NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
speciality: Computer Science

I am a 4th year Information Technology student in Emmen. Now finishing my bachelor’s degree with the last graduation internship. From the perspective of time and from getting some professional experience in the field I can say that the school prepares you well for a Software Engineering job.

The opportunities you receive from both the location and university are a bit limited, but nonetheless useful. Students are encouraged more to pursue the minors in IT related topics, rather than go to abroad exchanges as it can be for other programs at this university.

When it comes to the curriculum, it can be busy. There are many various subjects that one needs to learn, but they generally prepare students for the situations they encounter at the companies.
One noticeable thing is the amount of teachers in the program. It would be really beneficial to hire more technical and available for full-time-employment teachers as the classes grow bigger and require more support.

I am happy seeing that every year we receive more and more applicants and I see new students present at the campus. It would be great to accommodate them and increase the capacity and complexity of the IT programs to really improve the overall satisfaction.

I am a second-year IT student in Emmen. In my opinion, this study program is well-organized and has well-planned content. In the first year alone, you work on projects in a wide range of areas, from web development to database application management to BattleBots. The variety of projects is impressive, and you also get to learn Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and other languages.

In the second year, you get the opportunity to work on projects with actual external clients, which I really appreciate. It makes the learning process very hands-on and gives you valuable real-world experience.

One thing I would note is that sometimes not everything is perfectly organized. However, the lecturers and higher-ups are always willing to listen and are open to feedback, making adjustments as needed, which is great to see.

The difficulty of the program isn’t too high, either. I started with zero IT knowledge and have been managing just fine, so I believe there’s something for everyone here.

Overall, I’m glad I decided to join this program and attend this university. It’s been a nice experience so far!

I am currently in my second year of studying IT at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. I have friends across all study years, from first to fourth, which has given me a well-rounded understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the program. Before coming to the Netherlands, I had no prior knowledge of IT. Fortunately, the program is tailored for individuals in similar situations. By following the structured learning path, I successfully passed my first year. Throughout that time, I gained a wealth of knowledge, which is now helping me develop further as an IT professional.

The IT course at NHL Stenden is relatively small, with 40-90 students compared to other universities, which can have anywhere from 300 to 5,000. This smaller scale creates a more intimate, almost private-course atmosphere. I received a lot of personalized feedback from teachers, who dedicated considerable time to answering my questions and explaining concepts in detail. However, like many other universities, there were moments of disorganization that could be improved.

One statement I believe every prospective student should understand before applying to this program is this: while you may not immediately become a professional or top-tier programmer, you will learn how to acquire the knowledge, skills, and methods necessary to reach that level. Ultimately, your success will depend on your own effort and dedication.

My name is Nick, and I am a second-year student at NHL Stenden. Before starting here, I had no prior experience with IT, but the program helped me quickly catch up and develop a strong interest in the field. The curriculum is designed to support beginners, and the teachers provide excellent guidance throughout the learning process.

My campus is in Emmen, a city often rated as one of the least exciting in the Netherlands. While it may be small and quiet, I see this as an advantage. With a smaller student population of ICT (around 40–90 students in the first year compared to 500–5,000 at larger universities), the environment is more personal and focused which is good for studying. The smaller scale allows for what many students, including myself, consider personal tutoring. The support from teachers is truly a highlight of the program, making it easier to succeed even if you’re new to IT.

However, there are some areas for improvement. The overall management of the ICT program could be better organized. Issues with administration and communication are common, but to be fair, this is something students might encounter at any university.

In summary, if you’re looking for a supportive environment to learn IT, NHL Stenden offers excellent opportunities, especially for those without a technical background. That said, be prepared to navigate some organizational hurdles along the way.

The university offers a decent experience overall, particularly in terms of its facilities and faculty. The campus boasts modern amenities, including well-equipped laboratories, libraries stocked with extensive resources

However, one aspect that could be improved is the location of the university. While not detrimental, the current location may not be as convenient or vibrant as some students might prefer. Access to off-campus amenities and recreational activities could be more limited compared to universities situated in larger cities or more central locations.

I really enjoy studying at this school and generally like the program. The opportunities it gives us to go abroad and the connections it has helped me build have been amazing. This course has provided me with a great network, a good structure in OOP programming, and an in-depth view of programming. It mainly focuses on software engineering, of course. The DBE education can be quite a struggle for some at the beginning.

The program structure involves more of a group project workflow, so being able to be a team player is crucial. This gives you the chance to meet different cultures.

On the negative side, sometimes the disorganization of the course can be an issue. Sometimes we feel lost, and the teacher help is not quite there as well, but I heard from the newest students that it has been better. The canteen can also be quite a shock for newcomers as there is not really food served in Emmen; it’s more sandwich-based.

Generally, in the program, you will learn OOP, software engineering, databases, product management, scrum, and a few other programming principles.

There is still quite a room for improvement, hence why student feedback is crucial for our course. The teachers are always looking out for feedback and asking for it.

I am currently a third-year student in the IT bachelor study at NHL Stenden. I have come to learn here that in IT there is not only programming defined to it. There are lots of sub-processes to call them ranging from documentation to meetings with the clients and so on. However, these skills wouldn’t be able to be honed without the proper teaching. And that’s what I like about this bachelor at the university is that they have courses that are specifically made for that. IT wise you will do everything from software development to networking, to hardware (entry level such as Arduino), and much more. Projects that we have every period (trimester) simulated real-life client situations that require preparing and then delivery of the product like in real life. Don’t be scared because, in your first year, you are prepared how to deal with these challenging projects, and moving on the teachers will act from more of a supervisor side while you discuss your things with real clients. These clients are big IT companies that work with the teachers to create fun projects from which you can learn the process of building an application and managing a team. There are also minors (think of them as mandatory secondary studies) from which I chose CEH (Certified Ethical Hacking) and Hack@Sea. I enjoyed the most Hack@Sea because it gave a really good insight into the maritime world and what it takes to keep the world moving one vessel at a time and one byte on the wire. Besides all of your studies, the university also offers opportunities such as discounts for gym memberships, international experiences (such as the Grand Tour or RUN-EU), and much more. I have had a great time and made a lot of friends (both Dutch and international). Overall, I enjoy the university and I am delighted that I have made this choice.