Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

Windesheim is one of the Netherlands' top-3 universities of applied sciences, known for its personal approach, small classes (15-20 students) and for working closely with the business community and public institutes.

Top-rated University of Applied Sciences

Windesheim is one of the Netherlands' top universities of applied sciences with many top-rated bachelors' programs. With well over 27,000 full-time and part-time students, Windesheim is one of the larger universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands.

Windesheim is a dynamic community that brings people together to exchange knowledge and expertise. We seek to educate students who are fully qualified professionals ready to enter the international labor market. To this end, we constantly invest in educational innovation and student development.

Windesheim has a growing student population and is highly regarded by students, experts and employers. The two main independent annual studies about the Dutch higher education sector, ‘Elsevier’ and the ‘Higher Education Selection Guide’, rank us in their top three for already many years in a row. One of our success factors is our personal approach: students work in small classes (15-20 students) and each talent counts. Lecturers are not just teachers, but coaches as well. They challenge students to reflect, think critically, and get the best out of themselves. We are geared to personalized education that meets the requirements of our students, the labor market, and society at large. The foundation stones of our approach include competency-based learning and a personal development plan for every student.

Windesheim’s innovative and entrepreneurial approach and our close collaboration with businesses and institutions make our knowledge immediately applicable. Gaining practical experience through internships is an integral part of our study programs.

Student facilities

Windesheim is a vibrant learning community. All over the Zwolle campus, where the majority of the international students will stay, there are areas for private study and for group work. We offer state-of-the-art facilities to our students, including student counseling, a media center, lots of space for group work and supermarket. Our students are impressed by our great sports facilities on campus: we have gyms, fitness rooms, a dojo for karate and judo, indoor football halls, a heated swimming pool, and a climbing wall. On our campus, we have canteens providing fresh food and drinks. Moreover, we have a sports café and our own Grand Café offering the highly appreciated Starbucks coffee. And for those who are really going for the Dutch experience by riding a bike, we also have a bike repair shop on campus.

About Zwolle

Windesheim is based in Zwolle, a lively and welcoming medium-sized city only one hour’s drive from Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen, with reasonable prices for living expenses. About 30,000 students study in Zwolle, at one of its four Universities of Applied Sciences. As well as a beautiful historic center, 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. It's also a safe city, and once you’ve learned how to ride a bike, it's easy to get around. Student life in Zwolle is focused in and around the city center, which is packed with attractive cafés and restaurants. Zwolle has lots of cultural activities too, including music and cultural festivals, theatre shows, movies, and museums. Zwolle is also famous for its annual Liberation Festival (free access), the Rhythm & Blues Night, and a wide variety of sports events. There are student clubs and societies for just about anything from rowing to socializing with other international students.