Johan Cruyff Institute vs University of Groningen - RUG vs Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - VU Amsterdam vs Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences vs NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

Side-by-side comparison from 347 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Global Humanistic University - GHU (4.80)
Johan Cruyff Institute: wins 4/7 categories
University of Groningen - RUG: wins 1/7 categories
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - VU Amsterdam: wins 0/7 categories
Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences: wins 1/7 categories
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/7 categories
Amsterdam School of International Business - AMSIB: wins 0/7 categories
Global Humanistic University - GHU: wins 1/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Sport Management
Groningen, The Netherlands
3.90
Read more reviews
100 reviews
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Best programme: Communication and Information Sciences
Best programme: B.Sc. in Psychology
Best programme: BBA (EBA) specialisation Entrepreneurship & Digital Marketing
Best programme: Creative Business
Best programme: Accounting
Best programme: PhD in Business Administration
Category ratings
Facilities
4.43
Win
4.15
3.74
3.25
4.41
3.67
2.74
Location
4.00
4.07
Win
3.96
3.71
3.91
2.67
1.89
Professors
4.71
Win
3.84
4.13
3.38
3.81
3.67
4.68
Internationality
4.71
4.28
4.26
4.88
Win
4.46
3.00
4.68
Student life
4.29
Win
4.21
3.98
2.63
4.07
3.33
2.05
Value
4.79
4.02
4.19
3.38
3.96
3.33
4.84
Win
Accommodation
4.21
Win
2.90
3.11
3.50
3.62
2.33
1.95
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Specialized sports management content and expert professors
  • +Valuable industry connections and networking opportunities
  • +Welcoming atmosphere and excellent staff support
  • +High-quality faculty and innovative teaching
  • +State-of-the-art facilities and extensive campus amenities
  • +International atmosphere and opportunities for self-development
  • +Balanced theory/practice with real-world application
  • +Diverse and international student community and faculty
  • +High-quality, challenging education with expert guest lectures
  • +Practical, industry-focused curriculum with entrepreneurship and FinTech emphasis
  • +Supportive, international, and diverse academic environment
  • +Engaging and approachable professors and mentors
  • +Welcoming atmosphere and helpful staff
  • +Practical, project-based learning (DBE)
  • +Opportunities for real-world experience and international exposure
  • +Practical, hands-on learning with industry-relevant lecturers
  • +Broad program offering diverse career paths post-graduation
  • +Engaging real-world business case applications
  • +Flexible online learning model
  • +Academic rigor and intellectual challenge
  • +Supportive faculty and administration
Cons
  • -Poor quality of instruction and unengaging student discussions.
  • -Ineffective project management and lack of professional experience among peers.
  • -Lack of support and high failure rates create a negative academic environment.
  • -Poor communication and administrative issues contribute to confusion and frustration.
  • -Toxic culture and discrimination negatively impact student well-being and integration.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment are a common complaint.
  • -Poor communication and lack of support negatively impact the student experience.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources are a significant drawback.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support is a recurring problem.
  • -Poor communication and lack of teacher support are major issues.
  • -Disorganization and unclear assessments lead to student confusion.
  • -Inconsistent feedback and arbitrary grading practices are frustrating.
  • -Outdated systems and administrative issues
  • -Poor quality and unreliable teaching delivery
  • -Lack of practical application and outdated facilities
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment hinder learning.
  • -Ineffective teaching and curriculum lead to poor educational outcomes.
Rating summary
What students say

Across several key areas, the institution receives commendable ratings. Its strongest performances are noted in Value and Internationality, both achieving near-perfect scores. Professors also garnered exceptionally high marks. The weakest area is Location, which, while still positive, is rated lower than other aspects. Student Life, Accomodation, and Facilities all fall within a strong middle range.

Overall, the university garners positive feedback, particularly excelling in **Internationality** (4.28) and **Student Life** (4.21). **Facilities** (4.15) and **Location** (4.07) also receive strong scores. The primary area for improvement lies in **Accomodation**, which received the lowest rating (2.90). **Professors** (3.84) and **Value** (4.02) are rated moderately.

This institution shows a strong performance in key areas, with Internationality (4.26) and Value (4.19) receiving the highest marks. Professors (4.13) also earned a notably positive rating. Student Life (3.98) and Location (3.96) are also well-regarded. The weakest area, however, is Accomodation, which received a considerably lower score of 3.11.

A notable strength lies in the university's **Internationality**, achieving a high rating of 4.875. Conversely, **Student Life** received the lowest score at 2.625, suggesting an area for potential improvement. Other areas, including Accommodation, Location, Value, and Professors, fall within a moderate to good range, indicating a generally well-rounded offering with specific areas of excellence and those needing development.

This institution garners exceptional ratings in **Facilities** (4.41) and **Internationality** (4.46), indicating a robust and globally connected campus environment. Student life also scores well at 4.07. Conversely, **Accomodation** (3.62) and **Professors** (3.81) are the areas with the lowest reported satisfaction, suggesting room for improvement in these aspects.

This university demonstrates a solid performance in its **facilities and professors**, both scoring a respectable 3.67. The **student life and value** also receive a decent rating of 3.33. However, the **accommodation and location** stand out as weaker areas, receiving the lowest scores. Internationality is rated moderately at 3.0.

An analysis of the university's ratings reveals a stark contrast between its strengths and weaknesses. The institution excels in **Value** (4.84), **Professors** (4.68), and **Internationality** (4.68). Conversely, **Location** (1.89), **Accomodation** (1.95), and **Student Life** (2.05) received significantly lower scores, indicating areas that may require improvement. Facilities are rated moderately at 2.74.

Reviews summary
Highlights

University students largely praise the insightful sports management content, quality professors, and valuable networking opportunities, with a ~96% positive sentiment. A small fraction of feedback (~4%) mentions issues with academic support variability or program depth.

~72% of reviews are positive, highlighting quality faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and an international atmosphere. ~11% of feedback is negative, mentioning issues with academic support and student care.

~93% of 51 reviews are positive, highlighting good theory-practice balance, knowledgeable lecturers, and program flexibility. No negative feedback was recorded.

Most feedback is positive (~74%), highlighting practical learning, entrepreneurship focus, and internationalism. There are no negative reviews in the provided data.

Around ~86% of reviews are positive, highlighting a welcoming atmosphere and practical, project-based learning. A smaller portion (~6.4%) of feedback criticizes poor organization, unclear assignments, and a lack of teacher availability or feedback.

Two out of three reviews are positive, highlighting hands-on learning and practical lecturers. One negative review mentions outdated systems and unreliable lectures. The average rating is 3/5.

Nearly all reviews are positive, with students praising academic rigor, challenging coursework, and flexible online learning. Supervisors and the platform are also frequently highlighted as supportive and effective.

Rating distribution
5★
85%
35%
39%
25%
22%
0%
84%
4★
15%
37%
49%
38%
65%
67%
11%
3★
4%
17%
12%
38%
7%
0%
5%
2★
0%
5%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
1★
4%
6%
0%
0%
5%
33%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
A life-changing experience in Sports Industry

A perfect synergy between theoretical knowledge, practical application, and high-quality networking. After completing the Master in Sport Management at Johan Cruyff Institute, I took a major step forward in my career in the sports industry. What truly sets this institution apart is the closeness and support of the professors and staff, as well as the enriching experiences shared with fellow students. Without a doubt, it has been one of the most transformative decisions of my life.

Awful school

Not to use harsh words but Dutch culture is extremely toxic towards people who do not resemble their look and do not conform to their culture The school is extremely arrogant and disrespectful to people and caused me severe mental health stress and social isolation I believe such school is never place for exchanging knowledge or anything in fact the school bullying, and stereotypes towards autism on top of their staggering level of racism is insane. If you complaint about the racism of the people there, they will never take you seriously or initiate investigations One of the most regretful incidents of my life has been chosen to come to this school and that I regret very much If you’re of East Asian background, unless you have very good resistance to Dutch people’s “jokes” and passive aggression, I will almost certainly hope you never attend this school. Student Number s5884284

:)

As a computer science student at the Vrije Universitet in Amsterdam, I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of education and the level of expertise of the professors at this esteemed institution. The faculty members are passionate about their subjects and are always willing to provide guidance and support to students. The curriculum is rigorous, and the coursework is designed to challenge students and prepare them for the ever-evolving world of technology. The courses cover a broad range of topics, from programming languages and algorithms to artificial intelligence and machine learning. The faculty also encourages students to take part in research projects and internships, providing valuable opportunities to apply what we have learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios. The campus facilities are excellent, with state-of-the-art labs and equipment available for students to use. The university's location in Amsterdam also offers plenty of opportunities for students to engage in cultural and recreational activities outside of their studies. One of the things that stand out to me is the diverse student body. Being exposed to different perspectives and backgrounds has enriched my learning experience and expanded my understanding of computer science as a field. Overall, I would highly recommend the Vrije Universitet to any computer science student looking for a challenging and rewarding academic experience, excellent faculty, and a diverse and inclusive community.

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Creative Business

Studying Creative Business at NHL Stenden has been a great experience with a few bumps down the road. Generally speaking, I'm very glad about my choice to study here - as an international student I am surrounded by other internationals which makes me feel more welcome and comfortable; this university has provided me with numerous extracurricular opportunities, which were not only great for networking and finding like-minded connections, but also getting extremely nice and useful experience, whether it's working on a real set with professional production equipment or creating content and representing my course on social media! When it comes to the study itself, it usually is pretty confusing, as students are usually just thrown into practical projects without initial preparation and sometimes not enough guidance. However, once you get used to design-based education, you realize how exciting the assignments actually are - working with real clients, producing your own ideas and seeing them come to life, and just "creativity, creativity, creativity" everywhere. I recommend this university for those who are not afraid of teamwork, thinking outside of the box, and being independent.

Studying the future

I’ve been studying at AMSIB for 3 years now. Almost 2 years were online studying due to COVID so I will share my experience considering most of the study up till now was online. I did start this year going to campus again. The program overall is pretty general. That makes the program pretty attractive to anybody because you can go to so many different fields after graduating. There is a possibility to do a major and to specialise in a field you like. However, the selection is pretty small (only 6 different majors) so that could be a point for improvement. The building of the school is located pretty far from the city centre and is placed next to a shopping area. As a result, there is not a lot to do around so most students just go home after. It’s a shame cause socialising is very important for us students. The school itself does not initiate a lot of social activities/ events which I think is a shame as well. The quality of the classes and the range of courses are pretty good. Some courses I would have to preferred to skip but most courses are a good pick. I really feel after 3 years that I gained so much knowledge about the business world and everything around it. The communication between students and teachers should be better. The communication goes through email and is very slow. Teachers should be more involved in my opinion. Diversity and inclusivity are also pretty impressive. However, the students should be more spread out between classes cause many classes are mostly Dutch students which counteracts the whole international environment idea. To finish, I would recommend the program as students gain enough knowledge by the time they want to choose a major which makes more students pursue their desired career path. I feel the school is working a lot on improving itself and its courses so I think it’s on the right path.

Work-Life and Education Balance

I am a PhD student at Global Humanistic University. I chose GHU because of its flexible and balanced learning model of online education. With the busy schedules of my entrepreneurial journey, GHU has offered me an effective education model which aligns with my aspiration of right balance between professional work, education, and family. My supervisor and the administration team are effective in their communication which makes learning and coordination hustle free. I recommend GHU for professionals who desire to enhance their education.

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