FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Before you contact us, check possible answers here:

What kind of people are doing the Ayurveda Practitioner Studies? Would I fit in?

At Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands, we welcome students of different ages, countries and backgrounds. Our students’ ages have ranged from early-20s to mid-70s. You are never too young or too old to study ayurveda! Some students have a background in ayurveda or healthcare, some have had a very different career, yet others come directly from high school into our study program. If you wonder whether you would fit in and want to have a chat, contact us at [email protected]. 

How much time will I need to study each month?

The Ayurveda Practitioner Studies is a part-time 4-year study program. Each year consists of approximately 210 contact hours and 400-600 self-study hours. This translates into approximately 2-3 days of classes and 4-6 full days of self-study on average each month. For more information about the study load, please check the Program of Year 1.

I would like to join the study program but I live abroad. Can I still join?

We are open to international students and already have several European countries represented in our study program. So yes, applying for the Ayurveda Practitioner Studies is possible when living abroad. Please take into account however, that we do have some modules, which are mandatory to attend in person, so you will have to travel to the Netherlands a couple of times in the year. You will be responsible for your own travel fare and accommodation. Since we are a private educational institute, it is not possible to apply for a student visa.

Is the Ayurveda Practitioner Studies a full-time or part-time study program?

The Ayurveda Practitioner Studies is a part-time study program. However, each year consists of approximately 50 European Credits (ECs), which is a serious study load. The reason for this is that the study program is designed for students wanting to learn about ayurveda professionally. Delight Academy expects students to be dedicated to their studies and committed to attending classes (app. 210 contact hours per year) and to spend 400-600 hours of self-study per year.

What are the entry requirements?

In order to apply with us, please make sure to meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor level (HBO-niveau) thinking and working level. Minimum requirement is a high school certificate, granting access to a Bachelor level study program; or a Dutch HAVO-diploma. 
• Excellent (written and verbal) knowledge of the English language, as (almost) all teachings and course materials are in English
• Written motivation letter describing your motivation to join the program (to be uploaded in the online application)
• Having attended one of Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands open days (please keep an eye on our website for the schedule) [is it phrased ok like this? Best would be to include a link] 
• Shall we also include the entry interview here? 
• Shall we also include the payment of the application fee and at least the first tranche of the tuition fee? 

If interested to find out more, contact us on [email protected].

Can I still apply if I have not attended one of the Academy’s open days? 

It is important to us that all students of the Ayurveda Practitioner Studies have a full understanding of the study program and the study load. Therefore, attending one of our open days is a prerequisite to studying with us. If you are unable to attend any of our open days, please contact us via [email protected] to make a personal introductory appointment by phone.

I lost my certificate to proof my Bachelor-level thinking and working. Can I still apply?

According to official accreditation requirements, a certificate granting access to a Bachelor-level study program must always be submitted upon application. If you do not have that, you cannot apply, unfortunately. We then advise contacting your educational institution and requesting a copy of your certificate. If you obtained your higher education in the Netherlands, you can also request a new through the website of Duo.

Is it possible to take subjects or years separately? [I don’t understand this question – is it whether they can break between years, in which case the answer has to be changed, or is it whether they can stop midway in a given year and then continue later?

The Ayurveda Practitioner Studies is a well-thought-through study program with the intention to train you to practice Ayurveda professionally after 4 years. The program has a clear build-up and therefore subjects or years cannot be taken separately. Registration for the study program goes by year, so you are always free to stop or pause your studies if needed.

Is attendance to the modules always required?

The minimum yearly attendance rate is 75%. [I think here we need to discuss the online attendance – will that still count as absence? We discussed that next year we will be more flexible with online attendance]  

What if I have to miss a class?

In case of not being able to join any class or module, please send an email to the office ([email protected]) at least one hour before class starts. Include clear and valid reasons for your absence. You will then be informed what to do in order to catch up on missed material, which will depend on the missed class. 

I am not a healthcare professional. Can I still apply for the Ayurveda Practitioner Studies?

Yes, you can apply for the study program as being a healthcare professional is not a prerequisite for joining. Students with different backgrounds are part of the APS. We aim to educate you towards practicing ayurveda professionally and being able to treat clients upon completion of the 4-year study program, regardless of your professional background. Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands does advise completing a Western anatomy & physiology (Medische Basiskennis) course, according to PLATO standards, prior to treating clients. This course will also enable you to become a member of one of the professional organizations.

What can I do professionally as an Ayurveda Practitioner?

When you have successfully completed your studies, you can open your own ayurveda practice. In other words, you can start your career in ayurveda. 

What does this imply? You will be able to inform your clients about ayurvedic ways to improve their health with the help of concrete steps and guidelines. You will have insight into which complaints you can treat yourself and which more complex ones will require the help of an ayurvedic physician or other health experts. You will be confident in exploring the complaints of your clients by tapping into their needs in a proper way while using ayurvedic assessment techniques like pulse reading and tongue diagnosis. Clear communication, trust, respect, an open attitude and confidentiality play an important role in building a relationship with your clients – and this relationship is a part of your ayurvedic healing skills.

Can I get a government grant or subsidy (studiefinanciering)?

Since Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands is a private educational provider, unfortunately, it is not possible to apply for a government grant or subsidy. However, there are possibilities for Dutch residents to deduct study costs from their annual income tax return. Please refer to our Tuition page for more information.

Can I apply for a student visa?

Since Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands is a private educational provider, unfortunately, it is not possible to apply for a student visa.

What does the Bachelor-level accreditation mean for me as a student?

The Bachelor-level accreditation by SNRO secures that the study program is carried out at a qualified professional level and that it meets all the Bachelor-level requirements. As a result, the APS program is considered complete and all-round in terms of preparing students towards practicing in a professional way in the field of Ayurvedic Medicine. Students study in line with future professional tasks, Bachelor competencies and SNRO requirements. In order to guarantee these standards are met, the study program contains ample assignments and tests throughout the year – including final examinations – and students are expected to study on a regular basis.

The Bachelor-level degree is acquired upon successfully completing the 4-year Ayurveda Practitioner Studies. With this degree – in combination with a Western anatomy & physiology (Medische Basiskennis) [update link] course, according to PLATO standards, you can become a member of one of the professional associations, enabling your future clients to claim reimbursement of their invoice under supplementary health care insurances.

I will be traveling from out of town to attend classes. Is there accommodation or travel assistance available?

Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands does not offer accommodation or travel reimbursement and it is the students’ own responsibility to organize these for themselves. We can however help with advice, especially in the case of international students. We recommend using Moonback, Airbnb or Booking.com for accommodation options. Please consult www.9292.nl, www.gvb.nl or Google Maps for public transport connections.

I have previously done courses in the field of ayurveda. Can I apply for any exemptions?

If you have already joined any 50+ ayurveda courses at Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands, you are eligible to receive an exemption for these hours in this 4-year program. Please send an e-mail to [email protected] detailing which courses you have previously attended. A discounted pricing option for the exempted hours applies.

If you have completed education in ayurveda at other institutes, you can opt for a special enrolment, with an exemption for certain modules. Please send an email to [email protected] with a detailed overview and proof of completion of all previous courses, including contact hours, tests and subjects done. The examination committee will consequently review your application and decide on the exemption. In the case of positive advice, the examination committee will provide an overview of exempted modules, a timeline, and a discounted pricing option. 

All students leaving Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands with an APS degree have to fully comply with the SNRO Bachelor-level prerequisites of our 4-year study program. [what is intended with this sentence?]

Can I pause my studies?

We recommend students to follow the whole program without interruption. We DO understand however that there can be an urgent reason for taking a break. In such cases, a written request should be sent to [email protected] and then the directors will decide if a pause can be granted. Breaks can only last one year. For breaks longer than one year, the program has to be restarted. 

I want to cancel my application or quit my studies. Do I get a refund?

Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands has a cancellation policy in place. Please refer article 19 of our General Terms and Conditions, of which the most important articles are:

• Deposit payment made by the Participant will become non-refundable after a cooling-off period of 14 days.
• You can cancel your registration for the Ayurveda Practitioner Studies with a full refund of the amount paid (minus the deposit), up to two months prior to the start date of the training.
• The tuition fees are non-refundable if you cancel your registration less than two months prior to the commencement of the Ayurveda Practitioner Studies or after the start of the study program. In this case, tuition fee installments that are still pending remain to be paid to Ayurveda Academy The Netherlands.

Also see our page Student documents, for all needed procedural information and registration form request.