HAN University of Applied Sciences

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.