Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

What Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences does

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) is a publicly funded Dutch hogeschool headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, operating across 16 campus locations within the city. Founded in 1988, RUAS serves more than 39,000 students and employs approximately 4,000 academic and administrative staff across nine schools covering business, engineering, healthcare, social work, communication, built environment, education, and arts (including the Willem de Kooning Academy and Piet Zwart Institute). The institution offers a portfolio of bachelor, master, pre-master, exchange, and short-course programmes, with English-taught offerings in International Business, International Supply Chain Management, Consultancy and Entrepreneurship, and the newer Sustainability Transitions master.

The university's revenue model is anchored in tuition fees billed annually per student, with statutory fees of €2,601–€2,694 for EU/EEA students and institutional fees of €11,949–€14,449 for non-EU students, supplemented by Dutch government funding, housing services, professional development, and continuing education. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the national Studielink application platform, the in-house Centre of International Affairs (CoIA) for international recruitment, and a network of approximately 400 partner universities worldwide for student exchange. Distribution extends to dedicated scholarships such as the NL Scholarship and LPDP-Netherlands joint programme, alongside digital marketing, webinars, open days, and a student ambassador referral programme.

RUAS is governed as a public entity under Dutch national and regional education authorities and has no private ownership or venture capital backing. Strategic positioning is tied closely to Rotterdam's status as home to Europe's largest port, generating over 500,000 jobs and €60 billion+ in added value, with employer pipelines spanning multinational corporates (Petrobras, APL Logistics, Danone/Nutricia) and commissioned research relationships including the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure. The technology layer is conventional for higher education — administration via OSIRIS, the HINT intranet, and My RUAS portals — with no proprietary software product; recent activity emphasizes applied research collaborations such as the Project Stella Maris quantum sensor consortium.

Name

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

Website

https://rotterdamuas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is a publicly funded Dutch hogeschool serving 39,000+ students across nine schools in Rotterdam, offering English-taught bachelor, master, and exchange programmes in business, supply chain, engineering, health, and the arts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Applied Sciences)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ), Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH), Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Applied sciences
• University programmes
• Bachelor programmes
• Master programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Annual tuition fees charged to students based on nationality (EU/EEA vs non-EU) and programme type. EU/EEA students pay statutory tuition fees (€2,601-2,694), while non-EU students pay institutional fees (€11,949-14,449). Additional revenue from housing services, professional development programmes, and continuing education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is a public higher education institution delivering accredited Bachelor, Master, Pre-Master, Exchange, and Short Course programmes across nine schools spanning business, engineering, healthcare, social work, communication, arts, and education. Its core sellable programmes are degree offerings such as the four-year Bachelor International Business (BBA) and one-year Master of Science programmes in International Supply Chain Management and Consultancy and Entrepreneurship, taught in English and delivered on-campus in Rotterdam.

Product overview

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) is a higher education institution offering a portfolio of educational programmes at Bachelor and Master levels. The main offerings include the Bachelor International Business (BBA), Master in International Supply Chain Management (MSc), and Master in Consultancy and Entrepreneurship (MSc). These programmes are delivered through Rotterdam Business School and other academic schools, with a focus on practical, industry-connected education in business, supply chain, and entrepreneurship domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rotterdam Business School (RBS): School offering business-related programmes including International Business bachelor and master programmes in Consultancy and Entrepreneurship and International Supply Chain Management
• Willem de Kooning Academy
• Piet Zwart Institute
• Rotterdam Mainport Institute
• School of Engineering and Applied Science
• School of Health Care Studies
• School of Social Work
• School of Education (Teacher Training)
• School of Communication, Media and Information Technology
• School of Built Environment

Products and services

• Bachelor International Business A four-year English-taught Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme offered through Rotterdam Business School, with specializations in Marketing, Commerce, Supply Chain, and Organisation & Change, integrating three learning lines: Business, Professional & Academic Skills, and Languages. Designed for prospective undergraduate students seeking an international applied business degree with internship and exchange opportunities.
• Master in International Supply Chain Management A one-year full-time Master of Science (MSc) programme at Rotterdam Business School that prepares graduates with knowledge and skills in supply chain management, focusing on supply chain resilience, sustainability, and leadership, and including real-life company case studies linked to the Port of Rotterdam ecosystem.
• Master in Consultancy and Entrepreneurship A one-year full-time Master of Science (MSc) programme at Rotterdam Business School that prepares graduates to solve complex business challenges in a practical and creative way, for careers in consultancy, innovation, or entrepreneurship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students receive internationally recognized Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Master of Science (MSc) degrees with DS-label for international recognition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Amsterdam University of Applied SciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Lead institution for Project Stella Maris, a quantum sensor system development to detect 'dark vessels' at sea. Combines photonics, optical systems, and quantum sensing techniques for improved maritime detection in challenging conditions.
• Saxion University of Applied SciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Research partner in Project Stella Maris consortium developing quantum sensor technology for maritime surveillance. Contributes to photonics and quantum sensing expertise.
• High Tech AllianceflagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2026SME firm collaborating in Project Stella Maris quantum sensor development. Provides high-tech industry expertise and commercial perspective to the consortium.
• Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water ManagementcoreOthers · 1 June 2026Government body that commissioned Project Stella Maris. Provides funding and defines operational requirements for quantum sensor system to detect non-transmitting vessels.
• 400 Partner Universities WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange programme network enabling student mobility. Students spend semester abroad or complete international internships at partner institutions across globe.
• Port of RotterdamflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurope's largest port generating 500,000+ jobs and €60 billion added value. Provides industry connections, case studies, and career opportunities for RUAS students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: Multi-campus Dutch hogeschool with English-taught programmes and international student focus; competes for international applicants and has a comparable applied-business and hospitality/operations portfolio.
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA): The largest Dutch hogeschool by enrollment, also based in a major city with a similar applied-sciences portfolio across business, technology, health, and creative industries; directly comparable as a fellow public UAS and a partner in RUAS's Project Stella Maris consortium.
• Inholland University of Applied Sciences: Dutch UAS with multiple campuses across the Randstad and similar Bachelor/Master programmes in business, communication, and engineering; a direct domestic competitor for both Dutch and international students.
• Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU): Major Dutch hogeschool with overlapping schools in business, communication, education, and health; offers similar applied Bachelor/Master programmes and competes with RUAS in the domestic student market.
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences: Netherlands-based UAS with strong technical and business programmes and a substantial international cohort; partner alongside RUAS in Project Stella Maris and a directly comparable peer in the applied-sciences segment.
• Fontys University of Applied Sciences: Large multi-campus hogeschool in the southern Netherlands with comparable engineering, business, and applied-research offerings; competes for both Dutch and international students and partners with RUAS on teacher-training programmes.
• Hanze University of Applied Sciences: Northern Netherlands hogeschool offering similar Bachelor/Master programmes in business, engineering, health, and arts, with comparable international-recruitment infrastructure.
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS): Another large Randstad-based hogeschool with a comparable international, English-taught portfolio and similar student demographics; competes head-to-head with RUAS for international and Dutch applicants in business and technology programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Erasmus University Rotterdam: Research university located in Rotterdam offering competing business, economics, and supply-chain/management programmes; not a direct hogeschool peer but a substantial Rotterdam-based competitor for postgraduate talent.
• Delft University of Technology (TU Delft): Premier Dutch technical university also based in the Randstad, overlapping with RUAS's engineering and applied-science programmes at a research-university tier; competes for technically oriented Dutch and international students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/rotterdamuas
• Xx.com/rotterdamrbs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences