As a student in the Bachelor of Hotel Management program at NHL Stenden University, my experience has been a blend of enriching opportunities, personal growth, and occasional challenges. Now in my final year, currently immersed in my internship in Dubai while wrapping up my thesis, I reflect on the journey that has shaped me both personally and professionally.

One of the standout features of NHL Stenden is its vibrant international campus, which fosters a melting pot of cultures and perspectives. This diversity has been instrumental in broadening my horizons, allowing me to forge connections with students from around the globe. Through interactions with my peers, I’ve not only learned about their cultures but also gained invaluable insights into different approaches to hospitality, enhancing my understanding of the industry on a global scale.

The university’s emphasis on practical experiences has been a cornerstone of my education. From immersive group projects that simulate real-world scenarios to industry fairs that facilitate networking with renowned partners, NHL Stenden has provided ample opportunities for hands-on learning. These experiences have not only honed my skills but also equipped me with the confidence and adaptability essential for success in the hospitality field.

One of the highlights of my academic journey was the Grand Tour to Thailand during my third year, where I had the opportunity to delve deeper into my field through diverse minors. Living and studying abroad for an extended period not only expanded my knowledge but also enriched my cultural understanding, making it an unforgettable experience that contributed significantly to my personal and academic growth.

However, alongside the positives, there were challenges to navigate. The university’s emphasis on freedom and self-responsibility, while empowering, also necessitated a high degree of accountability for one’s progress. This aspect required self-discipline and proactive engagement, as there were no hand-holding or spoon-feeding of knowledge.

Additionally, despite its international focus, I encountered instances of perceived unequal opportunities, with Dutch students sometimes receiving preferential treatment. While this was disappointing, it served as a reminder of the importance of fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities for all students, regardless of nationality.

Despite these challenges, my overall experience at NHL Stenden has been immensely rewarding. The university’s diverse range of experiences, from practical learning to global exposure, has been instrumental in shaping me into a well-rounded professional. Looking back, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose NHL Stenden again, as it’s the sum of these varied experiences – the ups and downs – that have ultimately contributed to my growth and success. As I prepare to graduate and embark on my career in hospitality, I am grateful for the transformative journey that NHL Stenden has offered, and I carry forward valuable lessons learned along the way.

I really like and enjoy studying at NHL Stenden for several reasons:
NHL Stenden offers an amazing international environment. In my study program there are many people from different places and you can really learn from different cultures. Moreover, the students have the chance to study abroad for a semester in a different country where you learn new approaches and get a different insight about the international experience.
Also the student do an internship which is not only great for personal growth but also amazing for work experience. The teachers are amazing and really care for their students.

All in one I can say that I would recommend studying at NHL Stenden 🙂

Overall, I am truly enjoying the NHL Stenden experience. Currently, I’m in my 2nd year of studying Creative Business. My favourite aspect is how international the environment is and how many different cultures collide in one place and I already learn so much from that. Additionally, the facilities, educational approach, and everything else are very modern, therefore quite contrasting to my home country. People are open, and there are a lot of extra-curricular activities that one can get valuable experience out of. In the university buildings, it is also easy to find a spot where to study and work.
Regarding my study programme, Creative Business (Media Management), I have mixed feelings. Because a new curriculum was implemented for my study stream, it did not feel yet fully developed, therefore now and then it feels a bit chaotic and uncertain. However, the programme developers are there to listen to feedback and genuinely hear students’ concerns and use them for future improvements.
Because it is a practical study course, where most of the time we have to work on projects by ourselves (and mostly in teams), it can feel like I’m not getting all of the necessary theory needed for me to grasp the subject, but it does get better as the studies progress. Another downside is a lot of confusion around assignments and assessments, which is mostly due to ineffective communication.
But moving onto the positive: I do feel like I couldn’t have picked more suitable studies for me. Creative Business is broad enough for me to have the opportunity to explore different roles in the media industry and learn more about myself, my strengths, and more. Of course, there are times when I question my decisions and so do other students, but at the end of the day, I am truly satisfied with what I have chosen.
Additionally, personal growth here is valued a lot and is something that the university encourages you to develop and reflect on. There is a lot I’ve discovered about myself just from that.
How much you get out of your studies also depends on yourself, your self-discipline, and your commitment to learning something. With the approach to fully immerse myself into the studies and gaining experience, I’ve found myself to have developed a lot. The course actually allows you to explore and experiment, for example, with leadership and managing teams – with different styles, tools, and approaches.
As I mentioned, I have been enjoying my time at NHL Stenden, and it has given me a lot of opportunities and experiences that I feel proud of and never thought I’d get to have.

As stated above and by all other reviews, this is no place for a person thet wants an organized and helpfull surrounding, nurturing anything good. It is a constant mess of excusess, lack of comunication between teachers, students and all other elements of the structure.

Are you ready for a challenge? You will receive many here.

This might be a tough way to start a review but the other side of that medal is, that each overcame challenge will give you the right resources and best means to build up resilience, future employees can only dream off.

At the NHL Stenden and within the Creative Business program, you are experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions almost every single day of your studies. Waking up in a sad and boring state, you might end up being focused or excited at the end of the day.
Same applies for the opposite. Sometimes the chaotic organisation, the not thought through processes and the messy guidelines of your modules and projects can draw all the energy out of your body that your long night sleep provided you with.

However, as mentioned in the title these studies ARE fun. They ARE inspirational (more or less) and they DO prepare you for the job life within the creative industry in the best possible way. Instead of reading through dusty books, you are going out, talking to possible clients, connecting with other courses and producing your own projects.

Despite all the obstacles and (sometimes even self-inflicted) disappointments I faced during my studies, I would never say, that I regret the time here. It was a great and important period of my life and tbh, I couldn’t imagine having spent it elsewhere or in another study.

Disclaimer: this review is about my course Creative Business, I don’t know if it applies to other programmes as well.

What I like: a wide variety of things are being taught and the study programme is very broad: I really feel like I can go in lots of different directions with my future career after finishing these studies. I also like the fact that there isn’t an extreme amount of contact hours: you get enough time to finish your assignments before the deadline and still have a life besides school.

What I don’t like: the fact that we change classes every 2/3 months. I understand why they do this and that it’s because you get to know lots of different people this way, but I’d prefer it if we’d switch classes every 2 modules instead of 1: this way you get to know your classmates a bit deeper instead of just on a surface level. I also don’t like the fact that we have to work in groups pretty much all of the time (so far at least, I’m only in my first year), I would like it if we’d have to work alone or in pairs now and then as well for a change.

I would 10/10 recommend Creative Business at NHL Stenden. It’s a little disorganized at times but overall amazing, the teachers are experienced and friendly, and the amount of help we get for both university but also individual projects is amazing.

The most unique thing about Creative Business at NHL is definitely the DBE model, which teaches students mainly by learning by doing. It focuses a lot on teamwork, prototyping and feedback which I personally really enjoy!! It really prepares you for the job world in a different way than a conventional study course would!! It sometimes gets a bit chaotic because of that as well because the students have so much creative freedom and the coaches sometimes aren’t really sure either what the best solution would be. But I guess that’s pretty common with creative studies anyway. Overall I really enjoy the unconventional ways that NHL teaches.

So far the study has been mostly enjoyable, with interesting assignments. However, there are a few issues such as the coaches/professors not willing to answer questions because ‘figure it out yourself while also not giving enough information. Some of the assignments require knowledge and skills that weren’t taught to us beforehand or barely at all, such as film production.

I would recommend the course to my peers but with those disclaimers because it may be hard for some people to not feel lost and frustrated.