The Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences (HvA), or Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, is one of the largest institutes for higher professional education

Higher education

Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...

 in the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

. The HvA mainly offers bachelor degree programmes, but also has a number of (professional) master degree programmes. For students from the HvA's international partner institutes it is possible to study at the HvA as an exchange student.

In international co-operation, student enrolment and productive contacts with the business world. The HvA offers over eighty courses of study, spread across various locations in Amsterdam and Almere. HvA is also a partner for the business world, a large employer and an important player in the knowledge sector.

The HvA's 2,300 employees serve more than 30,000 students.

The HvA also maintains close ties with the University of Amsterdam. The close co-operation between the two creates added value in the areas of education and research. The strengths of the HvA and the University are combined in a variety of research. For HvA students who wish to continue their higher education at university level, the co-operation between the HvA and the University of Amsterdam also creates additional opportunities for self-development in breadth and depth.

Teaching Methods

Students from outside the Netherlands may notice a striking difference between their own educational style and the European system. The European educational system allows students much individual responsibility and initiative. Developing an independent and critical way of thinking is strongly encouraged. The study programmes at the HvA are practice-focused and tailored to students' personal needs, talents and ambitions. The student takes charge of his or her own learning. The lecturer facilitates the learning process and monitors academic progress. The HvA assists students in selecting programmes that build on previous learning; in making appropriate choices within their chosen programme; and in preparing for entry into the labour market or higher-level programmes.

An important way of learning is via work placements. All students at the HvA have a practical work period in order to get on-the-job experience in the field of their study. Such a work placement can be at a company or organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. Most of the teaching at the HvA is organised in modules, which are given in four periods of ten weeks or in two semesters.

Training

The University of Amsterdam has more than 90 college courses divided and grouped into seven so-called 'domains'. Since September 2007, these fields in use for a new and clear organizational unit to create within the university.

23 of these courses are accredited by the NVAO. Besides full-time courses, the college also some part-time study or training. Also has some international versions of college courses in which students from abroad also participate and thus all classes only in English.

Below an overview of all programs classified in the respective domains.
Exercise, Sports and Nutrition

• Physical education
• Sport, Management and Entrepreneurship
• Nutrition and Dietetics

Economics and Management

• Accountancy
• Business Informatics
• Commercial Economy
• Business Economics for Future Entrepreneurs
• Communications
• Financial Services Management
• Fiscal Economics
• Human Resource Management
• International Management (English)
• International Business and Languages ​​(English and International)
• International Business and Management Studies (international and English)
• Logistics and Economics
• Management, Economics and Law
• Management in Health Care and Social Services
• Small Business and Retail Management
• Sports Marketing
• Trade Management Asia (English)

Health

• Nursing
• Social Psychiatric Nurse
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Exercise
• European Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (international and English)
• European School of Physiotherapy (international and English)
• Master Evidence Based Practice

Society and Law

• HBO Rights
• Legal Social Services
• Cultural and Social Development
• Social Work and Services
• Social Work
• Applied Psychology
• Master of Social Work

Media Creation and Information

• Fashion & Branding (also in English version)
• Fashion and Design (also in English version)
• Fashion & Management (in English version)
• Informatics
• Computer Science
• Information Engineering
• Interactive Media
• Media, Information and Communication
• Game Development

Education and Parenting

• Higher Education Executive training
• PABO
• Pedagogy
• International Degree in English and Education (international and English)
• Geography Teacher
• Biology Teacher
• Architecture Teacher
• Building Technology Teacher
• Consumption Technology Teacher
• Economics Teacher
• Electrical teacher
• English teacher
• French Teacher
• History Teacher
• Teacher Health and Welfare
• Teacher Grafimedia
• Social Studies Teacher
• Teacher Mechanical Engineering
• Automotive Technology Teacher
• Teacher Physics-Chemistry
• Dutch teacher
• Teacher Education
• Teacher Technology
• Mechanical Teacher
• Mathematics Teacher
• Master Teacher of Economics
• Master English Teacher
• French Master Teacher
• Master Teacher History
• Dutch Master Teacher
• Master Mathematics Teacher
• Primary Teacher

Technology

• Aviation Studies
• Aviation Logistics
• Business Mathematics
• Engineering
• Structural Business (Property Studies)
• Business Logistics
• Civil Engineering
• E-technology
• Engineering, Design and Innovation
• Forensic Investigation
• Human Logistics
• Maritime Officer
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology
• Product Design
• Industrial Engineering