HAN University of Applied Sciences

About HAN University of Applied Sciences

HAN is a university of applied sciences, the professionally oriented branch of the Dutch higher-education system. It is not a research university and does not position itself as one. Its central purpose is to prepare students for professional practice while using applied research to address problems encountered by businesses, public bodies and community organizations. The present institution dates from 1996 and resulted from the consolidation of numerous educational organizations in Arnhem and Nijmegen. HAN is the current English institutional name; the initials derive from its former Dutch name, Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen. Both cities belong to one institution rather than representing separate universities. HAN’s 2025 figures describe a broad institution with more than 33,000 students from 114 countries. For 2024–2025 it reported 56 bachelor’s programs, 22 master’s programs and 21 associate-degree programs. These totals include Dutch-taught and other delivery formats, so international applicants should not assume that every listed program is available in English or full time. The institution operates through 12 schools and combines education with practice-based research. In 2025 it reported 38 research centers and seven centers of expertise. This structure will suit students seeking applied assignments and close contact with professional fields. Students seeking a heavily theoretical or doctorate-led research environment should recognize the distinction between a Dutch university of applied sciences and a Dutch research university.

Bachelor’s applicants need a secondary-school credential that HAN considers sufficient for entry to Dutch higher professional education. The admissions office evaluates international credentials, and some degrees require particular school subjects. International bachelor’s applicants to English-taught programs ordinarily provide English-language evidence; HAN currently lists IELTS Academic 6.0 with additional component conditions among its accepted routes, alongside TOEFL, Cambridge, LanguageCert, Pearson and TOEIC options. Exemptions apply in specified educational and national circumstances. Matching, including a short online interview for international applicants, is a required part of the bachelor’s process. Master’s applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree. English thresholds and additional academic or professional conditions differ by master’s program, so the program-specific admissions page controls. HAN publishes different English requirements for groups of master’s degrees and does not use a single institution-wide graduate threshold. For a September start, the currently published deadlines are 15 August for EU/EEA bachelor’s applicants and 1 May for non-EU/EEA applicants. The same dates apply to the listed September master’s intakes, subject to the Molecular Life Sciences internship condition. February entry is limited: Communication and International Business are the listed bachelor’s options, while Engineering Systems is the listed master’s option. Their deadlines are 15 January for EU/EEA applicants and 1 October for non-EU/EEA applicants. Applications go through Studielink. Applicants should verify the selected program’s intake and requirements before submission because selection procedures or program-specific conditions may create earlier steps.

HAN awards bachelor’s and master’s degrees and also offers associate degrees, professional courses and postgraduate education. Its complete portfolio is much larger than its English-taught selection. The official 2026–2027 international tuition table identifies English-taught bachelor’s options in areas such as automotive, electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering; chemistry and life sciences; communication; international business; and international social work. Listed master’s areas include circular economy, engineering systems, molecular life sciences and international social work. Applicants should use each program page to confirm language, intake, duration and campus. Teaching is professionally oriented. Depending on the course, students may encounter applied projects, laboratories, client assignments, minors, placements or graduation work conducted with an external organization. The precise pattern is program-specific. For example, the Communication bachelor’s curriculum includes a minor, an internship and a graduation internship, but that structure should not be assumed for every degree. Practice-based research is embedded in the wider institution through research centers and centers of expertise. HAN describes collaboration among education, researchers and the professional field, with work directed toward practical innovation rather than the disciplinary research model associated with research universities. Quality assurance operates within the Dutch system. HAN states that its bachelor’s and master’s programs are accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders, and the accreditor’s institutional audit documentation identifies HAN as the assessed institution. Students should nevertheless check the accreditation and award details of the particular program they intend to enter.

Key Highlights

• One institution with campuses in Arnhem and Nijmegen
• Established in its present form in 1996
• More than 33,000 students reported for 2024–2025
• Publicly funded Dutch university of applied sciences
• 12 schools and 38 practice-based research centers reported in 2025

Student Life & Environment

Student experience is divided between Arnhem and Nijmegen, and the appropriate campus depends on the chosen program. Campus resources described by HAN include libraries, study and multimedia spaces, canteens, cafés, sports facilities and Eduroam wireless access. The August 2026 international introduction includes orientation to the Netherlands, the campus and the student’s program, alongside social activities. Housing requires early planning. HAN explicitly warns of a shortage in Arnhem and Nijmegen and does not provide a room to every student. Its Housing Office primarily assists non-EU/EEA full-degree students who meet the financial-guarantee conditions and eligible exchange students, generally when they are under 30. September entrants receiving this assistance normally have housing for one academic year, while February entrants generally receive one semester. EU/EEA degree students are ordinarily expected to find their own accommodation and may only join a waiting list without a guarantee. HAN-arranged rooms are furnished and located off campus in Arnhem or Nijmegen. Availability is limited, and students eventually needing private housing should begin searching well ahead of arrival. The institution recommends starting approximately six months in advance. International students can also use campus-based support and introduction activities, but societies, sports memberships and other extracurricular arrangements should be checked directly because participation and costs vary.

Location & Surroundings

HAN operates in Arnhem and Nijmegen in the eastern Netherlands. Most Arnhem buildings are grouped around Ruitenberglaan, within walking distance of Arnhem Presikhaaf railway station. Most Nijmegen buildings are around Kapittelweg and Laan van Scheut, close to Nijmegen Heyendaal station. Students should confirm their program’s location before choosing housing, as study may be based primarily in one city. Arnhem is the institution’s registered headquarters and hosts fields including engineering and automotive education. Nijmegen accommodates another major campus cluster. Both cities are connected to the Dutch rail network, and HAN notes that its campuses can be reached by train, bus or bicycle. Travel from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is normally by rail and takes roughly one to one-and-a-half hours depending on destination and service. Housing searches can extend to neighboring places such as Velp, Westervoort, Lent or Malden. This can widen the available market but introduces commuting time and cost. Prospective students should therefore evaluate campus assignment, rail and bicycle access, rent, and late-evening transport together rather than treating “Arnhem/Nijmegen” as a single compact campus.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, the published tuition for the listed English-taught bachelor’s and master’s degrees is €2,694 for qualifying EU/EEA and Surinamese students. Listed non-EU/EEA fees vary by program: €9,320 in communication, business, social-work and circular-economy fields, and €10,940 in the listed engineering and laboratory-science fields. Prior Dutch degrees and individual residence or nationality circumstances can change the applicable category, so students should obtain a personal fee determination rather than relying only on the headline table. Full-time non-EU/EEA students needing immigration sponsorship must also account for HAN’s financial-guarantee process. HAN estimates that a student needs approximately €1,200–€1,500 per month for living costs in Arnhem or Nijmegen, excluding tuition. Its illustrative budget places a room with shared facilities at €550–€800 monthly, before considering the applicant’s actual contract and lifestyle. HAN-arranged furnished rooms are commonly priced within a broader range of roughly €500–€900 per month, depending on city, location and services. These are planning estimates rather than guaranteed charges. Career preparation is built around professional practice rather than a published placement guarantee. Applied projects, internships, graduation assignments and cooperation with organizations appear across the institution, but their timing and requirements differ by degree. HAN does not publish a single verified graduate-employment rate or salary figure on the sources reviewed. Applicants should compare the curriculum’s placement structure, professional recognition and likely working language for their intended field, particularly if they hope to remain in the Netherlands after graduation.