HAN Huntu

HAN Huntu:

What's it like to study at HAN?

Wondering how other students from the Dutch Caribbean found the move to the Netherlands? What did they have to get used to the most? They tell all about it in this video (in Dutch).

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International community

Over 1,800 international students from 100 different countries study abroad at HAN University of Applied Sciences. Our diverse and supportive community welcomes and guides you right away. That makes HAN one of the best universities in the Netherlands for international students.

Why our students love studying at HAN

Practice-based learning

During your studies at HAN University of Applied Sciences, you constantly apply the theory you learn in projects. That’s how you gain the practical experience and skills needed for your future career.

More about HAN's practical approach

Excellent degree programs

HAN offers 13 full-time degree programs in English (and over 70 full-time degree programs in Dutch). No doubt the degree program of your dreams is included!

More about our degree programs

Caribbean student community

HAN University of Applied Sciences has a special support network for students from the Caribbean islands: HAN Huntu. Your home away from home.

Cozy and vibrant student cities

Our campuses are located in the cozy and vibrant student cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen. There's plenty to experience here!

More about living in the Netherlands

Feeling a bit nervous about coming to the Netherlands all by yourself? No worries! You won't feel lonely here. The HAN Huntu community will help you settle and make life-changing new connections. HAN Huntu is run for students and by students from the Caribbean islands. Nan tei aki pabo!

Of course, your teachers, classmates and roommates will be there for you, too. But how nice would it be to connect with people who know exactly where you're coming from and what you're going through? Who, like you, miss their mother's food. Who also sometimes feel homesick for the clear blue sea and have to get used to the Dutch language.

That's what HAN Huntu is all about: connecting with people with similar roots. Throughout the year, the committee organizes all kinds of activities such as a game-night, a Christmas dinner and a field day. The Caribbean students and alumni of HAN Huntu know the ins and outs about studying and living in the Netherlands, including life in Arnhem and Nijmegen. They will be there for you to connect over good conversations and fun activities, to help you settle, and to share similar experiences. Experiences that challenge your comfort zone, experiences that expand your horizons, and experiences that leave you with nothing but heartwarming memories.

From Aruba to the Netherlands

''I love the extracurricular activities at HAN''

Aruban Chemistry student Kyndra Farro (24) started at Radboud University, but quickly learned that she preferred focusing on the practical side of chemistry. The switch to HAN turned out to be the right decision for Kyndra. Not only because the practical approach suited her better, but also because of the extracurricular opportunities. She made it into the Analytical Sciences Talent Program (ASTP), an extracurricular program for excelling students in Chemistry and Life sciences in the Netherlands. Pretty cool, right? Learn more about Kyndra's experiences and what she'd recommend to new students.

Get inspired

Chemiestudent Kyndra Farro neemt deel aan het Analytical Science Talent Program 2022

Thinking about studying in English at HAN University of Applied Sciences? Join our webinar for international students. Learn more about our bachelor and master programs, life as a student in the Netherlands and much more!
- More about our webinars
Interested in a program at HAN University of Applied Sciences? Join us at an Open Day. There you can talk to staff and students. Find out about the programs in English, the university, the campuses and much more!
- More about our Online Open Day
Would you like to experience student life at HAN University of Applied Sciences? Then sign up for our Student for a Day program. Online or on-campus? The choice is yours.
- Become Student for a Day
Join a Sample Lecture to find out what studying at HAN is like. Meet students and lecturers of your study program. Get a glimpse of the curriculum. And experience the Dutch way of teaching. Ask questions or simply sit back and observe.
- Join a Sample Lecture
You might not be able to visit the Arnhem or Nijmegen campus, but you can find HAN Huntu at the College Fair on the islands in November. Students can tell you about the ins and outs of the programs. But also about studying and living in the Netherlands and the student cities Nijmegen and Arnhem. HAN Huntu is not present on all islands every year. In that case, you can ask your questions via Skype.

Find your own room

Are you planning to come to the Netherlands? Register before November 1 (the year before your studies) with the Student Housing Foundation (SSH&) so they can arrange a place for you to live. You'll need an address in the Netherlands to arrange other things, such as a bank account and study financing.
- To the SSH& website (in Dutch)
Join the HAN Huntu Introduction

Join the HAN Huntu Introduction in August for a fun and smooth start of your studies. We'll help you get settled and connect with fellow students. Fun activities, practical info - we cover it all. The HAN Huntu Introduction will take place before the introduction of the programs. We'll post more details about the event soon, so keep an eye out on this page.

There's always someone to help you out, and we'll help you get in touch with them. To support you in your studies, HAN Huntu organizes educational meetings and workshops on things like planning, summarizing, budgeting and presenting. In these meetings, we'll inform you on how to contact the campus dean and student psychologist and where the Student Church is. We got your back.
Not sure about your Dutch writing skills are good enough? Then you may be dreading writing essays, reflections and reports for your studies. We get it! That is why, as a HAN student, you will soon be able to ask all your questions about language at the Taalkamer.

The Taalkamer offers all kinds of courses and workshops on language and writing. There is even a special course on writing skills for Dutch Caribbean students. In that course you practice writing (formal) texts in Dutch. You learn to structure texts and work on your writing style. This way you will increase your vocabulary and write Dutch texts with more ease.

Do you already have a HAN account? Then you can read more on Insite about the Taalkamer and about the Writing Skills course for Dutch Caribbean students.
If you want, as a Caribbean student you will be assigned a buddy in the 1st year of your studies. Gezellig! ;) HAN buddies will regularly check in on you, support you and help you be your best self.This could be a fellow student or an alumni, for example. In any case, someone who knows their way around HAN and has a network there. He or she will think along with you and help you find your way in the Netherlands. Your student counselor will tell you all you need to know about HAN buddies.
Taking a Dutch taught program and dreading the exams in Dutch? Don't worry, since Dutch is probably not your first language, you are entitled to extra time during your exam. You can also use a dictionary, for example English-Dutch. You must request this yourself in advance. Questions? Your student counselor can tell you all about it.