Avans University of Applied Sciences

Avans University of Applied Sciences is an excellent option for students who are considering studying abroad. Studying with Avans means studying in a pleasant, ambitious environment with dedicated lecturers and staff, bright students, countless English-language study programmes and good contacts with the business community. The lecturers and staff here make every effort to ensure that students acquire as much of knowledge as possible. High-quality accommodation and assistance with visa paperwork (the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Agency) are given to foreign students to make them feel at home. Avans' unique advantages over traditional research Universities include:

• Curriculum is a lot more relevant to the real professional world
• Project and problem based learning to solve the tough problems faced by actual companies
• Practical learning approach, career-oriented course design
• Rich cooperation with regional/international industries and organisations
• More flexible and broader range of choices regarding further education and/or entry of labour market

The educational model is project and problem-solving-based learning. Students share experiences and study in an international environment, making many international contacts. They will also be prepared for a managerial position in the world of international business, first being taught the theory, and then working together with a small group of fellow students on various practice-based assignments. Over 90% graduates are hired directly after (some even before) graduation. Thanks to the graduation assignment, network establishment & expension in and outside school life, close contact with business field and government sectors. Current and former students view Avans University of Applied Sciences as one of the best universities of its type in Netherlands. 

Students can make use of Avans' assistance via:

• Room Mediation Scheme
• HousingAnywhere: The housing platform for students. This is a housing platform where students that go abroad for an exchange semester or internship can sublet their rooms. Incoming students that come to Avans cities can rent those rooms. Thus, HousingAnywhere is a student-to-student platform where demand & supply of short term accommodation can find each other. It is a very simple, but very effective tool.

Students finding suitable housing on their will find that they vary accross campus locations. Please bear in mind that there is a shortage of student rooms in the Netherlands and therefore a suitable room cannot be guaranteed.

Avans is located in three cities: Breda, s'-Hertogenbosch and Tilburg. All three are located in the southern part of the Netherlands, the province of Brabant. Today's students consider freedom and independence to be extremely important. Avans University of Applied Sciences believes that these qualities are essential and is happy to apply them. Therefore, a multitude of student services are made readily available including:

• Avans café and restaurant
• Multimedia Studios
• Free access
• E-mail
• Laptops
• WiFi
• PC rooms
• Workplaces
• Project rooms
• Student societies

A Knowledge Centre: Xplora
Xplora is the modern learning and working environment at Avans. Here, students will find workstations with fast PCs and access to the Avans network. For those who prefer to use their own laptop, smartphone or tablet can just log in to the wireless network. Staff are on hand to answer questions. Xplora has a large collection of books, digital material and journals available on loan or to access. Naturally there are also photocopiers, scanners and printers. As well as comfy sofas and reading tables. Xplora is also a meeting place for all Dutch and international students.

Sports Facilities
Of course students are not going to spend all day with rtheir heads in a book. They also need to relax a little. That’s why many students take part in sports. It is also a very quick way to meet new people. Therefore sports is made as cheap as possible for students. Some sports are even completely free of charge.

The Netherlands lies in Western Europe. The Netherlands is easily accessible, has one of the largest ports in the world and an airport from where you can fly to every corner of the earth. This is why the Netherlands is a major importing and exporting country. It is also an excellent base from which to travel to other countries in Europe. Distances from 's-Hertogenbosch:  

• Amsterdam 90 km = 55.92 miles, 2 hour
• Antwerp 100 km = 62.14 miles, 1.5 hours
• Brussels 2.5 hours
• Paris 460 km = 285.83 miles, 6 hours
• Luxemburg 300 km = 186.41 miles, 3 hours

By Train

• The name of the train organisation is “Nederlandse Spoorwegen” or also abbreviated to “NS”.
• A “voordeelurenkaart” card is valid for 1 year and will give students 40% discount on all train tickets within The Netherlands (from Monday to Friday after 9.00 a.m. and all day during the weekends and during July and August). The card will cost around € 55.

By Bus

• It is easier to buy a “strippenkaart” card obtainable from the service desk at the train station and at magazine/cigarette shops (but not on the bus itself). They start from € 7.60 for 15 stamps and € 22.50 for 45 stamps (1 ride within one suburb is 2 stamps).

Studying in Netherlands
The Dutch higher education system has an excellent international reputation for its high quality. Its project-based learning, in particular, is highly praised across the board. The Dutch educational system is also renowned for its excellent quality. All bachelor’s and master’s programmes at Avans are officially accredited by the Dutch higher education accreditation authorities. They also comply with European standards as set by the Bologna Agreement. This ensures students a great start to their career anywhere in the world.

The Netherlands boasts two types of higher education: research-oriented universities, where everything revolves around scientific research, and universities of applied sciences, which focus on teaching professional skills, like Avans. The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) provides an expert and objective assessment of the quality of the services and operations of higher education institutions. It determines whether the applicable standards are being met based on the tasks laid down in its founding treaty and in national legal frameworks.

There are two factors that make studying in the Netherlands so enjoyable for foreigners: naturally, students get to know fellow students – after all, they will be working together. Secondly, the lessons are interactive and ‘student-oriented’: students receive the attention and also the freedom needed to develop into a skilled and creative professional. And even into a citizen of the world – international collaboration between Dutch institutes of learning and foreign educational establishments, companies and organisations can guarantee this.

Work Placement
A work placement is another great way to prepare yourself for the world of work. Each student carries out two work placements. Avans University of Applied Sciences has excellent links with both the national and international business community. Its students regularly spend time taking part in work placements at international companies around the world, helping them to take the first steps in their careers.

Scholarship Programs
To support excellent students, Avans allocates 80 scholarships for outstanding students (€3000 each) annually. During a 4 year programme they can benefit 2 times by producing top results.