NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (reviews)

As a first-year Communication and Multimedia student from Hungary, I was astonished by the pedagogical approach here at NHL Stenden. The university has effectively discarded conventional teaching models, shifting the focus heavily to practical application.
But what does that really mean? It means we have only a few lectures weekly, with no mandatory attendance (although it is expected), and no theoretical examinations. Instead, what we do is set out to work on projects in smaller groups, such as coming up with a museum exhibit anchored around a Dutch historical event or persona, focusing on interactivity; or tackling misinformation within the age group of 40-plus in society. These challenges require us to cultivate crucial skills like critical thinking, planning, communication, and cooperation.
During the first year, the assessment structure is particularly unique: rather than fixating on perfectly polished end results, we are evaluated on how we faced our failures and how we learned and expanded from them.
Our teachers encourage us to harness our creativity and nurture our curiosity towards the world. They push us to ask questions every step of the way. They are our partners in this journey, rather than our superiors.
Adjusting to this new, international environment was no challenge at all. Being surrounded by such a kind, open-minded, and multicultural community naturally broadens one’s perspective on the world.
Furthermore, with extracurricular clubs, sport facilities, constant events that would be too numerous to list, and a bustling campus life, there is simply never a moment to be bored.

My experience in the Content & Media Strategy master at NHL Stenden has been overall positive a 7/10. The program combines theory with practical, industry oriented work, which helped me understand how content strategies are developed and applied in real contexts. I especially value the international environment and the collaboration with classmates from different backgrounds, as it truly enhances the learning experience. Most lecturers are approachable, knowledgeable, and open to feedback.

One area where I feel there is room for improvement is the level of guidance given for assignments. The program encourages independence, which I appreciate, and they often say they don’t want to “spoon-feed” students. However, sometimes the lack of clear instructions goes a bit too far, especially regarding what is mandatory or expected in certain tasks. Providing just a little more structure or clearer assignment criteria would make the learning process smoother without taking away the intended autonomy. Despite this, the master has helped me to grow academically so far, improve my English communication skills, and gain confidence in strategic content creation. Overall, I would recommend the program to those looking for a hands-on and practical oriented experience in media and content strategy.

Firstly, I would like to mention the overall experience in this university- the atmosphere and the environment is lovely! From the very first steps in this university I have always felt welcomed, heard, safe, able to express myself however I want to, given a place to grow and most importantly, happy. Personally, it feels like a huge community and I am happy to be part of it, most of the professors and all the professionals working here are incredible people, who are always willing to help you. International Business as a course, is very broad, which I believe is a positive experience, since it has helped a large group of students realise which niche they are attracted to, it allows them to see their strong or/and weak sides. In this course we also have PPD (personal

I’m currently a 4th-year Hospitality Management student, so I will be graduating at the end of this year. And I can say that I had an amazing time as a student at NHL-Stenden in Leeuwarden!
Leeuwarden is a smaller city, but that doesn’t mean that it’s boring. Since it’s smaller, it quickly gave me a feeling of “home”, and I easily met new people from all over the world.
The opportunities to go abroad are very exciting. In my 3rd year, I went on Grand Tour (minors) to Thailand and Indonesia, it was an amazing experience! And right now I started my 10-month internship in Aruba (an island in the Caribbean). All in all, there are plenty of options to choose from.
In my opinion, the Hospitality study course has a good structure. With a blend of theoretical classes and a good focus on practical education. However, at some moments, the theoretical part of this study can feel quite vague and unclear, which can be confusing when making assignments. But in the end, teachers are always there to help and provide you with feedback.
What I enjoy about this study is that you can make it as busy and challenging as you want, with a lot of extracurricular activities and specialisation courses to choose from (competition teams, diverse associations, workshops, extra wine courses to obtain certificates…)
During my study period, I not only gained knowledge about the Hospitality Industry, but I also learned a lot about myself as a person and a professional, which is very valuable to me.
Overall, I am very positive about my choice of studying at NHL-Stenden. I am grateful for all my experiences and the people I met.