Considered to be one of the leading countries in the world to study abroad, the Netherlands offers some of the best educational opportunities. It is often ranked high on lists of the best countries for education as it offers many qualities which students may find attractive. With its low study cost, high English proficiency, and easy-going culture, the Netherlands has a welcoming environment which will make international students feel right at home.
One of the things the Netherlands is most known for is for being highly proficient in understanding and speaking English. Upon doing research for this blog, one of the facts which many of my resources had in common was that the Netherlands was a top English-speaking country. This may be especially helpful for students who plan on staying only for a short period of time, and will not be in the Netherlands long enough to become fluent in the Dutch language.
Due to the high English proficiency, there are a variety of university classes which are taught in English. So if you are concerned about having to speak and understand Dutch in order to study in the Netherlands, have no worries, you will be able to get by just fine with only speaking English. The Netherlands has a large international community, in fact, the nationalities which make up a large part of the international students are American, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, and Indonesian. With such a variety of nationalities studying in the Netherlands, you should have no problem making yourself right at home while studying there.
Another fact that many agree with is the affordable living and studying costs. It has a low living cost which is perfect if you are looking for a cheap country to study and-or live in. It also has a low crime rate, good cuisine, and has been confirmed by many to be one of the happiest places in the world!
By living in the Netherlands you also have great traveling opportunities. It is a country that neighbors Germany and Belgium, which makes it easy to visit them; yet those are not the only options you have for travel. Europe is a pretty cheap continent to fly within as it has low flight prices and offers other methods of travel such as the train.
The Netherlands is renowned for its high teaching quality, and in fact has some of the best universities in the world! Due to a rather unique and interesting approach to teaching, the classes are more interactive and student focused. You as the student are encouraged to interact with your fellow classmates and hold open discussions with them. You are likewise encouraged to share your mind and give reasons as to why you agree or disagree with mentioned subjects or issues. It really is a fascinating method of teaching that allows students to express their thoughts and ideas.
If you are wanting to work while studying, the Netherlands has made it possible to do so. If you are an EU/EEA/ Switzerland national then you can work with no problems or restrictions. If you are not an EU/EEA/ Switzerland national, then you are permitted to work up to 16 hours per week, as long as you are residing with a student residence permit. If you plan on residing long term in the Netherlands you are permitted to work fulltime in the summer (June through August).
Now that we have discussed and gone through the benefits of studying in the Netherlands, let me introduce you to one of Falesia Consultants’ partner universities: Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences. Despite having a campus in Amsterdam, Wittenborg’s main campus is located in two places in the city of Apeldoorn. Apeldoorn is a city located in the central region of the Netherlands, and it is known for its gardens, paper mills, and laundries.
Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences is a Business School that has a main focus on Management. It is also a boutique university. Boutique universities are small-scale institutions which have a more personalized teaching, smaller classes, and offer more opportunities for student participation. It is a largely international university, with 85% of the students being international and over half of the staff being non-Dutch. Wittenborg is also one of the few Dutch universities that is 100% English speaking!
Not only can you study in the Wittenborg campuses located in Apeldoorn and Amsterdam, but you can also study in Munich, Germany! Thanks to Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences’ partnership with New European College which is a private, international business school based in Munich, students have the opportunity to continue their studies there. Because of said partnership, students have a 75% possibility of continuing their Wittenborg University degree while studying at New European College.
Concerning its study programs, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences offers Bachelor and Master programs. Both programs offer multiple courses such as International Business Administration, Market Communication & Information, and Business Management. The Bachelor’s program has a duration of about 3 to 4 years, while the Master’s program lasts between 18 and 24 months. It also offers a pre-master’s program with a duration of 6 months, as well as Foundation pre-Bachelor’s and pre-Master’s programs which last between 6 months to 1 year. You can also join the English & Business Preparation Programs, which also lasts between 6 months to 1 year.
Concerning Wittenborg’s fees, for the Bachelor’s programs the fees are around 9,800€ per year, while the fees for the Master’s programs are around 18,300€. There are six student intakes per year, and they take place in the months of August, October, November, February, March, and May. For students who do not live in the European Union, you must apply 6 to 8 weeks before your chosen entry date. For those living in the European Union, you can apply 4 to 6 weeks beforehand.
Concerning student accommodation, Wittenborg University provides lodgings in the student residence. The monthly price for a room is between 420€ and 450€. The university itself is located within a good distance of various places. It is three minutes away from transportation such as buses, taxis, and trains, and it is likewise near places such as restaurants, markets, city hall, museums, libraries, and theaters.
That’s it for this blog! I hope that you found it to be very informative and helpful. If you want to know about the student visa process, check out the next blog! It will give you all the information you need.
You can find part 2 of this blog series here: https://www.falesiaconsultants.com/post/wittenborg-university-of-applied-sciences-part-2-visa-process.
You can also watch our YouTube video that offers more information on the Wittenborg University:
Until next time!
–Isabella Harding