Hanze University of Applied Sciences

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.