Coming from an Eastern European country, studying in the Netherlands at Hanze UAS is a great experience. My school uses the method of practical teaching, which I like very much. We learn by doing things, and I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time writing assignments, but they all add to me. Having skills based classes, really helped us get to know the technical processes.

I am a first year International Communications student at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, and so far i’ve enjoyed most parts of what the programme has to offer. We study theory, but then put it in a practical matter with the projects we have to do throughout the semesters, which makes it easier to understand. There is also a creative aspect to the programme that lets us work with the Adobe packet which is (most of the time) a fun experience.
The campus is new and pretty big, with many places to just sit down and relax, or study. There are a few cafes inside the buildings where you can get food and something to drink. If you like to be more involved with the students and the student life, there are different student associations that organise study sessions, parties and get-togethers.
The international environment makes it easier to make friends and interact with all kinds of people.

I really like that we have 4-5 subjects and that they are interconnected. The teachers are young and inspiring and they all know how to explain a hard topic with simpler words. I also like that we work in groups because you meet new people from other countries and cultures. We learn new techniques on how to communicate with other cultures and I also learned how to get better at communication with others. My favourite skill that I learned is in the subject “Tools” and is Adobe apps competency. The programme’s content corresponds with the trends in the world like politics, economy and need for computer skills. I like that we educate ourselves according to such important matters which is essential in today’s lifestyle.

What I don’t like is the excessive amount of theory. We have to read hundreds of pages before the exam and then only 30% of it is in the exam and it is the exact theory that we use when we do our projects. Another thing that I don’t like is the internship report in the third year. It is way too long having in mind we are working 8 hours 5 days in the week and trying to have some rest and social life at the end of the day. I think it should be shortened since it takes a lot of the time dedicated to social activities.

I think all subjects should be graded from 1-10 and not with Pass-Fail since 1-10 feels more rewarding when you have put so much effort into it. Taking as an example the internship report: I put 2 months of work into it and wrote 70 pages in order to get a simple Pass, which doesn’t really give me direction if I did okay or very well.

Groningen is the perfect city for students since there are a lot of students and it is very likely to find someone from your country which is comforting for people who are not used yet to communicating with intercultural people and in different languages. There are a lot of bars, clubs, museums and other interesting facilities. The Forum and the libraries are perfect for studying outside of your home. I always recommend Hanze to students who want to study in The Netherlands.

The school is very international speaking of students, but they can work on having more internationalism among the teachers especially for subjects that teach interculturalism. Groningen is awful when it comes to finding accommodation and it is always a battle to find a room/apartment/student room. I highly suggest Hanze build more student houses.

Career-wise, I think International Communication teaches students multiple important aspects and makes you realise what part of communications you like – business stuff, marketing, PR, doing speeches, etc.

The Hanze is a good university with focusses on its practical approach to society. The staff is always helpful and willing to listen. Personally I am very active at my amazing student association AEGEE. Even in cases such as taking a gap year for a board term the school was supportive and helpful. Hanze lets you explore your own capabilities, they gently hold the brakes of your educational life, without harshly squeezing them for control. Also, Groningen is an incredible student city that lets you fully enjoy all the possibilities student life has to offer.