Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
trusts
HousingAnywhere
with accommodation for their students since 2016

• Was founded on the 1st of January 1988

• Ranked 47 in the Netherlands (47/135)

• Has over 35,000 students

• Has 11 Faculties

• Offers 24 courses in English

• Has partnered with Housing Anywhere since January 2016

Campus facilities

The University of Rotterdam was initially founded in 1966 as an independent school, sponsored by a business university. After 2002, the school began to place even a higher focus on business studies when they merged with the "Hogere Economische School (HES)".

After this time, the university began to attract a host of young potential entrepreneurs and leaders by building good partnerships with area businesses and offering support for those hoping to begin startups. The alumni play a huge part in this, organizing meetings and social activities for the students to take part in. These alumni members have even set up local chapters in areas like Indonesia, Thailand and China, providing excellent international support.

However, there have been many changes since the inception of the HES and the Rotterdam Business School. The campus has moved from its original location to Woudestein, which shares its location with the Erasmus University. This enables the two schools to share state-of-the-art facilities, including a library, a study area, a gym and a tennis court, along with a food court, a full restaurant and a supermarket.

Plus, in September of 2017, the Rotterdam Business School will boast a new building, complete with many modern amenities, including study facilities and additional space.

Kralingse Plas is also near the Kralingse Zoom. This park is situated in Kralingen, a popular student neighborhood, well-known as the perfect locale for meeting up with friends or having barbecues or picnics.

Museumpark is the second largest location of the University of Rotterdam. Even though there is no main campus, you will find a delicious restaurant and a media center. It is also conveniently located, just a few minutes from a number of area attractions. Visit the 185-meter building, the Euromast, where you can opt to abseil to the bottom to avoid the stairs. It’s also an excellent area for a picnic or a break from classes. You can also walk over to the Eendrachtplein, which is home to McDonald’s, the Coffee Company, Bram Ladage and Work to Go.

Right in the city center, you can find the "Oude Haven", translating to the “old harbour”. This area offers fun bars and trendy restaurants, with a hint of nostalgia and a wonderful breeze off the water. The best part is that everything in the city is easily accessible via public transportation.

Rotterdam is known for its vibrant nightlife, so be sure to end the night right with a visit to one or two exciting nightclubs. However, if you’d like to find even more to do in Rotterdam, there are plenty of options available to you!

Courses

Due to its strong business nature, the programs with the highest enrollments include Trade Management focused on Asia, International Business and Management Studies, and International Business and Languages.

The International Business and Management program offers many popular courses, including Project Management, International Business Environment, Leadership and Professional Development, Foreign Languages, Marketing, Applied Business Models and Consultancy and Change Management. The International Business and Languages program highlights international language courses, along with Economics, Professional Identity and the Business Plan.

You can learn more about these courses on the University website.

International dimension

Known in Dutch as the "Hogeschool Rotterdam", the University of Rotterdam has 15 different locations that are situated across the entire city. The Rotterdam Business School is not only one of the largest locations of the university, but it is also the main place for all international studies.

There are over 2,500 students enrolled in a variety of international courses, hailing from 50 different countries. This brings a wonderful sense of cultural diversity to the school. The most popular courses for international studies include Trade Management focused on Asia, International Business and Languages, and International Business and Management Studies.

There are plenty of resources available for incoming international students. Read on in our Rotterdam City Guide.

How to get there

Rotterdam Business School/Kralingse Zoom

When leaving from the Rotterdam Central Station, take the Metro line D going toward de Akkers or line E toward Slinge. Next, you must change lines at Beurs to take either A, B or C going toward Nesselande. Exit at Kralingse Zoom. Upon walking out of the station, go to the left and continue straight. After about an 8-minute walk, you will arrive at the university. There are few chances for confusion, as there are numerous signs and instructions posted to make traveling simple.

Museumpark

Take the Metro from Central Station. Choose line D going toward De Akkers. At Beurs, you can change to line A, B or C going toward Schiedam Centrum. You must exit at Dijkzigt, and you will be right in front of the university.

To learn how to really get around the city like a local, be sure to check out the transportation pages that are available, and begin planning your first route.

Student neighborhoods

Rotterdam is one of the largest cities in the Netherlands, with plenty of sprawling neighborhoods. Among students, the most popular are Centrum, Kralingen and Coolhaven.

But also be sure to consider some of the areas to the South of the city centre. This section is quite beautiful, also sporting cheaper rent prices and some nice parks.

If you’d like to learn more about Rotterdam’s intriguing neighborhoods, then read more to completely educate yourself on what Rotterdam has to offer.

Common housing practices

Locating housing in Rotterdam can be problematic. With so many schools located here or closeby, there are always large groups of students searching for that perfect room or a nice apartment to share with friends.

Students often also have trouble finding housing that meets all of their criteria. Sometimes the ideal space is out of your budget, or maybe it doesn’t offer enough space.

Here are some useful tips to make searching a bit easier:

• It’s never too early to begin looking! If you’re hoping to land housing in a popular locale like Kralingen or the city center, finding housing early can be key.

• If you are really keen on finding a place in the city center or Kralingen, expect to pay more for the rent. It’s typical to pay about 500-600 euros for a room, with apartments starting off at 1500 euros.

• Don’t overlook the southern and western areas of the city. They can be easily accessed via public transportation, and housing will offer more for your money.

• Make it a point to check our website on a regular basis. Rooms can rent very quickly, often even on the same day that they are advertised. If you find something that fits what you’re looking for, don’t wait too long. You never know how hard it might be to locate something that meets your criteria.

Even though you’re primarily here to study, a student organization can help fill out your social calendar, as well provide numerous opportunities relating to your intended field of study. You will find many available organizations to choose from, with several located right on campus.

Here are a few examples:

BNR Beurs is an excellent association for students who are interested in capital or investing, this is the ideal option for you. You can form an investment team with other students that competes with other groups at other schools. Sus&Co is a local café that is quite popular with these students.

Many of the different faculties host their own study associations. You can take part in their organized weekly or monthly events, including parties and meetings. They also set up charity events and trips for study purposes.

For Erasmus University Rotterdam, some associations include ACE for Erasmus School of History, EFR for the Erasmus School of Economics, Culture and Communication, STAR for the Rotterdam School of Management and JFR for the Erasmus School of Law.

The main association for international students at Rotterdam Business School is RISA.

Additionally, many fields of study also have their own associations. For example, FAECTO is available to the school’s Econometrics students.

While there are some associations available for all students, there are many geared directly toward international students. One such association is ESN, the Erasmus Student Network. It works together with the local community to put together events to assist international students with their integration into their new home. They set up trips to neighboring cities for exploration, sporting events and social get-togethers to encourage the new students to mingle. Take a look at their calendar to get an idea of what to expect.

If you’re looking for something a bit more social and less academic in nature, there are six "fraternities" at the university. They include: RSV Sanctus Laurentius, Rotterdamsch Studenten Corps (RSC), Rotterdamsche Vrouwelijke Studenten Vereniging (RVSV), Rotterdamsch Studenten Gezelschap (RSG), Societas Studiosorum Reformatorum Roterodamensis (SSR-R) and Navigators Studentenvereniging Rotterdam (NSR).

These fraternities are steeped in tradition, with many members following after family and friends. They often meet several times per week at their own "Sociëteit", a large building located in an ideal location like the city centre, Kralingen or another student neighborhood.

Students may also choose to be part of a fraternity committee. These are great for those interested in event management, financial management and general management.

If you want to learn more about any of the student associations, there are events set up during what is called "EurekaWeek". This occurs every year on the week just before school starts. The different associations will be set up at tables, offering information and hoping to recruit new members.

While the numerous student organizations should offer enough activity to keep your social calendar full, you can learn more about Rotterdam’s events through helpful city information that can be key when moving to Rotterdam.