Hanze University of Applied Sciences

About Hanze University of Applied Sciences

Hanze is a broad university of applied sciences whose institutional history begins in Groningen in 1798. The original initiative focused on practical training in fields such as draughtsmanship, shipping and engineering. That professional orientation remains central: students are prepared for occupations through a combination of subject knowledge, practice-based assignments and engagement with external organizations. Prospective students should understand the Dutch distinction between a university of applied sciences and a research university. Hanze provides recognized higher education at bachelor’s and master’s levels, but its programmes are primarily profession-oriented. This makes it particularly relevant to students who value structured practical learning and direct contact with professional settings. Master’s provision is also professionally focused rather than designed as a substitute for a research-university pathway. The official international programme directory spans business and economics, arts and culture, language and communication, health and sports, environment, behavioural and social fields, information sciences, and science and engineering. English-taught options are available, although language, duration, location and entry conditions differ by programme. Hanze’s innovation hubs bring students, lecturers, researchers and professional partners together around applied problems. Applicants should compare individual curricula and progression options carefully, especially if their long-term goal is admission to a research-oriented graduate programme elsewhere.

Applications for bachelor’s and master’s programmes are initiated through Studielink, the Netherlands’ national higher-education registration system. Applicants outside the Netherlands who do not have a DigiD can use a username and password. Hanze then evaluates whether the applicant meets the conditions for the selected programme; admission is not established merely by submitting a Studielink registration. For the September intake, Hanze’s current application page lists 1 June as the general deadline for applicants who need a visa or residence permit and 15 August for applicants who do not. A 1 May deadline applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran, Ghana, Afghanistan and Nigeria because of intensified immigration checks. Programmes with decentralized selection, immigration procedures and other special admissions routes can have earlier or different dates. Applicants must therefore treat the individual programme page as controlling. Bachelor’s applicants generally need a secondary credential judged appropriate for the chosen programme, while master’s programmes set their own prior-degree and subject requirements. English- or German-taught programmes require evidence of suitable language proficiency, with accepted tests, minimum scores and exemptions varying by course. Additional materials may include a CV, motivation statement, portfolio, audition or programme-specific assessment. All enrolment conditions, including tuition payment, must be completed before study begins.

Hanze’s academic model is built around professional competence and the application of knowledge. Its 2025 educational concept states that students conduct applied research during associate-degree, bachelor’s and master’s study. Innovation hubs connect education with researchers and professional practice, giving students settings in which to address real organizational or societal questions. The international programme directory lists bachelor’s and master’s options in fields such as International Business, International Communication, Creative Media and Game Technologies, Energy and Power Electronics, music, fine art, design, data science and professionally oriented management. This list changes, so applicants should use the programme directory for the intended 2026 start and verify the teaching language, campus, duration and award for their chosen course. Full-time bachelor’s programmes use a major-minor structure. Hanze’s ECTS information explains that students can use a one-semester, 30-ECTS minor to work toward personal learning outcomes, selecting from options within their school, elsewhere at Hanze or, where permitted, at another Dutch university of applied sciences. Exchange opportunities depend on institutional partnerships and nomination. Academic requirements are programme-specific. Some arts programmes require portfolios or auditions, while other courses may use examinations, fitness assessments or additional selection. Students should not infer requirements from another Hanze programme, even when both are taught in English.

Key Highlights

• Dutch university of applied sciences awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• Institutional history traces back to 1798 in Groningen
• Profession-oriented education integrates learning, applied research and external practice
• Current international offerings span business, arts, communication, health and engineering

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed between Hanze’s teaching sites and Groningen itself. Most international bachelor’s programmes are based at Zernike Campus, except for arts and music programmes and Physiotherapy. Officially listed campus resources include the Hanze Library, ICT facilities, study spaces, soundproof pods, restaurants, canteens, sports facilities and a quiet room. Student support extends beyond academic teaching. The 2025–2026 Student Charter describes access to academic counsellors, student counsellors and student psychologists, as well as support arrangements for disabilities or other study needs. Hanze students can also use ACLO sports facilities at a reduced rate. Students should confirm the current 2026–2027 terms for any paid service or support arrangement. Housing requires early independent action. Hanze does not operate a conventional campus-residence system, and students are responsible for securing accommodation. The institution advises beginning about five months before arrival because Groningen has a housing shortage. Hanze reserves a limited number of furnished short-stay rooms through SSH, but its housing page says these are sufficient for only about a quarter of incoming students. A room should therefore never be assumed to accompany admission.

Location & Surroundings

Hanze is based in Groningen in the northern Netherlands. Zernike Campus is the principal location for most international bachelor’s programmes, while arts, music and Physiotherapy teaching takes place at other sites. Applicants should verify the exact address attached to their programme before choosing accommodation. Groningen is compact enough for cycling to be a practical part of daily life. Hanze’s housing guidance notes that crossing the city by bicycle can take about 25 minutes, making districts outside the centre realistic options during a tight housing search. Bus and train journeys use the Dutch public-transport network, and Hanze directs students to current journey planners for campus connections. For international arrivals, Groningen is connected by rail to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; Hanze’s published open-day guidance estimates the trip at approximately two hours. The institution also offers time-limited arrival guidance and a pick-up service around intake periods, but students pay their own travel costs. Because teaching sites are dispersed and housing is scarce, commute planning should form part of the enrolment decision.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, Hanze lists a statutory tuition fee of €2,694 for eligible students enrolling in a full-time bachelor’s programme from September. Eligibility depends on factors including nationality, residence status and previous Dutch degrees. Other students pay an institutional fee that varies by programme and personal circumstances, so the official calculator should be used rather than assuming the statutory rate applies. Programme-specific materials may also identify additional educational costs. Students needing Hanze to arrange immigration must plan for a separate financial-guarantee process. For 2026–2027, the published guarantee for bachelor’s and master’s students is €24,500, with a different amount stated for Surinamese students. This is not simply an extra fee: it combines applicable tuition, an immigration charge, estimated insurance and living funds, with the living-money portion returned to the student’s Dutch bank account after arrival under the stated procedure. Housing and daily expenses require a separate budget, and a place in reserved accommodation is not guaranteed. From a career perspective, Hanze’s value proposition rests on profession-oriented teaching, applied research, projects and placements. Outcomes depend on the programme, language skills, work authorization and individual experience; the reviewed sources do not provide reliable institution-wide salary or employment-rate figures.