Universities of applied sciences [HBO]
Universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands are primarily responsible for offering programmes of higher professional education, which prepare students for particular professions. They tend to be more practically oriented than programmes offered by research universities. These institutions offer education in the English language, both on Bachelor and Master level.
Universities of applied sciences [HBO] in the region
There are several universities of applied sciences the Arnhem Nijmegen Cool Region. The largest are the University of Applied Sciences Arnhem Nijmegen (HAN), University of Professional Education Larenstein and ArtEZ Institute of the Arts.
The HAN
University of Applied Sciences Arnhem Nijmegen [HAN] has over 27,000 students in Nijmegen and Arnhem and offers more than 75 Master and Bachelor programmes. The HAN University consists of the following faculties: Arnhem Business School, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Education.
All faculties have departments in both
Arnhem and Nijmegen. The campus in Arnhem is situated in the Presikhaaf district
and consists of a central square with seven buildings. In Nijmegen the HAN is
next to Radboud University in the Heyendaal district between the three main
locations, the Faculty of Education, the Gymnasion and the Kapittelweg.
HAN
University of Applied Sciences offers a
range of Bachelor
and Master
programmes in English. For
information about visa, housing for foreign students etc. see:
http://www.han.nl/start-en/bachelor/practical-information/
Van Hall Larenstein
At the University
of Applied Sciences Van Hall Larenstein in Velp more than 1,600 students from
Holland and abroad are educated. The campus is located in the middle of a large
green country estate outside of Arnhem.
Three studies are offered: international
agri-business management, land and water management and landscape architecture.
Most of the courses have a strong international orientation, because in the
opinion of the University, forestry and water management should always be
linked to global developments. Students are introduced quickly and as much as
possible to the professional world, for instance as an assistant or intern in
the work field, or with graduation projects.
ArtEZ
The Academy of Theatre, the Academy of Dance, the School of Music, the Academy of Art & Design and the Academy of Architecture are situated at this location. All art programmes are carried out in interconnected buildings. This provides students the best opportunity for collaborating with other art disciplines: fashion designers designing theatre costumes, composers writing film music, music students working together with choreographers. The course programmes pay much attention to preparing for professional practices. ArtEZ also has establishments in Enschede and en Zwolle. More information: artez.nl
Pre-education for Bachelor studies
To enrol in a Bachelor Programme of the above-mentioned Universities, you need to have a pre-education level that is equivalent to the level of the Dutch prevocational secondary education (HAVO) or senior secondary vocational training [MBO]. Pre-education possibilities are:
- International Baccalaureate
- Abitur or Fachhochschulreife
- High school, A or B grades
- Sekolah Menegah Atas [SMA]
- General Certificate of Secondary Education [GCSE -A level]
Dutch students are allowed to study at a university of applied sciences if they have a HAVO, VWO or MBO diploma. If the student does not have the right level and is older than 21, it is possible to do a special entrance exam, the 21+ test.
In
addition, ArtEZ Institute of the Arts requires students to demonstrate at some
point during the admittance procedure that the student is motivated and has
talent.
All
students are required to have a study profile or prerequisites that fits with
the chosen field at the university. For more information please contact your
university.
Preparatory training for a Master Programme
A few universities of applied sciences also offer Master Programmes. With this professional Master you gain more in-depth knowledge and you can develop yourself towards a specialisation. It is possible to follow this kind of Master Programme once you have finished your study at the University of Applied Sciences, because this diploma is equal to a Bachelor’s Degree. Some Master Programmes also want a number of years of professional work experience as a requirement for enrolment.
But with a few years of relevant work experience, it is still possible to enrol in your chosen programme. HAN University has much information on their website, or call a student advisor for help.
Dutch master programmes which are recognized and acknowledged, are registered in the CROHO Centraal Register Opleidingen Hoger Onderwijs of the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO). The register can be downloaded at this link.
Language
Foreign
students who would like to study in the Netherlands have to master the Dutch
language. You have to take a Dutch proficiency test for this. Some institutions
offer extensive courses in Dutch, like ArtEZ Institute of the Arts.
If
you have enrolled in an English programme and English is not your mother
tongue, you have to take an English proficiency test. This is not the case when
you have lived in an English speaking country for a length of time or went to
secondary education in one of the EU-countries. Contact the universities for
further details.
Selection by lot
Some universities or science universities have more applicants than they can place. In this situation, admission is selected by lot, whereby the universities apply the system of weighted draws. This means that the higher average you have scored the better the chance that a place will be awarded to you. Prospective students with an average grade of 8 or higher for their final examinations are usually automatically awarded a place in their preferred programme. You can apply for one programme that decides admittance by lot.
