Education
NHL Stenden does all it can to facilitate, inspire and trigger its students and staff to help them flourish. Students, lecturers, researchers and industry professionals work together on problems and assignments set by industry, so that you can develop into enterprising and resourceful professionals with an interdisciplinary mindset. Through practical assignments, direct contact with experts in the field, and personal contact with your coach, you grow on a professional and personal level. And your assignments and internship open up career opportunities and broaden your network, so you get a headstart on your career.
Research
Research and education are intertwined at NHL Stenden. Our university of applied sciences has 44 professorships of applied sciences. These are divided among our three focus areas: Vital Regions, Smart Sustainable Industries, and Service Economy. Together with local and international partners, we build and expand our expertise by employing practice-based research.
Career
Your professional and personal development go hand in hand during your studies. By working on real assignments from external clients, you gain invaluable hands-on experience that potential employers value. And with a personal study coach guiding you throughout, you learn how to set and achieve learning goals so that you can take the right steps and develop the skills you need for your dream position on graduation.
- Build your professional network from day 1 by working with and for the industry.
- Gain practical experience while you study with an internship. Many of our students get to stay on or return to their intern company on graduation.
- 80% of all alumni find a job within three months of graduation.
Student services
Whatever your question, the Student Info Desk can point you in the right direction. They’re on hand to deal with your queries about registration, tuition fees, tests, certificates and practical questions about your time as a student. The Student Counselling Office can help you if you’re worried about your studies and the progress you’re making. There’s always someone to turn to.
Housing services
At NHL Stenden, we offer a housing guarantee for international students with our official accommodation partners. Conditions apply. In the Netherlands, students usually rent a room in a shared house or apartment with other students. There are also options to rent a one-bedroom or studio apartment. Student accommodation is usually provided by real estate agents or private landlords who advertise their rooms on different platforms.
Library services
Borrow books, use the smart boards, printers and scanners, follow workshops on digital skills, use the computers and study spaces and ask the information specialists for help finding answers.
ICT services
NHL Stenden offers the learning, library and IT facilities you need to take you through your studies. From something as simple as good wifi right up to the farthest corner of the campuses to 3D printing in our X-Lab. From free software to purpose-built design and recording studios.
Medical services
The Dutch healthcare system is a universal, multi-payer system. This means healthcare is funded through a combination of public and private contributions.
Campus life
You have access to a whole range of top facilities on campus that not only support you and help you get the best out of your studies, but also help make your student life easier. It's more than just the free tea and coffee expansive study landscapes and individual work pods, it's also the excellent public transport links, the huge underground bike park, the car parking, and the coffee bars and the canteen and food court run by our hotel management students. And it's the smart boards and printers you can access, the audio-visual equipment you can borrow, the recording studios, the theatre and auditoriums and the merchandise and the sports facilities. Why not check it out online with our virtual tour
Accreditation
All degrees offered by NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences are accredited by the NVAO in the Netherlands (The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders).
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences Overview
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences Campus Locations
#1 Main Campus
Netherlands Country
Leeuwarden City
#2 Branch Campus
United Kingdom Country
London City
#3 Branch Campus
Netherlands Country
Emmen City
#4 Branch Campus
Netherlands Country
Meppel City
#5 Branch Campus
Netherlands Country
Groningen City
#6 Branch Campus
Sweden Country
Laholm City
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences Student Reviews & Awards
4.1
Based on 100 reviews
- 5 Star 32 Reviews
- 4 Star 62 Reviews
- 3 Star 4 Reviews
- 2 Star 1 Review
- 1 Star 1 Review
How Students Rated This University
- Overall Satisfaction 4.1
- Student Teacher Interaction 4.2
- Student Diversity 4.5
- Admission Process 4.6
- Quality of Student Life 4.0
- Career Development 4.2
NHL Stenden ES
Studying at NHL Stenden has been an amazing and unexpected experience. As an international student, before coming to the Netherlands I could only imagine what my life would be like in a new country, and I believe NHL Stenden made this transition much easier. The university provided a lot of useful information beforehand and was always very quick to respond to my emails, which helped me feel supported from the beginning. Since I started studying here, I feel that I have gained a great a lot of life experience, especially because of the international community, which has allowed me to learn from people with different backgrounds and perspectives. In terms of organization, I find it to be a well-structured institution. However, as a European Studies student, I believe the practical components of some assignments could be improved by offering clearer and more detailed guidance. What I love the most is definitely the infrastructure as the buildings are beautiful, and there are many great places to study, like the study landscape in the building R10 and of course, the free coffee is always a perk. Overall, I believe this is a great university and would definitly advise everyone to study here!
Despite some advices, couldn't have been better!
My experience at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences in Leeuwarden has been both challenging and highly rewarding. The university provides a strong focus on practical learning, and its dynamic student environment is everything everyone is saying and more. From someone who is studying Hospitality Management, one of the university's most distinctive programs, what stands out most is its hands-on approach. Throughout the course, students participate in practical experiences where they interact with real guests and work with real-life management systems. This makes the learning process much more engaging and helps bridge the gap between theory and real-world application directing you already towards a future job perspective. These moments are not only valuable academically but also help build confidence and essential industry skills especially if you have never had a professional work experience before. Another aspect I truly value is the international environment. Being surrounded by people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives has helped me develop important soft skills such as communication, adaptability, and teamwork. At the same time, as an international student, I did notice that the large number of Dutch students can sometimes be a challenge. Although classes are in English, Dutch is occasionally spoken during lectures or group work, which can feel isolating. However, over time, this becomes easier as you find your own circle and connect with people who create a more inclusive environment. Academically, the program goes beyond operations and includes strategic and business-oriented assignments, such as simulations and in-depth analyses, which provide a realistic insight into hotel management. That said, the program can feel quite intense, especially during group projects where expectations may change depending on the business partner. While this reflects real-life industry situations, it can sometimes create stress if not communicated clearly. Adding to that, the first months can feel overwhelming and confusing, so it's important not to expect everything to be easy at the beginning. Don't worry, since as time passes, things start to fall into place, and the experience becomes more enjoyable and exciting. Additionally, the level of guidance can vary between modules, and more consistency in structure and support would further improve the experience. The lecturers are generally supportive and approachable, and although some coursework may occasionally feel less challenging, there are plenty of opportunities to take initiative and push yourself further. I would highly recommend this university without hesitation, as it offers an engaging atmosphere where boredom is never really an option. There are many extracurricular opportunities, including student associations, side jobs, and volunteer work connected to the university, as well as events and workshops throughout the year. This makes it easy to meet new people, build connections, and develop both personally and professionally. The one tip or advice I would provide, despite the ones mentioned above, would be for you to put yourself out there and step out of your comfort zone. The course provides all opportunities and experiences, but unless you are able to break out of your own bubble, the course might seem more of the same, which can consequently feel tiring and draining. Still, my experience at NHL Stenden and Hospitality Management has been nothing but the best. I feel that I am growing both professionally and personally as the university and course prepare students well for their future careers while also offering a memorable and enriching student life. Despite a few minor areas for improvement, I would not consider changing my choice as it has been a truly defining and developing experience.
Creative Business
One of the biggest strengths of studying Creative Business at NHL Stenden is the emphasis on real-world experience. Rather than applying theory in hypothetical scenarios, you actually work with real clients on real problems, which makes a huge difference when building your professional portfolio. Personally, I had the opportunity to work with ITV Studios Netherlands, and that project alone taught me more than several theoretical courses combined. That said, the quality of these client projects can vary a lot depending on the semester, and not every collaboration will be as rewarding or well-structured as you might hope. The majority of your work will be done in groups, which is something to seriously think about before committing to this program. There are far more team projects than individual assignments, and while that mirrors how a lot of creative industries actually operate, it also means your grade can be heavily influenced by the people you end up working with. If group dynamics are off, it can make an otherwise interesting project genuinely frustrating. To really get the most out of the program, you have to be willing to put in time outside of class as well. No one will stand above you telling you what to read or what to research, so if you want to grow, the initiative has to come from you. This level of independence is great if you are self-motivated, but if you are used to more structured guidance, the lack of it can catch you off guard. The program gives you the framework, but the depth of your learning depends almost entirely on how much effort you choose to put in outside of the classroom.
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Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2025
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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