The Northern Dutch Education and Research Sector

The first educational institution to come up on your radar is likely to be the RUG, a public research university in Groningen. It was founded in 1614 and is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. The university is well-known for its research in various fields, including the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. RUG has a strong international community and offers a variety of English-taught programs.

Furthermore, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is affiliated with the RUG. It's key research areas comprise of public health, the biology of ageing, transplantation, and cancer treatment among others. Other key RUG research institutes are the New Energy Academy, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, and the Kapteyn Institute.

The Hanze University of Applied Sciences is also located in Groningen and is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. The university offers over 60 English-taught programs in fields such as engineering, healthcare, and business. Hanze has a strong focus on practical learning and has a large network of international partners.

Around 60 kilometres to the West in Leeuwarden lies the NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. This university has a strong focus on practical learning and has partnerships with companies and organisations in various industries. NHL Stenden offers programs in fields such as hospitality management, tourism, and business administration.

Whether you’re looking for a research-focused university or a university of applied sciences, you’re bound to find an institution that matches your needs in the North. With their strong focus on internationalisation and practical learning, these institutions offer quality education options for locals and expats alike.

Opportunities may also be found in the international school set up in the region.

International School Groningen (ISG) — Located in Haren (on the outskirts of Groningen city), this school serves students aged between 11 and 18 with an internationally recognised curriculum (International Baccalaureate MYP and Diploma Programme) taught in English. 

International School Fryslân — The newest international school in the North was created to support the region’s attractiveness for international talent.

In the Netherlands, education is structured to match different kinds of learners and career goals. After secondary school, students can follow either vocational education (MBO) or higher education, which is divided into universities of applied sciences (HBO) and research universities (WO). MBO programmes prepare people for hands-on professions — from technicians and healthcare assistants to logistics specialists — across four qualification levels. HBO degrees combine theory with professional practice and are highly valued by employers for developing practical problem-solving and communication skills. WO degrees, on the other hand, are research-oriented and focus on analytical and scientific thinking. Together, these three pathways form a flexible system where graduates can move between practical and academic directions, and employers can easily gauge a candidate’s “thinking level”.