Before you choose a study, you should have a good idea of ​​yourself. Answer the following questions:

1. Why do you want to study? 
2. What do you find important in a study? 
3. What do you find important in a job? 
4. What do you find important in your personal life? 
5. What do you want to achieve? Where will you be in ten years? 
6. Are there people who support you? Who? 
7. What are you most proud of when you look at what you've done so far? 
8. What gives you energy? What motivates and inspires you? 

Professions and education are divided into the following sectors: 

• Healthcare and wellness 
• Trade and services 
• ICT 
• Justice, security and public administration 
• Environment and Agricultural sector 
• Media and communications 
• Education, culture and science 
• Engineering, production and construction 
• Tourism, recreation and catering 
• Transport and logistics 

Which sector appeals to you the most?

If you want to read more about these sectors, look here.  

Do you find the questions difficult to answer so far? You can take many different free tests on the internet. For these tests you need a computer and you must create an account. You will receive the tests by email. It is important that you answer all test questions honestly.

What do you want to test? Choose the test you need.

Op Study choice tests and tips – Leiden University you will find these tests, among others:

• Take this test if you don't yet know why you want to study.
• 2 Study choice tests. Test 1 provides an overview of suitable courses based on your interests. Test 2 examines what types of professions suit your personality and which studies match this.
• Is it about what you are good at, what you do well, what you would like to develop further in? 
• Personal values ​​test. This test helps you understand what you find important in a job.

Op Studiekeuze123.nl: you will find, among other things, an interest test, personality meter and orientation meter.

Op www.icares.com you will find tests for different courses and interests.

Op www.mbostart.nl you can take a career test in connection with a MBO education.

See also the website of the Free University.

Some schools also offer interest tests, contact the college, university or ROC in your region about the possibilities. 

Tell your partner, parents, friend or student counselor what you learned from the tests. The better you know which study you want to choose, the clearer you can say it. Do you find it difficult to talk about the choice? Then continue searching. These are all things you can do yourself: 

• Visit an open day at an educational institution (see the website of the program or www.tkmst.nl of mbostart). 
• Request a meeting with a study advisor at an educational institution. 
• Join a study for a day. You can arrange this via the website or a study advisor. 
• Request a brochure or study guide. Also see study choice123. 

• Arrange a meeting with another refugee student. You can arrange this through your student counselor at the UAF. 
• Speak to someone who does all the work you'd like to do. 
• Find out what kind of work you can do with the study of your choice. 
• Find out whether the study matches your interests and qualities. 

• Find out if the training has been properly assessed.
  

Which of these activities have you done? 

What did you find out? 

Note: Can you also follow your studies in Dutch? Then choose to study in Dutch and not in English. This increases your chances of finding work in the Netherlands. In the beginning this takes a lot of time and effort. And it's hard. We know from the experience of refugee students that it is getting easier. 

When refugees start their studies, they are on average around thirty years old. That age is too high for some studies. Not every educational variant is then feasible. When choosing a study, think carefully about these questions: 

1. Do you meet the admission requirements? 
2. Do you have enough time, energy and money for your studies? 
3. Are there things that make your studies difficult? Consider, for example, the situation of your family, an illness or the municipality. 
4. Are you prepared to study for many years and have little free time? 
5. Can you handle stress? 

You have gone through the steps. You now have an idea of ​​what study you would like to do. Then below are a few more questions to summarize 

1. Which study will you choose? 
2. What admission requirements do you have to meet? 
3. Do you comply? 
4. What is the chance that you will successfully complete this study? Enter a number between 1 (low) and 10 (high) 
5. Why do you think it is?