NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences Speciality : Tourism & Hospitality
programme: Leisure and Events Management

Leisure and event management offers a great span of working with actual clients, having design-based education that is based on learning by doing it.
Students can experience multiple site visits, which helps them to actually see how and where the work is done and what they need to make out of the project.
A big part of being a leisure student is having this great community that is surrounded by great coaches who help you in the professional field as well as a personal one.
NHL is generally a very international school, it makes everyone feel very welcome and has a great; yes, you belong here attitude.

Overall, I am happy that I chose this University and especially my course, as I found it hard in the beginning to choose what I really want to do later in my career. In this course we have a lot of different opportunities to try ourselves out in all the sectors and really see what suits us, for example, during our internships or different projects in all the sectors. I really love that we are focused on projects and really do the things we learn about and not just in theory, which helps a lot when it comes to using the theories in actual life. I enjoy realizing how connected my everyday life is to the things that we learn about in school, which helps me be more self-aware all together. Furthermore, I like to work in groups as well and get to know various kinds of interesting cultures and traditions. It is a lot of fun to get a new group for every assignment and learn how to work with people from different backgrounds. I would recommend this university and course to people who are open-minded, like to work in groups, and prefer to do projects instead of only theory.

I am a second-year Leisure and Events Management student, and for my year here, I have become accustomed to both the education and life in Leeuwarden. I managed to adjust very quickly, thanks to the Study Start Week organized by students, where I met my classmates and got to know the city very well.

The DBE (Design-Based Education) method uses a practical approach that allows us not only to work with different clients, such as SPOT Groningen, Noorderzone, and Neushoorn, but also to find solutions to the problems these companies face.

Furthermore, as a second-year student, you are required to complete a 168-hour internship. I already completed mine, together with a few classmates, as one of the organizers of this year’s field trip to Paris and Disneyland. The trip lasted five days and included around 140 participants. We also attended an inspiring lecture from the creative directors at Disney Imagineering, where they explained the work behind some of the famous Disneyland rides.

This experience has been my biggest learning curve so far, and I am grateful for the opportunity. At this university, there are many opportunities—it is up to each person to be proactive in order to take advantage of them.

My experience at NHL was very important in shaping me to who I am now.
I‘m a German Leisure and Eventmanagement student and currently in my fourth year. Right now, I‘m in Berlin doing my internship at a TV and Radio company. But how did I get here?
Moving to the Netherlands after graduating from school was a big step and I was definitely nervous but NHL (the coaches, the people, and other students) made it really easy for me to feel comfortable. Soon, I realized that I can be whoever I want in this environment. That gave me the opportunity to develop new skills professionally but also on a personal level, I grew and learned a lot about myself.
The educational system being very practical combined with theory was the perfect system for me to learn the most.
I do have to say that sometimes the communication between the different people and facilities within NHL could be better because sometimes it was a bit chaotic but with enough self initiative it is all possible.
Bea

I am not from Europe, so in the beginning, everything was very difficult for me to adapt to. The course offered me chances to volunteer and intern at some event companies in The Netherlands, which helped me improve my knowledge and skills. Besides, the field trips to UtrechtParis and Disneyland Paris were insane!! The students are very friendly, the coaches from Leisure and Tourism are approachable but still sometimes could be improved. So, despite some negative feedback, my experience at NHL was very good!!

The Design Based Education concept that NHL Stenden has is a great fit for me and I am a big fan of studying here! If you are looking for a place where you need to think for yourself, get to sit in small, interactive classes (approximately 20 students) and and get to learn by doing, this is the right place for you! If you are looking for information to be handed on a silver platter, NHL Stenden does not offer that.
Similarly, personal development plays a big role in most studies. I for example, need to give smeesterly presentations on my personal development which allows me to stick to goals. Yet again, if one is not a fan of self reflection and is not willing to learn that, this is not the right place.
One other big benefit I see are the international opportunities offered by NHL Stenden. No matter where you want to go, there will (usually) be a place and time to do that during the studies.
I do feel that sometimes things are a bit short notice and could be organize better, but I also got to know that you can get quite some information if you put some effort in.

The university it self has great facilities and equipment for students, is modern and bright. Overall, I feel that the student community is quite vibrant and there is always something happening if one wants to get involved. Leeuwarden is small, but offers a wide variety of leisure opportunities.

I’m currently a first-year Leisure & Events Management student, and so far I’m really happy with my programme and university choice. Before this, I attended a university and studied a different programme in Belgium, but I quit after a year and a half because it didn’t match my interests, and also the education system was not suitable for me. So I have a lot to compare, and I can say that NHL Stenden, with its design-based education system, works 100% better for me. I really like that we’re able to learn theory but also immediately work on projects since the start, and also on assignments from real clients, which feels very new and a bit scary at the start, but the more you get into it, the easier it gets.

Leisure & Events Management is a smaller programme (the international stream taught in English which I am a part of), so the connection with my classmates is way better, but especially way more personal with coaches than I’m used to from before, which is great because they really care about you as a person and are there to help whenever you need it. Overall, I feel really welcome and comfortable within the programme and the university itself.

It took me a bit of time to actually get used to the education system here. I still feel like I’m not fully used to it yet. Especially since sometimes the instructions and criteria for assignments are not that clear and can feel confusing at times, which is something to be improved for sure. However, you can always ask your coaches or your classmates and help each other. What was really new for me as well was the mostly feedback-based evaluation of our work, and also the amount of reflection we have to do. I’m still getting used to it, but I can already feel it helping me with really taking control and being responsible for my own learning, which is really the goal of it.

In the first year of my programme, a certain number of Volunteering hours is necessary to complete. It continues to put me outside of my comfort zone, but it also allows me to figure out which specific field I’m passionate about and would like to work in in the future.

To sum up, I really feel like I made the right choice to study this programme here and that it will prepare me really well for my future as a leisure & event professional.

Being a student in Leisure and Events Management at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences is an exciting new experience for me. I am currently in my first year of study, and the second semester is coming to an end. Since I completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, this study was a very different step for me. From a very intense and rigorous programme, I came to a more practical-based study in a different country.

This programme really works for me because we get a chance to connect theory with real-life projects and real clients. Regarding theory, I really like that we do not have tests about it that could impact our results, but rather we are graded for the reflections we write on tests. So the theory is still tested, but in a much more reasonable way than standard tests. I also really like the grading system because it is divided into below the level, at the level, and above the level. Since I have experienced a very strict grading system in IBDP, I prefer this way much more because the emphasis is on improving rather than feeling bad about a certain grade.

Something that surprised me about this study is the amount of group work we do, and it is something you can get used to, even if you prefer individual work, as I do. At the end of the day, there are many assignments you still must complete individually, and mentors are making sure you are improving both as an individual and as a professional. Regarding mentors, I really appreciate their help and assistance through every step, as well as the University’s help in general. Whether you have questions or concerns about health insurance, housing, or finance, student info will guide you through everything.

The only thing I believe our study could improve on is giving students clearer guidelines, because even though I really like the freedom we get with assignments, some guidelines would really help and improve our overall performance. Too much freedom can sometimes cause confusion and dissatisfaction among students, but it is something I have already seen improve from the first semester. Even if there is confusion, mentors are always around to help us, and that is something I appreciate.

This study really exposes us to getting out of our comfort zone and developing as future professionals. Not only do we have to complete volunteer hours, but every few weeks we work on a new project where we get a chance to organise a real event. These opportunities are valuable as we gain hands-on experience, and we can see how we behave under the pressure of a deadline as real-life event managers.

Overall, this study is a good fit for me because of the hands-on approach and the many diverse opportunities there are for me to grow both as a professional and an individual. I would say that the study offers a lot of everything for everyone, whether you are more interested in sports, the event industry, the art industry, the business industry, or any other kind. You can find your fit here, as there are many options.

Studying Leisure and Events Management at NHL Stenden is a great opportunity to work with real clients and tackle real-world challenges. The program is highly practical, and most coursework is completed in teams of 5 to 6 students. Working in a multicultural environment allows you to meet people from different backgrounds, build strong relationships, and even make lifelong friends.
However, teamwork can sometimes be frustrating, especially when cultural differences affect how tasks are approached or when some team members do not take their work as seriously as others. That being said, these challenges help shape you as a person and prepare you for professional life, where you don’t always get to choose your colleagues.
One aspect I personally appreciate about the program is that most assessments are written assignments, with only two actual tests per year. Additionally, the university itself is more modern compared to others, which enhances the overall student experience. Despite these positives, there are some drawbacks. In my experience, the coaches can be quite unorganized, often giving conflicting instructions. There have been instances where one coach told us something completely different from another, making it difficult to understand what was actually expected of us.
Another challenge is the testing system in the first two years. Some of the content covered in the exams was not adequately addressed during the semesters, and students are required to take comprehensive tests on the entire first and second year before even completing those years, making them particularly difficult to pass.
Overall, I am satisfied with my experience at NHL Stenden. While there are areas that could be improved, the positive aspects of the university outweigh the negatives.

Hello everyone, I’m a 20-year-old girl, born and raised in Germany but with Dutch roots and knowledge of the Dutch language.
Moving to the Netherlands for studying “Leisure and Events Management” at NHL Stenden felt like something that was needed for me, my personal development and self-growth, and so far I couldn’t be happier with this choice. Currently, I am in my first year, second semester, as I started my studies in February.

Being a starter in February means there is a special kind of challenge. This semester structure is mainly designed for September students, which means February intakes get neither the same level of introduction nor orientation. Since we, as February starters, have to change our year group every six months, I’ve had to adapt to new classmates quite often. This has enabled me to meet many fantastic people; at the same time, it may feel quite unconnected, in a way, because of the fact that it is rather hard to really belong to one particular year group.
Despite this, I have never experienced anything but positives from the coaches and mentors. From the very beginning, they have been so supportive and approachable; they are always making sure that one feels comfortable and encouraged to succeed. Their kindliness and guidance make a big difference, especially as I moved to the Netherlands alone. Because of them, I never felt isolated, and I always knew I could tell them absolutely everything.
About the program: I am enjoying being taught on Leisure and Events Management, and the topics are quite interesting. Besides, it helps me a lot for my future career. The study program at NHL Stenden is giving many opportunities and experiences for my future life. Because of the volunteering hours that we have to collect, is every student automatically gaining more knowledge about different event sectors. Also, the opportunity I had to visit the Johan Cruyff arena during my field trip and learn more about their sports or concert events became helpful, making me realise why I chose this study program.
What did strike me, though, was that the first two semesters were quite easy and not as demanding as I expected. But to be honest, the first semester (Sep-Feb) relates more to personal leisure, self-development, and personal life situations. Event planning will be topics for later. Although this made my transition into university life easier, I believe initial semesters should have been demanding to better prepare the student for the advanced stages of this program.

All in all, I am quite happy about my experience at NHL Stenden. The university is friendly and supportive, and even though it always has its challenges, being a February starter and all, I feel very confident and excited about the future here.