NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences Speciality : Marketing
programme: Marketing and Management

To you who is currently reading this review,

Hi, I am Catarina, a 20-year-old Portuguese girl currently in my first year of Marketing Management in NHL Stenden in Leeuwarden. I hope this review helps clarify any questions you might have and guide you in making the best decision for your future.

I moved to the Netherlands in late August 2024 to start this new adventure. So far, my experience has been extremely positive. The university campus is modern and meets all the students´ need (and wants) by offering technologically equipped classes, different study areas, a large library, several cafeterias with a variety of snacks, and free-access coffee machines to help wake you up during early morning classes.

My program is a perfect balance between theory and practical learning. During classes, we cover all the basics of marketing, which later helps us work with real-life companies by developing product innovations and creating marketing communication strategies for them in the form of a report. This experience has helped us prepare for the corporative professional life, as teamwork is always required. However, a downside of working in teams is the fact that you have to spend a lot of time with the same group to ensure progress on the highly detailed research work. For the first semester, we are working with the same group and company for five months, which sometimes make us feel less motivated over time. Recently, a new company was introduced in our Online Marketing class, which made us having back the excitement we initially felt when we first started working with our current company.

Personally, NHL Stenden reminds me a lot of my experience living in Canada, where teachers build connections with students, making us feel more than just a number on a list. These connections make student more willing to attend classes and engage with the topics. While not all teachers adopt this approach, the majority tries to do so. Additionally, the university’s diversity is notable, with student from many different countries. This diversity is more noticeable in our daily classes, which creates a richer learning environment with different perspectives.

There are only a few downfalls I’ve noticed. While the library sometimes provides the course books needed, they can only be borrowed for a short period, less than a month. Additionally, some of the food in the cafeterias and vending machines seems overpriced. However, other than these minor “issues”, I have no complains.

In conclusion, I recommend my course, the university, or both to anyone with a creative mind who is also passionate about business, like me. NHL Stenden is a great place to grow and learn while enjoying life in the Netherlands. Leeuwarden is a lovely city, though it is more suitable for studying than touristing. Therefor, I recommend you to take advantage of the excellent Dutch public transport system to explore other parts of the country. I hope I’ve helped you in some way 🙂