NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences Speciality : Business and Strategy
programme: Creative Business

From the very beginning, I felt really welcomed at NHL Stenden. The application process was easy to follow, and whenever I had questions, the staff replied quickly and were always friendly and helpful. Communication with the university feels very personal and respectful, which made starting my studies much less stressful.
Since starting the Creative Business programme, I’ve noticed how many opportunities there are to get involved and actually do things instead of only learning theory. One of the best parts is that we work with real clients from early on in the programme, which gives you practical experience and helps you understand how things work in real life.
I also really like that the programme gives space for personal development. During the semester there are moments where students reflect on their progress, goals, and strengths, which I think is very valuable.
Overall, the university is very supportive. If students face challenges – whether personal, health-related, or financial – there are people who are willing to listen and help find solutions.
I would definitely recommend NHL Stenden. It’s a place where you feel supported, motivated, and comfortable as a student.

NHL Stenden offers a unique and practical study program, Creative Business. The study program is offered in a few other universities however it stands out.
The uni is home to many creative studios, such as recording and photography. Alongside it we as students get the chance to use these studios and other professional equipment (cameras, microphones, media labs) to make our content and fulfill our assignments. These factors make the university a stand out as we get to have a more hands on approach to using this technology.
As an addition, the university is very international which allows for networking and meeting new cultures and people. My program is very popular so I have had the pleasure of meeting talented people from all over the world.

I’m a second-year Creative Business (CB) student and I really enjoy my study programme. What I like most about CB is its versatility. You get to learn a bit about everything: business, marketing, production, editing and much more. The learning style is very practical, which makes it easier to connect new information to real-life situations. Thanks to the design-based education, there is a lot of group work, reflection and space to make mistakes and improve from them.
One thing that makes this uni experience even better is the beautiful university buildings, with amazing places to sit and study or to have a chat with your friends. Another thing is that all the coaches are very open and friendly, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere.

Overall, it’s a programme where you can try out different things and discover what you enjoy. However, there are still areas that could be improved, such as communication between the academy, coaches and students. Despite that, my experience so far has been very positive and I’m happy I chose this study!

NHL Stenden has been the perfect study choice for me. It offers me the opportunity to grow and work in a hands-on, practical way – something I definitely wouldn’t have experienced if I had studied in Germany. The atmosphere at the university is very pleasant, and the performance pressure is kept at a moderate level.

When people ask me whether I would recommend this program, I can honestly say yes. However, I also believe it depends on your personal expectations and goals. The program is clearly focused on practical learning, and at times, I do miss a bit more theoretical depth. The organization of the study program isn’t always very transparent and can sometimes feel a bit unstructured, but then again, that’s not uncommon at universities.

That being said, Creative Business is a degree I would choose again without hesitation. I feel well-prepared for the professional world, and the familiar, supportive atmosphere always gives me a positive sense of belonging.

In a dictionary, this degree’s name can stand right next to the definition of chaos.
The best part about this degree is the customisation it offers for every student. No matter what creative skill or interest you have, you can explore it even further in this degree, while still also navigating how to get hired by professional companies for those skills. If you just want to focus on management and business side, that is also possible. The downside is that not every coach has the same approach to the degree, so this creative vs business part is felt here the most. What helps is that you can figure out what most coaches want. So you end up learning both, even if you came just for one side of it.

Studying Creative Business at NHL Stenden has been a great experience with a few bumps down the road. Generally speaking, I’m very glad about my choice to study here – as an international student I am surrounded by other internationals which makes me feel more welcome and comfortable; this university has provided me with numerous extracurricular opportunities, which were not only great for networking and finding like-minded connections, but also getting extremely nice and useful experience, whether it’s working on a real set with professional production equipment or creating content and representing my course on social media!

When it comes to the study itself, it usually is pretty confusing, as students are usually just thrown into practical projects without initial preparation and sometimes not enough guidance. However, once you get used to design-based education, you realize how exciting the assignments actually are – working with real clients, producing your own ideas and seeing them come to life, and just “creativity, creativity, creativity” everywhere. I recommend this university for those who are not afraid of teamwork, thinking outside of the box, and being independent.

I came to study Creative Business from Austria after having attended university in Vienna, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. The structure of the classes, the close support from the teachers and the modern architecture really ensured me early on that I had made the right choice (for me). The university offers design-based education for many courses. This approach is highly valuable in my eyes and taught me things that I needed even for my entrepreneurial journey. One disadvantage of Creative Business is the chaos that sometimes shines through. It is a programme that is updated and improved yearly, which is good, but also leads to a lot of confusion and a lack of support from older students, as their help may not apply. NHL makes up for this, however, with the helpful coaches and many different opportunities to get support – emotional, academic, but also financial information. Since the university is so modern, it is involved in many events around the world (BIP, Erasmus, EIA, RUN-EU, etc.) that allow you to grow and expand your CV if you take advantage of them.
All in all, I can really recommend this university if you are tired of traditional teaching methods and have the discipline to push yourself.

When I cam to study abroad from Bulgaria, I did not realise all the opportunities the Creative business course will introduce me to. It is generally a very broad course and you can go in many directions with it – business, production, marketing and branding, publishing, and more. I got the chance to explore through different projects and assignments what I like, dislike, and what I see myself doing in the future. While this is nice for the most part, sometimes it can feel a little too broad and unspecialised. For example, you have production assignments, but CB is not a film course so you do not go as in depth quality wise, as you can. However, I try to tackle this concern of mine by joining different clubs and projects of my interest, that expand my knowledge and skillset. On that note, the ODP approach of the programme (basically mandatory extra credit projects) is rather nice in the sense that it pushes you to explore and try.

The good thing about this course is that it will make you go out of your comfort zone – from cold messaging media companies for interviews and viewings, to talking to clients and presenting in front of people. You learn to rely on yourself and shape your own learning path and goals. At times, it can feel overwhelming to keep up with everything and you may feel like you’re crashing and burning rather than moving forward. That is usually when I turn to my coaches and assigned mentor for support. Coming here, I did not expect my professors and lecturers to be so open-minded, enthusiastic, and helpful. They taught me that it is okay to ask for help when you need it.

To summarise, my experience in CB has been very positive and incredibly valuable for getting to know myself and for my overall personal development.

Back when I was about to finish high school, I spent a lot of time thinking, and honestly overthinking, about what path would truly suit me, and which university would feel right. I had always dreamed of studying abroad, exploring new places, and stepping out of my comfort zone. The hardest part was that my heart was pulling me toward creativity, while my mind was leaning more toward business, but with Creative Business, I never had to choose between the two. This program has already taught me so much. Not just about working on real-life challenges, but also about what it actually means to work in a team. It’s not always easy, we’ve had disagreements, different opinions, and stressful moments—but that’s exactly what made it real. It helped me grow, both professionally and personally, and showed me how to handle situations I know I’ll face in the future too.
What I gained here goes far beyond knowledge or career opportunities. I found friendships that have become really close to my heart, and that’s something I truly value. Because of this university, I feel every day that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, like somehow everything led me here for a reason. And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

Studying Creative Business at NHL Stenden has given me a broad mix of experiences. It’s not just academic learning—there’s a lot of real-life insight and plenty of room for personal growth and creativity. As an international student, I’ve felt genuinely welcomed and supported, especially because there are so many other international students around. The university has a strong sense of community, and the environment is modern, cozy, and filled with helpful staff and coaches.
What I like about the CB program is its focus on practical learning, extracurriculars, and networking. With access to well-equipped studios, we get hands-on experience in production. In just my first three months, I’ve already worked on production projects, created social media content, and even taken part in a film festival. Working with real companies and collaborating in teams makes the study program feel both exciting and relevant.
A lot of times the workload can be intense, deadlines are short, and you’re expected to be quite independent. But these challenges help you grow professionally. Over time it gets easier, especially thanks to the supportive and empathetic coaches. You really start to feel like a young professional, developing leadership, communication, and personal skills along the way.
If you’re open-minded, creative, enjoy working in teams and ready to challenge yourself, Creative Business is definitely a great choice!