Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
speciality: International Business

Studying International Business at Zuyd University was an incredibly rewarding experience. What I appreciated most was the freedom and flexibility of the program. There are no mandatory subjects—you shape your own path by diving into topics that genuinely interest you. This approach fosters intrinsic motivation and makes learning feel meaningful and relevant.

One of the unique aspects of the program is that students from all years work together. This creates a dynamic learning environment where you benefit from fresh perspectives as well as the experience of others. It encourages collaboration, peer learning, and a broader understanding of business challenges.

Another major strength of the program is the support from business coaches. At the start of each period, you define your own goals, and the coaches guide you along the way with tailored advice and feedback. This creates a valuable feedback loop focused on self-improvement and continuous learning.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in entrepreneurship or planning to start their own company. It’s a forward-thinking, student-centered education that gives you the tools—and the freedom—to grow both personally and professionally.

ZUYD University is ideal for those looking to bridge academics with real-world applications. Known for its practical and project-based curriculum, it offers smaller class sizes ensuring personalized attention from professors. The university specializes in fields like Hotel Management, European Studies, and Creative Industries, with strong industry connections that provide students with internships and career opportunities across Europe. Located in Maastricht, students benefit from a vibrant student life and access to a network of multinational companies in the region. The modern facilities, such as the state-of-the-art kitchens for hospitality students or the design labs for creative disciplines, are impressive. What stands out is ZUYD’s emphasis on employability skills, from public speaking to networking. While it lacks the expansive campus vibe of larger universities, the close-knit community feel more than compensates. ZUYD is perfect for hands-on learners aiming for a career-ready education in an international setting.

It’s a very nice university with a friendly environment! All the lecturers really get to know you and they are very supportive. It’s also inclusive and the students are all relatable, so worries can easily be resolved as you’re never on your own!

This program that Zuyd Hogeschool offers to help you with your personal development. What I expected was to work with projects and that is what I am doing. That was what I liked the most when I chose this university, the type of education. The university gives you the freedom to work on the challenges you liked and also you can select the companies you want to work with. From my point of view, I think this can help you in the future to have a firmer point of view.
Every university has their advantages and disadvantages and for me what I do not like in this program is that is so new that I do not feel everyone understood completely the concept. At the beginning, you felt a little bit lost but nowadays I can say that I am progressing.

The International Business program of Zuyd is unique because each student is in the lead of their own learning process. Zuyd provides the opportunity for students to learn the fundamentals of business throughout collaborating with real companies and solving problems for them with research-based advice in the form of a report, presentation or both. During this program, students are coached and monitored by business experts and coaches. In my opinion, students that are attending this program will acquire a lot of experience and knowledge on both the personal and professional side due to the fact that students learn to take initiative, learn to communicate professionally and develop new insights about the business.
Another advantage of this program is that students are treated equally by coaches and fellow students regardless of their sex, nationality, sexuality, experience or personal background. Also, the capacity of the study program is limited which is ensures that all students can be approached personally. However, there are several aspects that can be improved within International Business at Zuyd such as communication about general matters such as exams, class schedules and internships. In general, all coaches can be approached easily but there are individuals that take a long time to respond to e-mails and other messages.
To conclude, attending Zuyd University will push you out of your comfort zone and will teach you business and personal development in a unique way. However, the communication between coaches and students can sometimes be disrupted which can influence your progress as a student.