Decanaat | Profielkeuze & Studiekeuze Murmellius

Dean's Office: helps you discover and develop

Keuzemomenten

Het Murmellius Gymnasium is het enige categoriale gymnasium boven het Noordzeekanaal en vervult daarmee een duidelijke streekfunctie. Onze school staat in het centrum van Alkmaar, op loopafstand van het station. Het gebouw is speciaal voor het gymnasium ontworpen en draagt zichtbaar onze geschiedenis.

Een bijzonder symbool is het historische poortje op ons terrein. Dit poortje, dat al sinds de zeventiende eeuw verbonden is met het gymnasiaal onderwijs in Alkmaar, staat symbool voor waar wij voor staan: het Murmellius Gymnasium als poort naar de toekomst van onze leerlingen.

Wij zijn een openbare school en staan open voor iedereen. Respect, gelijkwaardigheid en ruimte voor verschillen vormen de basis van ons schoolklimaat.

Profile selection

Study choice

Dit is een paragraaf. Klik hier om je eigen tekst toe te voegen.

Request time off for study choice activity

Profile selection

In Year 3, you choose from four different profiles:
- Science and Technology (in which Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics B are compulsory)
- Nature and Health (in which Chemistry and Biology are compulsory)
- Economics and Society (in which Economics and History are compulsory)
- Culture and Society (in which History is compulsory)

For Year 4, you are required to choose a modern foreign language, either French or German. As a result, you usually have one more subject in Year 4 than in Years 5 and 6. During Year 4, you make your profile choice for the remainder of your time at Murmellius. Because you have one less compulsory subject, you have the opportunity to make some adjustments to your profile and shift subjects around.

Each profile consists of compulsory subjects, but also of electives. All together, this determines which subjects you will take your final exams in. Your choice of profile can also have consequences for your further education, as many study programs are only accessible with a specific combination of subjects.

Always comply with the following three rules:

Look at what is achievable and choose subjects where you think you can get passing grades (or at least minor failing grades);
Think about what you enjoy! It will help a lot in the coming years if you have subjects you find interesting, and you get to choose now, so make use of that;
Your choice of study is still a long way off, and if you have absolutely no idea about it yet, that is only logical. But should you know, choose a profile that aligns well with it.

How do we help you?

1. Special lessons during mentor lessons using a special workbook.

2. Profile Selection Week: during this week, you can choose for yourself which subjects you want to take. There is also a careers breakfast and the profile selection market during this week. You will then talk to parent(s)/guardian(s) or former students about their subjects.

3. Additional explanation of the subjects Philosophy and Art and the different types of Mathematics.

In the elective part, you choose one more subject. It is, of course, not possible to choose a subject.
that you have already selected in the profile section.

The choice of your profile determines (largely) which subjects you will take over the next three years.
will follow. In Year 4, the subject Culture of Antiquity is taught and concluded, in
In class 5, the subjects Social Studies and Research Skills are taught and
closed.

If you want to take an extra course, you can. In principle, you choose an extra course for a
the entire school year, but after CTP1 (and only then) you have until December 15 to have the opportunity.
to drop it. In the case of promotion and in the pass/fail system, an extra subject may
be disregarded (so it does not count towards your menopause).
Of course, it is also possible to choose several extra subjects.

The benefits of an extra subject are: - You increase your options when choosing a field of study; - In some cases, it is possible to take an extra subject at the end of the year to
swap for another subject, whereby you might be able to replace a failing grade with
a passing grade (and still be able to advance or pass) or a passing grade for a higher level
sufficient. This is only possible if your profile is maintained as a result.

The disadvantages of an extra subject are: - It places a greater burden, because you have to attend classes for an extra subject and take tests for it as well; - You are committed to it for a longer period of time.

We cannot guarantee that your extra subject will be scheduled. The scheduler does their best, but sometimes it has significant negative consequences, in which case we either don't schedule it or schedule it only partially. Sometimes all classes fit into your schedule, sometimes only a part, and sometimes nothing at all. In the latter two cases, you will make arrangements with your teacher regarding the material and (preparation for) the tests. You will then need to plan carefully and possess sufficient discipline to resolve this independently.

In Year 4, you take French or German. In Year 5, you can optionally drop that (or another subject).
fall, because in class 4 you normally have one more subject than in class 5.
In some cases, you can get an exemption for this extra modern in Year 4.
foreign language. Instead, you then choose another subject. That is possible in the
the following cases (and this comes from the law, so it is a bit formal):

a. the pupil has a disorder specifically related to language or a sensory disorder that affects language (such as dyslexia or autism);

b. the pupil has a mother tongue other than the Dutch language;
c. the student is following education in the Science and Technology profile or the Science and Health profile, and the language instruction is expected to prevent successful completion of the program.

If you wish to be considered for an exemption, you must submit a request to your vice-principal before the deadline for your final choice. He will make the final decision on this matter. If you are granted an exemption, you must choose a second subject in the elective section as a replacement.

Immediately after the provisional profile choice, the second semester of this school year begins. From that moment until the summer holidays, you will take either Mathematics A or Mathematics B, depending on your choice.

This allows you to test whether you have chosen the right variant and possibly make adjustments to your final choice. Your final grade on your report is determined by a combination of your grade from the first half of the year and the grade from the second half. To choose Mathematics B in Year 4, the unrounded final grade for Mathematics B (given in the second half of Year 3) must be at least a 6.0. If a student does not meet this requirement, the student will be specifically promoted to Mathematics A.

What do you look for when making your choice?

There are three factors you need to take into account:
1. The feasibility of your choice
By now, you have gained experience with the subjects, so both you and your teachers know how good you are at all of them. Teachers have the advantage of knowing better what the curriculum for the coming years will look like, so they can predict any potential difficulties you might encounter. After your provisional choice, they will post their recommendations in Magister so that you can read them and compare your choice with their assessment. Use those recommendations when making your final decision!

2. How much you like something
The subjects you choose now will stick with you for the next three years. You probably won't always like everything and will sometimes have to persevere, but it naturally helps if you have chosen as many subjects as possible that you are enthusiastic about and want to learn more about. That significantly increases your chances of obtaining a diploma. So, take into account both the feasibility of your choice and your interests. Often, these two go hand in hand, but not always.

3. Your choice of study
It may seem far off, but in about three years you will have to choose a field of study. Few students know what they want to study in the third year (and actually go on to do so), so don't worry if you have no idea yet. However, some programs do have admission requirements by making certain profiles or subjects compulsory. For example, you need Mathematics B for Econometrics and Physics and Chemistry for Pharmacy. It is good to keep this in mind.

N&T

Meer info

Students who do not let themselves
deterred by complex calculations, students who like to think abstractly,
students who want to come up with solutions for complex technical problems,
students who are good at STEM subjects, students who enjoy designing and building.

What type of student chooses Science and Technology?

Nature and Technology

N&G

Meer info

Students who are interested in health, healthy nutrition, nature and the environment, students who want to contribute to healing people or solving food problems, students who want to protect the earth and help developing countries, students who enjoy tests and experiments, students who find the STEM subjects interesting.

Which type of student chooses Nature and Health?

Nature and Health

E&M

Meer info

Students who the
follow stock market listings, students interested in the business world, students
who enjoy working with numbers, students who are not afraid of mathematical models,
students who want to know more about a united Europe, students who the
critically examine government policy, but also, for example, students who are interested
have an aptitude for history or politics.

Which type of student chooses Economics and Society?

Economy and Society

C&M

More info

Students who are curious about people and society, students who enjoy helping and feel involved with others, students who love reading, writing, and creative thinking, students who are less fond of mathematics and numbers, students who enjoy learning and speaking foreign languages, students who love art, music, or theater, and students who would like to know more about history, politics, and current social developments.

Which type of student chooses Culture and Society?

Culture and Society

Chosen, but still want to change?

Change of subjects in Year 4

We assume that you have made a well-considered choice of your profile and subject package. Nevertheless at some point it might be wise to exchange one or more subjects for
other subjects, for example if a subject turns out to be really too difficult. The following applies to this
next guideline.

After the first CTP until December 15, you have the opportunity to switch courses. In the
In most cases, that will mean that you will have to catch up on the material for the new subjects.
pass and will also have to take a test on it.

To switch courses, go to the Dean as soon as possible after the CTP. There,
checked if your wishes are possible and you receive a list, with which you go to various
people you need to go to (such as your parents, your mentor, the scheduler). They discuss with
explain the consequences of your course change to you and decide whether or not to grant permission.
Return the fully completed list to the dean.

A course swap is not always technically possible. It is possible that a course swap by you
desired change does not fit into the schedule or that there is no more room in the
class group(s) of your desired subject. In that case, a subject switch is not possible.

Timeline 2025-2026

• January 6, 2026: Zermelo form is opened
• 18 January 2026: Deadline for provisional profile selection
• January 26, 2026: From this date, the recommendations will appear in Magister
• March 10, 2026: Zermelo form is reopened
• March 22, 2026: Deadline for final profile selection
• March 24, 2026: Your choice is printed out. You check everything, and if you agree, you and your parents sign. Then hand it in to your mentor.
• March 27, 2026: Form submission deadline: your choice is final!

After this date, you can only switch in exceptional circumstances and only if it fits into the schedule. To request a switch, you must submit a written request to the Dean, signed by your parent(s)/guardian(s). The request must clearly state: - The date of your request - Which course you wish to switch - Why you wish to switch this course. The Dean will assess whether your choice is possible and consult with the Vice-Principal. You will be informed after June 15 whether the change is permitted.

After June 15, 2026, it will no longer be possible to switch and all choices will be frozen!

The timeline for 2026-2027 will follow shortly.

Study choice

For many students, choosing a field of study is an exciting event. The prospect of soon being able to study a subject that interests you is a wonderful one. However, many students also find choosing a field of study to be a great responsibility, one they are unsure how to handle. This framework can help you with that.

In general, four different phases are distinguished. In the first phase, you start exploring. This is still very vague; simply thinking about what you enjoy or what you are good at. Do you want to do something social, or would you prefer something involving art or technology? It helps to talk about it with others (what do you think suits me?), take a test online, or discuss it with your mentor or dean.

In the second phase, you start exploring the possibilities. This is the exploratory phase. There are approximately 250 study programs at universities of applied sciences and 200 at universities, so there is plenty of choice in the Netherlands. A good starting point is Studiekeuze123 (see: Higher education in the Netherlands), a government website where all these programs are described. Visiting open days and getting acquainted with higher education also falls into this category.

In the final phase, you are going to decide. Time to make up your mind. Ideally, you have gathered sufficient information and can make your choice. A good choice involves using both your head and your heart. That is why trial studies and shadowing are so important. They allow you to get a feel for the atmosphere and meet your future fellow students, so you can form an idea of what it will be like to follow that study program. In this phase, you will register (on time!) for your study program on the Studielink website. Incidentally, you can register for a maximum of four study programs, of which two must be numerus fixus programs.

Studying abroad is a valuable experience that not only enriches your CV but also contributes to your personal growth. Whether you want to pursue a full degree program or just complete part of your studies abroad, there are various possibilities:

Full degree program: You can enroll at a foreign university or college. You will then pay the local tuition fees, but can often make use of your Dutch student finance and various scholarships.
Exchange: During your Dutch bachelor's program, you can complete a minor abroad in the third year. You remain enrolled at your own institution and do not pay any additional tuition fees.
Master's or graduation research: After your Bachelor's, you can pursue a full Master's degree abroad or conduct your graduation research at a foreign organization.

In addition to these options during your studies, there are other ways to gain international experience, such as traveling, language studies, volunteering, and internships.

For more information about studying abroad, you can visit the website of NUFFIC, the Dutch organization for the internationalization of education: www.wilweg.nl .

Taking a gap year has become increasingly popular, particularly since the introduction of the student loan system. It can have many positive effects, such as increased independence and self-confidence. On the other hand, there are also risks, such as loneliness and boredom. The success of a gap year depends largely on how it is spent. Making a plan and receiving good information can limit these risks.

The Gap Year Knowledge Centre, an independent organization, offers a wealth of information, tips, experiences, and research on their website: www.tussenjaarkenniscentrum.nl . This is an excellent starting point for planning your gap year.

At Murmellius, an annual Gap Year Plan workshop is organized for students in grades 5/6 and their parents. During this workshop, you can explore the possibilities of a gap year and receive a lot of useful information. There are also opportunities to ask questions and share experiences. As soon as the workshop is organized, you will receive an invitation in your school email.

After gymnasium, you can choose between HBO (Higher Professional Education) and WO (University Education). Both have their own characteristics and opportunities. For more information about the differences, please visit this page .

Bachelor and Master

HBO: The Bachelor's degree takes 4 years, after which you can work or continue studying.
University: Bachelor's takes 3 years, followed by a Master's of 1-2 years.
For an overview of all study programs, visit Studiekeuze123.
Quality

Dutch universities score highly in international rankings. For specific study program information, visit Studiekeuze123.

Deadlines

Selective study programmes (numerus fixus): Apply before January 15, results on April 15.
Other programs: Register before May 1st.
Personal experience is more important than scores, so visit institutions if you are in doubt.

What do you look for when making your choice?

There are three factors you need to take into account:
1. The feasibility of your choice
By now, you have gained experience with the subjects, so both you and your teachers know how good you are at all of them. Teachers have the advantage of knowing better what the curriculum for the coming years will look like, so they can predict any potential difficulties you might encounter. After your provisional choice, they will post their recommendations in Magister so that you can read them and compare your choice with their assessment. Use those recommendations when making your final decision!

2. How much you like something
The subjects you choose now will stick with you for the next three years. You probably won't always like everything and will sometimes have to persevere, but it naturally helps if you have chosen as many subjects as possible that you are enthusiastic about and want to learn more about. That significantly increases your chances of obtaining a diploma. So, take into account both the feasibility of your choice and your interests. Often, these two go hand in hand, but not always.

3. Your choice of study
It may seem far off, but in about three years you will have to choose a field of study. Few students know what they want to study in the third year (and actually go on to do so), so don't worry if you have no idea yet. However, some programs do have admission requirements by making certain profiles or subjects compulsory. For example, you need Mathematics B for Econometrics and Physics and Chemistry for Pharmacy. It is good to keep this in mind.

obtaining certificates

Not the right course combination for your further studies?

VAVO

Fortunately, that is not a problem: you can then (if you are 18) take classes at VAVO in the missing subject or subjects and take the exam at the end of the year. The certificates will be added to your diploma, making you eligible for admission after all. It will take you a year, but VAVO offers a lot of freedom to pursue other activities alongside your studies.

If it specifically concerns one or more exact sciences, there are also other options:

Wismon: You take classes in Amsterdam, Utrecht, or online and conclude with an exam. Courses start in January, June, and September.
Boswell-Bèta: They also offer various exact sciences, but only in Utrecht.
Korteweg-De Vries Institute for Mathematics at the UvA. They offer winter and summer courses to quickly bring you to the desired level.

Wismon

Beta

Mathematics

Exam training

Need extra preparation for your exam?

To lead

To help you prepare well for your exam, various organizations offer training. You can view this as a kind of crash course, in which the topics are summarized and you are helped with parts you still find difficult.

Below you will find a number of examples, but there are more.