front page Hague University of Applied Sciences
Overview
The Hague University of Applied Sciences was founded on September 1, 1987 as a result of a merger of fourteen smaller institutions of higher professional education in the region. In 2003, the Technical University in Rijswijk also became part of this institutional merging.
The main building of The Hague University is located just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is quite unique by its location and appearance - the campus is entirely surrounded by water - a kind of city within a city. Life on campus revolves around the magnificent oval atrium hall, with its soaring glass ceiling.
The Hague offers eight full-time Bachelor’s degrees and three Masters programmes entirely in English. The main mission of The Hague University is to give students the opportunity to develop their talents through the provision of high-quality, innovative professional education.
Why choose Hague?
* All of the courses offered in The Hague have strong emphasis on international context.
* There’s a diverse international community on campus - 21,300 students and 1,815 staff members from more than 135 different nationalities. That makes The Hague University of Applied Sciences the most culturally diverse higher education institution in the Netherlands;
* Hands-on experience - students will work on projects for international companies, in the Hague and abroad (hundreds of students go to study and work abroad every year, as part of their programme). Therefore they will gain hands-on experience while working on group projects, looking at real-life scenarios and working with real companies.
* Busy student life - a wide variety of bars and pubs where students meet, clubs around the city centre to spend a great night out and over 1,000 interesting museums and historical sites to visit. With its international focus and busy cultural calendar – life in The Hague is never dull.
* Good facilities to practice sport. There is a fully equipped fitness centre that students can use. Also students can take part in events taking place in the university sports hall.
"The rest of the world is a big place”, say the Dutch, well aware of how small their country is. Although small in size, Holland has a rich cultural tradition.
The Netherlands is a kingdom. Its official name is the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today, the Netherlands is also sometimes called ‘Holland’, a name that is derived from the names of the two western coastal provinces, North and South Holland.
For centuries the country has had an attitude of openness towards the rest of the world. Its cultural diversity has made Holland a place where knowledge, ideas and cultures from all over the world come together.
Although Dutch is the national language, the majority of the population (about 87%) also speaks English and very often another foreign language, such as German or French.
Holland lies on a flat, low delta and a quarter of the land lies below sea level. Because of its precarious location, it has one of the best barrier dams in the world. Several Dutch companies are involved in water conservation and land reclamation projects throughout the world.
Holland has a dense railway network that offers frequent service and is the quickest way to travel between city centres. If you live in a city the bicycle is the cheapest and easiest way to get around. Most Dutch people, regardless of their profession or status, have a bicycle.
Once you have arrived in Holland, you will discover that many European capitals are within easy reach. Berlin, Brussels and Paris are just a few hours away by train, and a short flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will take you to London, Madrid or Rome.
Holland is a ‘self-service country’. The Dutch try to manage most things themselves, which makes them very independent and organized. Another distinctive characteristic of the Dutch is their openness and direct manner of acting and speaking. You will notice that you can say exactly what is on your mind. The Dutch are not easily offended.
Education in the Netherlands
The Dutch system of higher education enjoys a worldwide reputation for high quality. Experience shows that people who have studied at a Dutch higher education institution perform very well in other parts of the world. In addition, the Netherlands was the first non-English-speaking country to offer courses taught in English.
The Netherlands has two main types of higher education institutions: universities and universities of applied sciences. Universities focus on the independent practice of research-oriented work in an academic or professional setting. Universities of applied sciences are more practically oriented, preparing students directly for specific careers.
The Times Higher Education Supplement ranks 11 universities in Holland among the top 200 in the world. Holland has also received international acclaim for its groundbreaking Problem-Based Learning system. This system trains students to analyze and solve practical problems independently through emphasis on self-study and self-discipline.
The Netherlands systems of teaching and learning is based on “student-led learning”, with more practice and more career orientation. The Dutch education system is interactive and focuses on teamwork, which makes it easy to meet other international students. Studying in Holland means developing an open mind and increasing your international orientation.
The majority of the programmes which are offered involve: real work placement, team projects, guest lectures and cases from the work field. It is believed that experience is the best teacher.
Financing your studies in the Netherlands
Education in Holland is not free, but tuition fees are reasonable compared with other countries. The annual tuition fees for enrolment on a degree programme or course at a Dutch higher education institution start at approximately €1,600 for EU students. In general, tuition fees are higher for non-EU students.
Experience shows that to live and study in Holland, students need between €300 and €400 per month + accommodation which is around €300 per month.
Foreign students that would like to take paid work alongside their studies are allowed to do so.
Why study in the Netherlands?
1. More than 1,450 programmes in English. Holland is the first non-English speaking country which has been offering study programmes conducted in English and especially designed for foreign students who came to study in Holland.
2. Internationally recognized diplomas. The Netherlands has been recognized as the knowledge centre of long study traditions and well- known universities. Dutch international scientific research is placed in the very top ranks. Thanks to its high quality the Dutch education meets all standards and is acknowledged worldwide.
3. Multicultural environment. International students from all over the world come to study in Holland. The Netherlands is a unique non-English speaking country where 95% of the inhabitants speak English. This makes communication during your study in Holland comfortable and pleasant.
4. Low study costs. The tuition fees and other expenses for those who come to study in Holland from EU/EEA countries are relatively low compared to other European countries.
5. Holland — a gateway to Europe. Due to its central position, the Netherlands has been described as the Gateway to Europe. In reality, all famous European capitals are within easy reach: Paris and Berlin, Brussels and London are all situated within an hour flight from the Dutch capital – Amsterdam.
More information about studying in the Netherlands:
http://www.studyinholland.nl
Cost of accommodation
Student Accommodation in Hague:
Double room: €360
Single with shared facilities: €425
Single studios: €575
Rooms vary in price, depending on size and level of facilities
Personal expenses: €4000 per year
Living expenses: experience shows that to live and study in Holland, students need between 300 and 400 € per month in addition to accommodation costs. The cheapest way to eat is to do your own cooking.
Other expenses: leisure, travel and other expenses. Bus tickets cost around €1.60 for a single fare in the city. You can consider buying a discount card for train tickets, which gives you 40% reduction in off-peak times. The cheapest method of getting around is of course by bicycle. Restaurants, student bars, museums and cinemas also offer discounts for students.
Additional information regarding studying in the Netherlands
Scholarships
If you’re an international student it’s worth checking out if there are any scholarships are available in your home country for students going to study abroad.
www.grantfinder.nl also has some useful information on scholarships all over Europe.
The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic) offers a variety of additional scholarships for students from all over the world. Nuffic homepage
Housing agency: DUWO
The Hague University of Applied Sciences does not have student accommodation on campus and you are free to make your own arrangements. As the university realises that it is difficult for international students to find accommodation all by themselves, it cooperates with a housing corporation (DUWO) specialising in letting accommodation to students. Currently The Hague University of Applied Sciences and DUWO supply around 400 rooms to international students. Applications have to go through The Hague University of Applied Sciences and students who would like the university to arrange accommodation for them are referred to the accommodation information in the student guide, which they will receive upon acceptance.
This reserved accommodation is only available for newly arriving international students starting in the first year of Bachelor programmes or Master programmes. Please note the deadline for applying for DUWO housing is 1 June.
Most rooms that are let out in the Netherlands are non-furnished so the occupant has to provide their or their own furniture. However, DUWO accommodation (so-called Short Stay Housing) is fully furnished, complete with the necessary inventory. All rooms offered are located in The Hague and within easy commuting distance of The Hague University of Applied Sciences either by public transport or bicycle.
What can you expect?
Many rooms are single rooms with shared facilities. Rent does vary according to size. Some of the buildings have common rooms. Generally the buildings have mixed occupancy, meaning that men and women are living together, unless specified otherwise. Double rooms are always shared with a student of the same gender. You can see detailed information of rooms and buildings on the DUWO website: www.duwo.nl.
What does the rent include?
The rent for Short Stay Housing accommodation includes all utility costs, internet and local taxes. All rooms are completely furnished with a bed, bed linen, a cupboard, a desk, a chair, and kitchen utensils.
Some buildings have paid laundry facilities, microwaves a bike shed or other facilities/equipment.
Working in The Hague
As you will be a student in The Hague, it might be, that you have, or want to work. It is always nice, to have a bit more to spend. Even for English speaking internationals it is possible to find work, since The Hague is a very international city. There are various recruitment agencies with their internet pages for non-dutch speakers to find a job, for example www.undutchables.nl
Undutchables Recruitment Agency is the pioneer in recruitment of international business sector personnel in the Netherlands.
But not only the internet is an option to get yourself a job. Sometimes asking at different locations or just calling them is even faster. There are lots of bars, cafes and restaurants. These attract not only dutch visitors, but also internationals. Therefore this could be a good possibility to apply for a job.
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