before signing, ask the school to explain how invoices work with DUO. Also read the loan conditions yourself. A school may help with forms, but you are still responsible for understanding the debt, repayment and what happens if you stop the course.

• The school pushes you to sign immediately before you have checked your PIP or DUO letter.
• The price is unclear, or books and extra modules are mentioned only after you ask.
• The school says DUO will pay, but it is not listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl.
• The class mixes beginners with much stronger students without a clear plan.
• Nobody can explain what happens if you fail an exam, miss lessons or need to change schedule.
• The school promises guaranteed exam success. Real schools can support you, but they cannot guarantee your result.

If you are just starting, read the DUO letter guide and the PIP guide. If money is the main question, use the DUO loan guide and the costs guide. If you are deciding whether school is necessary at all, compare this with the self-study versus school guide.