Johan Cruyff Institute vs Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - VU Amsterdam vs Leiden University vs Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences vs Saxion University of Applied Sciences

Side-by-side comparison from 198 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Tie
Johan Cruyff Institute: wins 1/7 categories
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - VU Amsterdam: wins 0/7 categories
Leiden University: wins 0/7 categories
Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences: wins 1/7 categories
Saxion University of Applied Sciences: wins 0/7 categories
Webster University Leiden: wins 4/7 categories
Global Humanistic University - GHU: wins 1/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Sport Management
Best programme: B.Sc. in Psychology
Leiden, The Netherlands
4.10
Read more reviews
77 reviews
×
Best programme: Liberal Arts
Best programme: BBA (EBA) specialisation Entrepreneurship & Digital Marketing
Best programme: International Human Resources Management
Leiden, The Netherlands
4.80
Read more reviews
5 reviews
×
Best programme: International Relations
Best programme: PhD in Business Administration
Category ratings
Facilities
4.43
3.74
4.17
3.25
4.33
4.75
Win
2.74
Location
4.00
3.96
4.51
3.71
4.17
5.00
Win
1.89
Professors
4.71
4.13
3.97
3.38
3.58
4.80
Win
4.68
Internationality
4.71
4.26
4.07
4.88
Win
4.42
4.80
4.68
Student life
4.29
Win
3.98
4.14
2.63
3.67
3.60
2.05
Value
4.79
4.19
4.00
3.38
4.33
4.80
4.84
Win
Accommodation
4.21
3.11
3.44
3.50
3.00
4.80
Win
1.95
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Specialized sports management content and expert professors
  • +Valuable industry connections and networking opportunities
  • +Welcoming atmosphere and excellent staff support
  • +Balanced theory/practice with real-world application
  • +Diverse and international student community and faculty
  • +High-quality, challenging education with expert guest lectures
  • +Exceptional academic quality and renowned professors
  • +Supportive and friendly student community
  • +Comprehensive programs and student support services
  • +Practical, industry-focused curriculum with entrepreneurship and FinTech emphasis
  • +Supportive, international, and diverse academic environment
  • +Engaging and approachable professors and mentors
  • +Practical, career-oriented curriculum and useful course content
  • +Supportive and friendly teachers providing concrete feedback
  • +Welcoming international environment and comfortable study spaces
  • +Dedicated and knowledgeable lecturers with ample time for students.
  • +Comfortable and accessible accommodation close to campus.
  • +Excellent career prospects and strong business programs.
  • +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.
  • -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 communication issues are prevalent.
  • -Educational quality and professor engagement are lacking.
  • -Perceived lack of equal opportunity and support for diverse student needs.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources are a significant drawback.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support is a recurring problem.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a frequent source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of necessary resources are consistently criticized.
  • -The curriculum is perceived as irrelevant or poorly implemented by many students.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated facilities and lack of modern resources are frequently mentioned.
  • -Inconsistent teaching quality and a lack of academic support are significant concerns.
  • -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.

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.

This university garners excellent scores across most aspects, with location being its standout strength. Facilities, student life, and internationality also receive very positive feedback. The value proposition is rated a solid 4. Conversely, accommodation presents the weakest area, with a noticeably lower score compared to other metrics. Professors' ratings are also respectable, though slightly lower than the overall average.

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 demonstrates significant strengths in internationality, earning a rating of 4.42, and excels in facilities and value, both scoring 4.33. Student life is rated 3.67, slightly above the professor rating of 3.58. The weakest area identified is accommodation, with a score of 3.

This institution garners exceptional scores in several key areas. Its location is rated a perfect 5, with facilities, professors, accommodation, and internationality all achieving a near-perfect 4.8. Value is also highly regarded at 4.8. The student life rating of 3.6 is the lowest, indicating room for improvement in this particular aspect.

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.

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

With ~82% of 78 reviews being positive, students praise high-quality learning, renowned professors, and comprehensive programs. A small percentage (~3.9%) express dissatisfaction with bureaucracy and teaching quality.

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

~74% of reviews are positive, highlighting practical learning and supportive teachers. Some mention occasional disorganization and a chaotic online platform. No negative reviews were received.

With a 4.8/5 average, students praise small class sizes, dedicated lecturers, and comfortable accommodation. Limited extracurricular activities and program variety are minor concerns.

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%
39%
30%
25%
17%
80%
84%
4★
15%
49%
55%
38%
42%
20%
11%
3★
4%
12%
13%
38%
42%
0%
5%
2★
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
4%
0%
3%
0%
0%
0%
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.

:)

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.

Terrible Faculty. Not all voices are heard or seen

This faculty in particular only serves the interest of the upper middle class and the rich. It screams DEI and inclusivity, but the message remains hollow, especially since most of these groups include individuals, who have said xenophobic and other discriminatory things about other students and staff in the past. DEI should celebrate all different diversities and not just a single issue one. There is an extrem lack of equal opportunities its always just opportunities for the same old people. How can the same person hold 3-4 positions in the faculty, and yet call the faculty a heaven of "equal opportunities"? To no surprise its just the already wealthy who get every opportunity. They eve created a grassroots funding system where the same old rich students, received yet another opportunity.... Its so cool that you give already rich students more money, instead of addressing structural issues within the faculty. And the worst thing is you leave traces of evidence everywhere, you even suck at false advertising. Theres a lot of hypocrisy in leiden and many students of vulnerable backgrounds are being ignored, slandered and even held back career wise. Yet the perpetrators can still remain in the drivers seat. The perpetrators are both students and staff. The administration/study advisors is terrible and quite frankly useless since everything has just become automated emails, there are no mentors and supervisors only like to serve students who are wealthy. A student could die and they would not care if they are still alive. The building is pretty but it had some leaks in the past. Overall after 2 suicide attempts thanks to their constant harassment and slander. I would give this faculty less than one star. Leiden archaeology is only for the rich conservatives who had failed so hard in their own economic system, that they had to enter a public university (with no entry barriers) because they couldn't compete with people that applied to go to Oxford or Cambridge . It truly is a neoliberal university.

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Saxion - CMGT 2.5/5

Saxion - CMGT - Creative Media and Game Technologies - 2.5/5 TLDR: I only recommend the CMGT course to someone who is already disciplined to REALLY study the gaming topic they are interested in outside the dedicated time for the university. If you are looking for a course that makes you "game industry ready" look elsewhere. I finished the CMGT (Creative Media and Game Technologies) course as an artist in 2022. I went to Saxion (Enschede) with the dream of becoming a concept artist for video games (as advertised on the official website), after 4 years and €10000 dept I can say that I would have gotten the same knowledge out of top €1000 in relevant courses. A lot of the topics we went through are just "oh that's interesting to know, so when can I learn to draw concept art?". There was a lack of focus for artist in general (2D and 3D), you never get deep into any topic and most things except the bare basics are for you to learn in your own time. In addition, the amount of actual gaming projects is laughable for a course that advertises itself as gaming focused. But there were good things, even great things. The fellow students were very great partners and the teachers are knowledgeable and easy going. There is a very low focus on "memorize this and write it down" type test. 95% of the (art) grades are project based, meaning you create something (concepts, prototypes etc.) with other CMGT students (Other branches of CMGT are programmer and designer). Enschede itself is a great city to life in, with more than enough places to visit to fill the years with activities. In the last 2 years the students focus on larger projects, and for me, it was the case that the actual document that will be uploaded is much, much more important than the actual product we create. This was very frustrating because as an artist, I want to make things, not write documents all day. I would only recommend the CMGT to someone that is: 1) In need of a guided education about the basics of game making (equivalent of easy to get courses online) but more expensive of course 2) Interested in living in the Netherlands and experiencing the culture 3) Looking for an "easy" bachelor that can be obtained if you put in a bit of effort 4) A hardworking individual that does the bachelor on the side while advancing in their own domain of interest. Afterword: At the end of my study, I was so removed from what I actually wanted to learn that I could not advance professionally in the field I wanted to work in (concept art). Instead, I learned some things about UI design, which to be honest is a topic I really don't care about. **Important Note: The last 2 years of my studies were impacted by the covid pandemic.

Resources

Pros - Classes are small-sized which helps lecturers have enough time for students and explain concepts. - Friendly staff. - Accommodation is top notch and easily accessible. - Career prospects is excellent. - Great facilities. - Racial diversity is great. Cons - Not enough programs to choose from. - Limited payment plan/time.

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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