front page Fontys University of Applied Sciences
With its 40,000 students, 4,000 members of staff and a range of courses covering almost every sector, Fontys University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest institutions for higher education in the Netherlands.
Over 3,500 out of the 40,000 Fontys students come from abroad; they represent more than 70 countries around the world, with a large delegation from Germany. Many of these international students are enrolled as degree students in English-taught bachelor and master programmes, often offered in cooperation with Fontys’ partner universities in other countries.
All Fontys degree programmes are accredited by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO) or equivalent British accreditation bodies. Fontys has signed the ‘Code of Conduct with respect to international students in Dutch higher education.
Why Fontys?
- A small-scale approach
Despite the fact that Fontys is one of the largest higher educational institutions in the southern part of the Netherlands, its teaching is conducted in small-scale environments. As a result, a great deal of attention is given to your personal development and at the same time, you can profit from the huge diversity offered by Fontys as a whole.
- Practical orientation
At Fontys, teaching is geared towards developments in society and in the labour market. The study programmes are highly practically oriented and students are supervised, counselled and trained by excellent lecturers to help them to ultimately become all-round professionals. During the study programme, students will complete an internship and a graduation placement, in which they independently work on a project together with companies from all over the world. Thus they already gain work experience during their studies.
- Student-centred education
As a Fontys student, you may design your own study path, i.e. you may determine your own route through the range of course programmes available, formulate your own learning requirements and reflect critically on your own strengths and weaknesses.
- Majors & Minors
Bachelor degree programmes are broken down into a Major and at least one Minor. The Major offers broad-based education for future profession, whilst one or more Minors will provide student with the opportunity to focus on specific subject areas.
- International orientation
As a student entering an English-language degree programme, you will meet students from many nationalities, thereby starting to build your international network at an early stage in your student life. Working in multicultural teams is an experience in itself.
- Fontys is ranked in the top 60 electrical/electronics and mechatronic engineering universities in the world. In the field of management and economics it offers one of the best study programs in The Netherlands.
“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
Education See the amount on the left side of the page
Books and stationary € 865
Accommodation per year approx. € 4000
Transportation It's normal to use a bike to get around in the city
Personal expenses € 4000, which include:
- 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 unexpected expenses. Fortunately, many discounts are offered to students by bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas.
Additional information regarding studying in the Netherlands: http://www.ib-groep.nl
Scholarship
Information on how and where to apply for a scholarship, within the framework of cultural agreements between the Netherlands and your home country, or most other possible scholarships, is available from NUFFIC or the Netherlands Student Grantfinder, which provides information on a range of Dutch scholarships for foreign students.
All foreign students can apply for a furnished accommodation of a similar standard and price as that is used by local students. Typically, this would be in the form of a private room, with bathroom and kitchen facilities to be shared with other students. As universities in The Netherlands do not typically have American-style campuses with student dormitories, your student room would be located off-campus, in the city of Eindhoven, Tilburg or Venlo, but always within ‘cycling distance’ of the relevant campus.
Fontys arranges accommodation for students via housing corporations, housing agencies and private property owners, so that accommodation will be directly available to you upon your arrival in The Netherlands. You will be required to sign a rental contract with the housing corporation, housing agency or property owner for the full semester. Fontys does not charge any fees for mediation and/or reservation costs, but of course, you will need to pay rent to the relevant party. Typically, the average rental price for such student accommodation is approximately EUR 300 to EUR 400 per month. In addition, you will usually be requested to pay a deposit that will be paid back to you at the end of the rental period if the property has not been damaged.
Currently, there is a shortage of student accommodation in The Netherlands. Therefore, unless you have friends or family living here, it is unlikely that you will be able to secure accommodation without assistance from Fontys side.
As an international student in Holland, you might want to take a part-time job, just as Dutch students do. Besides helping to cover your costs, a job can also give you useful work experience, allow you to participate in Dutch society and make it easier for you to learn the language.
Citizens from EU/EEA member states, do not need a residence permit in order to be allowed to stay in the Netherlands, while doing their MSc. With the exception of Bulgaria and Romania and Non-EU/EFTA students, citizens from the rest of the EU-member states do not need a work permit to do a part-time job. Non-EU / EFTA should register with the IND once they have been in the Netherlands for more than 3 months. For more information consult the IND website, http://www.ind.nl. On this website you will find a “residence wizard” through which you can find out about the rules for residency in the Netherlands for yourself.
Even if not directly needed, a residence permit can come in handy: sometimes employers ask for it before they enter into a contract with you, banks also ask for it when you open a bank account and other official institutions ask for this document as well. You may find a part-time job, but you have to keep in mind that your main goal is to study. You should have at least 4 months’ money before arriving as it may be difficult to find a student job.
Possibly the simplest way to find a job is to visit a few temp agencies. Bring your passport, citizen service number (BSN or social security number) and your CV. Even when they do not find a job straight away, the agency will call you the minute they have a job available for you. Regularly checking the temp agencies yourself, calling them, or passing by to just say hello, may help to get a job fast
There are a lot of temp agencies in the Netherlands. For instance:
- europa.eu (several links to help you find a temporary job.)
- www.jobrapido.nl (English student jobs)
- www.geocities.com (site with links to all the international recruiters in the Netherlands)
Other institutions: