Why holland

Dutch Universities have very low tuition fees, compared to Universities in English speaking countries. The Dutch government each year sets the amount for the so called “statutory tuition fee”, which is the same for all Bachelor studies at public universities in Holland.

For the academic year 2018/2019, this statutory fee is set at  € 2,060 per year. 

Studying at a University of Applied Sciences in Holland, means studying in a country with an international and innovative outlook, where you will receive outstanding training for a senior or managerial position.

The Dutch system of higher education enjoys a worldwide reputation for high quality. Experience shows that people who have studied at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences perform very well in other parts of the world.

Quality is achieved through a national system of regulation and quality assurance. All the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences are formally accredited by the Dutch higher education accreditation authorities and comply with European standards as set by the Bologna agreement. This means that you can get your international career off to a great start anywhere in the world.

The Dutch teaching style is interactive and student-centered. Studying in Holland means developing your own opinion, an open mind and increasing your international orientation. You are free to ask questions and be critical of what lecturers, or fellow students say. You will develop valuable skills such as analyzing, solving practical problems and creative thinking.

Interaction, teamwork and project-based learning, are the pillars of the education system at the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences. These are the factors that make studying in Holland so enjoyable for foreigners.

Firstly you get to know and work together with your fellow students from all over the world. Secondly, the lessons are interactive and ‘student-oriented’: you receive the attention and also the freedom you need, to develop into a skilled and creative professional. Thirdly, during projects first you are taught the theory and you then work together with a small group of fellow students on various practice-based assignments. This method really brings the subject matter to life: you understand what you are doing and, most importantly, you undergo an excellent preparation for your future management job in the corporate sector.

All study programs at Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences include several work placements at international companies in Holland and around the world, helping students to take the first steps in their careers and establish valuable contacts within the business world.

Holland is one of the very few countries in the world, where EU (Greek) students have the opportunity to finance 100% of their study tuition fees and living costs, through a long term loan from the Dutch government, at a very low interest (less than 1 %).

Holland is not only one of the safest countries in the world, but it is also ranked in the top ten of happiest countries in the world.

According to the Global peace index, Holland is included in the top 25 of safest countries in the world, ranked at place 20. In comparison, Greece in the same index is ranked much lower: at place 73.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/safest-countries-in-the-world.html

http://visionofhumanity.org/indexes/global-peace-index/

In general, the Dutch are more satisfied with their lives than the OECD average. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Dutch people gave it a 7.4 grade on average, higher than the OECD average of 6.5.

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/netherlands/

In general, Greeks are less satisfied with their lives than the OECD average. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Greeks gave it a 5.2 grade on average, one of the lowest scores in the OECD, where average life satisfaction is 6.5.

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/greece/

Holland is not just a safe and happy place to live in, but its economy also is one of the largest in the world.

In terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) it globally ranks at place 18 according to the International Monetary Fund. In comparison, Greece in the same ranking holds the 52^nd place.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)

Holland also has one of the most open economies in the world and ranks fifth as a global exporter, offering great job opportunities in many fields. The country is a world leader in many areas of expertise, including hotel management studies, agriculture, water management, art & design, logistics and sustainable energy studies.

Many of the world’s leading foreign multinational companies have their European head office in the Netherlands, which offers Greek students in Holland with many opportunities to start their international career from this country. Some of the world’s biggest companies with a global presence are actually Dutch, including: Philips, Heineken, KLM, Shell, Akzo Nobel, ING and Unilever.

The Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences have excellent links with these companies. Many of them offer work placements during your study and research projects are also often connected to a particular company. As a University of Applied Sciences student, you will have access to business networks, mentors and career advisors to help you prepare for your future career.

Knowledge and talent is valued in Holland and that’s why after you graduate, you are welcome to stay and look for employment. Official statistics show that for the year 2015, 80 % of the Bachelors graduates of a Dutch University of Applied Sciences, found a suitable job in their specific field and level, within 3 months of obtaining their diploma. 

With the Dutch economy recovering and growing at a fast pace in 2017, these indicators for the Universities of Applied Sciences are expected to have improved significantly in 2018. In fact, for some fields of study, students are at the moment already offered suitable jobs before graduating.          

The increase in demand for labor as seen in 2017, is expected to continue in 2018. According to official macroeconomic estimates, unemployment in Holland will fall from 5 percent in 2017 to 4.5 percent in 2018 (Economic Quarterly Bulletin). In comparison, the unemployment rate in Greece for 2017 was 21 %, whereas the youth unemployment rate in Greece stood at a staggering to 43.70 percent in November 2017.

You also don’t need to speak Dutch to find a job in Holland after your graduation from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences. 95% of the Dutch speak English, so it’s easy to communicate with your colleagues at work and in daily life.

Holland is a small country with a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing and traveling. The country has an excellent, efficient and fast train system, allowing you to visit most of its major cities in less than two hours from where you are studying. Just think of a day trip to amazing cosmopolitan Amsterdam, one of the most visited and interesting cities in the world, enjoy visiting “posh” high class The Hague, which is the residence of the Dutch government, be amazed by the impressive riverside skyline of Rotterdam, the business capital of Holland, also known as the Manhattan of Europe.

If you are looking to explore a little further, no problem, an international trip is just around the corner. In just a few hours you can be in Antwerp, Brussels, or Paris by high speed train. London and Berlin are also just at a five or six hour train ride away. Frequent budget flights are also offered from Holland to many cities in Europe, most of which take less than an hour to get to your destination.

Holland truly is your gateway to Europe!

While studying in Holland, it is also easy to fly home for a holiday, or family visit. Direct all year round budget flights, offered for instance by Transavia airlines, to and from Athens are available at very affordable rates from Schiphol airport in Amsterdam and from Eindhoven airport in the south of the country.