Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen
trusts
HousingAnywhere
with accommodation for their students since 2014

• Was founded in 1986

• Ranks third in the Netherlands

• Has more than 27,00 students

• Has more than 2,100 international students

• Has 20 Faculties

• Offers 14 English or German-taught programmes

• Has partnered with Housing Anywhere since August 2014

Campus facilities

Founded in 1986, Hanze UAS began with the merge of several local learning institutions offering professional education. The oldest of these is the Minerva Academy, which was founded in 1798. In the present day, it hosts the Fine Arts, Design and Architecture faculty.

In the following years, more and more institutions were founded. In fact, in 1986, Groningen became the first city in the Netherlands where larger institutions were born from 16 out of 24 of the city’s vocational schools. This was due in part to the government’s support and assistance of smaller institutions merging into larger academic universities.

The Hanseatic League, a defensive and commercial organization of merchants and the areas in which they operate their businesses, is connected to the Hanze University of Applied Sciences. In the latter portion of the 1100s, this league enlarged from just a few North German cities to a well-known organization. Across Northern Europe for the last three centuries, it has been considered one of the leaders in Baltic’s maritime trade

Hanze UAS offers its students and faculty members the opportunity to utilize a modern, state-of-the-art library called the Hanze Media Centre, with several different branches, with the largest located on the Main Campus. The centre includes many helpful tools, including reference books, special literature, audio tapes, magazines, newspapers, video tapes, CD-Rom, software, reports and student theses.

Hanze UAS also provides the ICT service to all of its students. This cutting-edge electronic learning platform offers a variety of different types of information. Plus, students may access email, chat sessions and discussion groups, all the while keeping in direct communication with lecturers and other supporting members of staff.

In connection with the University of Groningen, the medical services at the university represent its staff and students with the StudentArts organization of GP doctors. Registration is free at the official website for StudentArts, which is also where you can schedule appointments. There are also two locations in Groningen, one being near the city centre and the other a bit north of the city.

Last but certainly not least, it’s a good idea to know where to find snacks or a meal in between or after classes. Each faculty of Hanze UAS has its own canteen on campus, offering tasty, budget-friendly food every day. For lunch, you can expect healthy salads, piping hot soups and delicious sandwiches. Supper is typically only around 5 euros, including a selection of meat, fish and vegetables.

Courses

While there are several courses taught in the English language at Hanze UAS, the most popular Bachelor courses are those that are a part of International Business and Management Studies, along with International Communication. Yet, a place in the Fine Arts and Design programmes at Minerva Academy is also highly sought-after by international students.

Other popular programmes include Classical Music and Jazz Music, which are taught in the south of the city at Prince Claus Conservatoire, and the Game Design and Development course, a modern option for those who are studying computers and technology

International dimension

Situated conveniently in the vibrant city of Groningen, the Hanze University of Applied Sciences is the largest institution of higher learning of applied sciences in the entire northern part of the Netherlands. Hanze UAS offers a wide range of Bachelor, Master and international student programs.

The Bachelor degrees are offered in the fields of Arts, Business and Management, Design and Architecture, Engineering and Technology, Computer Science and IT, Medicine and Health, Leisure and Sports, Hospitality and, most importantly, Social Sciences. A large international focus is easily noticed, with courses taught in English, Dutch and German. Hanze UAS also has close partnerships with a number of international university partners.

The university enrolls around 25,000 total students, with over 2,700 staff members. Ensuring that all international students immediately feel at home, there is a fully organized "Welcome Day" at the beginning of each semester. At the Welcome Day event in September of 2016, 950 new international students were received.

While being an international student will most likely be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, that doesn’t mean that it comes without its own unique challenges. You must familiarize yourself with the country’s regulations and rules. This is why the International Student Office offers a variety of different types of support, including applications for student study programmes.

Additionally, you can learn more about assistance, such as health insurance for international students in The Netherlands, including the European Health Insurance Card.

How to get to the university

With over 15 different locations spread throughout the city of Groningen, you can reach the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in many different ways with numerous modes of transportation.

Find the easiest route to the university from your particular starting point. You can input your location and find routes for walking, biking and using public transportation.

Student Neighbourhoods

Whether for a personal residence or place to work, Groningen can absolutely be considered an international student city. Fortunately, the university and most of the city’s attractions can be conveniently reached. Most students can walk or a ride a bike just about anywhere they need to go. So let’s see which neighborhoods are the most popular for students studying at the university.

City Centre

Groningen’s city centre is bustling and full of life. You can easily walk to shopping, restaurants and vibrant bars. However, do expect to pay a little bit more for this area’s youthful vibe and utmost convenience.

Schilderswijk and Zeeheldenbuurt

This is also one of the most preferred areas for students to live. A good portion of the housing is located in gorgeous mansions, some even boasting lush gardens, which is a wonderful place to host your first barbecue with your newly-found friends!

Oosterpoort

Oosterpoort draws a great mixture of both university students and successful young professionals. This historic neighborhood offers rental space in large houses with character. This is also where you will find the theater, with a packed calendar full of shows, performances and concerts.

Korrewegwijk

Just a 5 to 10-minute bike ride from Groningen’s city centre, this is a vast neighborhood with plenty of students. You will find that all of the facilities are nearby, along with a shopping centre and grocery stores, including an Asian market. This is also a fantastic place to live when you are a student trying to keep to a strict budget.

Rivierenbuurt

Near the train station and South of the city’s centre, Rivierenbuurt is a favorite place to live among students. The largest park in all of Groningen is also in this neighborhood, hosting fun events like the Dutch Liberation Day.

Selwerd/Paddepoel

This area is also a great find for students, with large flats that provide homes for a good majority of the international student population. This obviously brings rich diversity to the neighborhood.

Many students enjoy flats in Selwerd/Paddepoel partly because of the well-known flatbars. These are small bars at the flat, enabling students to have a drink without ever leaving home. What a cool concept!

Plus, there is an abundance of space available. This means that students can almost always locate housing in this area, even if they may be searching during peak times.

Common housing practices

When beginning your search for a place to call home in Groningen, it is highly important to remember that there is no student housing on campus. Therefore, this can make finding space a little more difficult.

This is why it makes perfect sense to rely on a simple housing platform to assist with locating a room. Make sure to check out the available rooms in Groningen at HousingAywhere.com

Most students opt to rent space at a local student house. While you will share all of the facilities, like a kitchen, living room and bathroom, you will have a private bedroom. This makes meeting new friends and integrating into the culture of the Netherlands much easier and way more enjoyable.

You can also read on to learn more about registration for students who will be living in the Netherlands. You should also note that the practices in the Netherlands may differ greatly from that of other countries, so be sure to do your homework!

The university hosts many student associations, with ACLO being one of the most popular. This is the student sports association, which is unique because it is managed completely by students of the university. Working closely with Hanze UAS at a price of 60 euros per year, students can receive unlimited access to all of the participating sports facilities.

Additionally, Hanze UAS has partnered with the University of Groningen to manage the Sports Centre. This state-of-the-art facility has over 75 instructors and trainers, along with 20 other supporting members of the staff. Their main goal is make students more aware of both their physical and mental health via a healthy sports regimen.

The well-known Erasmus Student Network, also known as ESN, is a huge part of life at the university for incoming international students. ESN Groningen assists exchange students with a multitude of adjustments, including their integration into the university itself. Their primary goal is to offer academic and social support by organizing a wide range of activities. These typically include meetings, cultural events, social gatherings, charity events and academic programmes.

Form the 1st until the 6th of September, ESN Groningen hosts its first large event of the year. Introduction Week allows new international students and current ones the opportunity to meet and mingle.

To learn more about the upcoming events at ESN Groningen, you can always check out the ESN Groningen Facebook page.