Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch vocational university institute for higher education and applied research. With approx.27,000 students and 2,700 members of staff, Windesheim is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. 

We pursue a personal approach where students work in small groups and where each talent counts. Lecturers are coaches as well and they challenge students get the best out of themselves. For extra talented students Windesheim has an honours programme where students can do extracurricular courses. Windesheim is also renowned for its innovative and entrepreneurial approach. We have many close ties with the business community and public institutes which makes the knowledge immediately applicable in practice. All students do internships at and projects together with companies and institutes during their study programme. 

We are proud to be the  number 2 applied University in the Netherlands for already eight years in a row, mainly because of our personal approach, small classes (15-20 students) and flexible learning pathway. We offer two different English taught business programmes (bachelor):

1. ‘International Business’, a programme for students with a broad interest. It’s about finance, marketing, logistics and human resource management. We have a lot of practice in the programme, an internship and study abroad, and we learn you a lot of practical skills. Here you can read more: www.windesheim.com/ib

2. Global Project and Change Management: a sustainable business programme for students who are interested in making the world a better place to live in a business-like way. Topics are climate change, pollution, eradicating hunger and disease, gender equality, etcetera. Would that be interesting for you?
Here you can read more:  www.windesheim.com/gpcm

Windesheim as it currently exists was formed in 1986 as the result of the merger of several education providers. The merger took place over a number of years with more and more institutions joining. The academy for Journalism and the academy for Social Studies from Kampen became part of the new institute as well as the School of Physical Exercise from Arnhem. Most of the education providers who joined were located in Zwolle: Higher Education in Economics and Administration (HEAO), Higher Education in Engineering and Technology (HTS), College of Education, School of Nursing, Academy of Journalism and Higher Education in Information Technology. These separate institutions all became part of Windesheim which then joined forces on an administrative level with the VU University Amsterdam. In 2012 this set up was discontinued and both institutions now have their own board and organization behind them. In September 2006, it changed its degree system to the bachelor/master system.

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NVAO (Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders)

Student life in Zwolle

Windesheim is based on an attractive modern campus, close to the city centre and the railway station.

If you love parks and being outside, if you like going out to pubs but are serious about your studies, Windesheim in Zwolle is the place to be. Zwolle is a medium-sized city at only one hour travelling from Amsterdam. About 30,000 students study in Zwolle, in one of the four Universities of Applied Sciences. As well as a beautiful historic centre, the city has lots of parks (really nice for picnics!) plus atmospheric cafés and places to eat. Zwolle is also a great place to shop, with all the big chain stores and loads of independent boutiques. And it is a safe city: if you learn how to ride a bike, it's easy to get around. Student life in Zwolle is focused in and around the city centre, which is packed with attractive cafés and restaurants. That's where you'll find the student café Het Vliegende Paard (The Flying Horse). Drinks and meals there are all at student prices! Zwolle has lots of cultural activities too, including music and cultural festivals, theatre shows, movies and an annual Rhythm & Blues Night. There are student clubs and societies for everything from rowing to getting together with other international students.

Sport and recreation

Windesheim offers excellent recreational facilities. There is a sports building with gyms, fitness rooms, a heated swimming pool, indoor football halls and a climbing wall. All Windesheim students are entitled to use the sports facilities on campus, at concessionary rates. Furthermore we have several canteens and cafés on our campus.

There are many reasons to choose for Windesheim, but these are the main reasons:

1. High quality education: Windesheim is the number two University of Applied Sciences in the Naterlands, already for many years in a row

2. Personal approach: students are not a number, small classes (15-20 students), the lecturers are not only teachers, but coaches as well, they care for the students' success and create a good atmosphere in the classroom

3. Very practice oriented with real life projects for real companies, from the first day on, and internships. With these practical experiences on your CV it is much easier to find a good job.