NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: Admission, 2027/28 Fees and Housing in Leeuwarden

NHL Stenden is a publicly funded Dutch university of applied sciences (a hogeschool, the HBO tier of higher education) in the north of the Netherlands, with its main campuses in Leeuwarden, Emmen and Meppel. School leavers from Russia and Kazakhstan can apply straight to a four-year bachelor's: the Russian attestat and the Kazakh certificate of general secondary education are on NHL Stenden's list of recognised qualifications, so no foundation year is needed. Non-EU students pay $11,680 (€10,335) a year in 2026/27 and $12,010 (€10,630) in 2027/28. First-year international students can get a room through StudentStay, the university's official housing provider, if they book before 1 July.

NHL Stenden awards professionally oriented degrees (Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science and others), not research-university (WO) degrees like those of the University of Groningen next door. The sections below explain what that means for a later master's and for recognition at home.

Who NHL Stenden suits

It is a good fit for applicants heading into hospitality, tourism, events, international business, media or IT who want to start straight after school. If you are aiming at research or an academic master's, compare it with the University of Groningen and read about the two tiers in our guide to bachelor's degrees in the Netherlands. Other universities of applied sciences we profile: Hanze in Groningen, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Fontys and Saxion. The full list is on our Netherlands page, and if you are weighing hotel schools across countries, see hospitality management in Switzerland.

English-taught programmes and campuses

International Business in Emmen shares most of its first two years with Logistics Management, which makes a dual degree in business and logistics possible there. The Leeuwarden programme is a member of the AACSB Business Education Alliance; that is network membership, not AACSB accreditation. Students can take minors or internships at the university's international locations in Italy, South Africa, Thailand, Bali and Aruba. Master's programmes taught in English include International Hospitality and Service Management, International Leisure, Tourism and Events, and Content & Media Strategy. There are also two-year Associate degree programmes.

Entry requirements

School certificate. Four-year bachelor's programmes require a qualification at NLQF 4 / EQF 4, comparable to the Dutch HAVO diploma. NHL Stenden's country list (updated 27 August 2026) recognises the Russian attestat o srednem obshchem obrazovanii and, for Kazakhstan, the certificate of general secondary education and the NIS Grade 12 certificate. Nuffic, the Dutch credential agency, rates the Russian attestat as at least HAVO. The Central Student Administration still assesses every file individually and may ask Nuffic to evaluate unclear documents.

Three-year tracks. Fast-track programmes such as Hospitality Management and Creative Business need a VWO-level (pre-university) diploma. Only three programmes run as three-year tracks at present: Creative Business, Hospitality Management and Green Chemistry. The separate qualification list for them (dated 11 May 2026) does not include the Russian attestat, although it does include Kazakhstan's NIS Grade 12 certificate. If your qualification is not listed, NHL Stenden says admission is unlikely and points you to the four-year version; the Central Student Administration decides after you apply.

English. IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80 (tests before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 on the new scale, PTE Academic 61, LanguageCert Academic 65, and Linguaskill from 1 October 2026. Tests must be taken at a test centre and be less than two years old when the programme starts. A preparatory English course is available for applicants who fall short.

Documents. Passport, diploma and grade list (latest grade sheet if you have not graduated), CV and motivation letter. The Hotel Management School adds a selection procedure with a CV, a personal vlog and two online interviews. A Study Matching questionnaire is compulsory for all programmes and ends with non-binding study advice.

Graduating in summer. Non-EU applicants can upload a signed graduation statement in place of the diploma, but it must arrive before the visa deadline of 1 July (1 December for February).

How to apply

1. Register on Studielink, the national portal; applications for 2027/28 opened on 1 October 2026. Our guide to applying to Dutch universities explains the portal.
2. Activate your student email and upload documents to the iGO portal; the university asks for at least one file straight away so the application stays active.
3. Meet the non-EU deadline: 31 May for September, 31 October for February.
4. Receive the Letter of Admission, a conditional offer with an invoice on its last page.
5. Pay in full. NHL Stenden then applies to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for your permit and usually reports the outcome within three to six weeks.

What the first year costs

Three master's programmes (International Leisure and Tourism Studies, International Hospitality and Service Management, Content & Media Strategy) cost $13,550 (€11,995) a year in both 2026/27 and 2027/28. Hospitality Management students also pay $870 (€770) once for uniform, chef's whites and knives, $680 (€600) a year for books and $110 (€95) for the orientation week. NHL Stenden's fee table still shows the permit fee at the previous €243 rate, while IND currently charges €254, so check the amount on your own invoice. The university also lists a tuberculosis test fee, but IND exempts nationals of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, among others, from the test.

Non-EU first-years pay the whole year in one transfer; monthly direct debit from a SEPA account becomes possible from year two. Fees are reset every year, so budget for increases over four years.

Living costs. NHL Stenden suggests $900–1,410 (€800–1,250) a month, with rent and utilities at €450–1,000 and food at €200–350. IND requires students to have at least $1,280 (€1,130.77) a month in 2026, which the €14,000 deposit covers for one year. A national breakdown is in our cost of studying in the Netherlands guide.

Scholarships

• NL Scholarship: a one-off $5,650 (€5,000), funded by the Dutch education ministry and NHL Stenden, for non-EEA students admitted to a full-time bachelor's starting September 2027. You need a Letter of Acceptance, IELTS 7.0 or native English, and no previous Dutch degree. Apply between 1 December 2026 and 30 April 2027 with a 30–60-second audio recording; results by the end of May 2027 and payment in November 2027. It does not reduce tuition.
• Excellency Scholarship: $2,260 (€2,000) for the 40 best-performing non-EEA students after year one or two (at least 54 ECTS), up to $4,520 (€4,000) in total. You apply during your studies, with a motivation letter of up to 300 words, between 1 June and 1 September (1 December to 1 March for the February intake).

The university selects the recipients. For other funding routes, see scholarships abroad in 2026.

Housing

Students in the Netherlands normally find their own housing; NHL Stenden works with official providers.

Leeuwarden, StudentStay. The complex is next to the campus. Bookings open on 1 April (September) and 1 November (February) at 2 pm CET. Under its agreement with the university, StudentStay offers a room to non-EU first-years who book before 1 July (September) or 12 December (February). Monthly rents as published by the university:

Cancelling before 1 July (or 1 December) costs only a €55 fee. Leases run for one or two semesters.

Emmen. A room assurance for first-years applies, subject to availability, if you complete enrolment before 1 July (September) or 1 December (February). Studios at Het Centrum average about $930 (€825) a month all-in.

Private rooms are cheaper, but Dutch leases usually run for 12 months with a deposit of at least one month's rent. The university warns against paying before a contract is signed or sending passport copies to strangers.

Visa, permit and Russia-specific points

The university applies for your residence permit as a recognised IND sponsor; students cannot apply on their own. Russian citizens collect the MVV entry visa at the Dutch embassy in Moscow within three months of the IND decision (the St Petersburg consulate-general is temporarily closed), and passports come back within ten working days. Students may work up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in the seasonal period, with an employer-held work permit. The full procedure is in our guide to the Dutch student residence permit, and Russia-specific points are in studying in the Netherlands for Russian citizens.

Knowledge-security screening. There is no screening law. On 11 June 2026 the education minister told parliament that the broad bill was not workable and that a narrower version, aimed at researchers and PhD candidates, would be analysed. It does not affect bachelor's admissions in business, tourism or IT; the university decides on admission.

English-taught programme cuts. The Internationalisation in Balance bill, which would tighten rules on teaching in other languages, was still before the House of Representatives on 2 October 2026, according to the Senate's bill page. NHL Stenden is recruiting for its English-taught programmes for September 2027; confirm in Studielink that your programme and start date are listed.

Paying from Russia. NHL Stenden accepts the first-year lump sum from any bank account, so a Dutch account is not needed. Before paying, confirm the bank details, accepted payment method and processing time with the International Office or the Central Student Administration, because the visa procedure starts only after full payment, and check with your bank that the transfer will go through. Lawful options are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Recognition in Russia. Dutch universities of applied sciences are not on Russia's list of foreign institutions whose degrees are recognised automatically (Government Order No. 186-r). Graduates apply to Rosobrnadzor for recognition; the state fee is 6,500 roubles.

Common mistakes

• Using outdated descriptions that still call the school Stenden University; take fees and deadlines only from nhlstenden.com.
• Applying to a three-year track with the attestat, which is not on the fast-track list; the four-year programme is the safer route.
• Taking an online English test: online IELTS, PTE and LanguageCert results are not accepted.
• Booking housing late: the StudentStay room offer applies only to bookings made before 1 July.
• Counting on the NL Scholarship with IELTS 6.0: the scholarship asks for 7.0.
• Treating 31 May as the only deadline: the graduation statement and visa file are due by 1 July.

Timeline for a September 2027 start

FAQ

Does NHL Stenden admit students straight after secondary school?

Yes, for the four-year bachelor's: the university's qualification list includes the Russian 11-year school certificate and its Kazakh equivalent. You also need an English score of IELTS Academic 6.0 or equivalent. The Central Student Administration makes the admission decision on each file.

How much does NHL Stenden cost for non-EU students?

Bachelor's tuition is €10,335 ($11,680) in 2026/27 and €10,630 ($12,010) in 2027/28. Before arrival you also transfer a €14,000 living-cost deposit, €700 for insurance and the €254 IND fee, so the first payment is about €25,600.

Is NHL Stenden a university or a college?

It is a public university of applied sciences (HBO). It awards full bachelor's and master's degrees with a professional focus, internships and company projects, but it does not offer the research track of WO universities such as Groningen.

Does NHL Stenden have student halls?

The university owns no halls. In Leeuwarden, students from outside the EU who reserve with StudentStay by 1 July (September intake) or 12 December (February intake) are offered a first-year room. The tenancy contract is with StudentStay, not the university.

What scholarships does NHL Stenden offer international students?

For the September 2027 intake, the NL Scholarship pays €5,000 once to admitted non-EEA bachelor's students with IELTS 7.0; applications run from 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027. The 40 best non-EEA students after year one or two receive €2,000 each. The university selects recipients.

Can I start in February?

Yes, on some programmes, including International Business in Leeuwarden, Hospitality Management, Leisure & Events Management and Computer Science. Non-EU applicants apply by 31 October and complete the visa file by 1 December; IND decides on the permit after the university files the application.

Sources

• NHL Stenden: institutional tuition fees 2026/27 and 2027/28, paying fees, bachelor's admission requirements, recognised qualifications, updated 27 August 2026, application procedure and deadlines
• NHL Stenden programmes: Hospitality Management fees and admissions, International Business, Information Technology, Tourism Management
• NHL Stenden: scholarships, living expenses, housing, Leeuwarden, Emmen
• Nuffic: Russian qualifications compared
• IND: required amounts 2026, fees, TB test exemption by nationality
• NetherlandsWorldwide: MVV in the Russian Federation
• Minister's letter on knowledge-security screening, 11 June 2026; Senate: bill 36 555, Internationalisation in Balance
• Russian Government Order No. 186-r; Rosobrnadzor: recognition of foreign education

Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 1 October 2026 (€1 = $1.1298), rounded to $10. Facts checked on 2 October 2026.

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