Avans Hogeschool

Name

Avans Hogeschool

Legal name

Stichting Avans

Website

https://avans.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1812

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Avans Hogeschool is a Dutch university of applied sciences operating from campuses in Breda, Den Bosch, Tilburg, and Roosendaal, delivering bachelor, associate, master, and professional courses to ~30,000 students and working professionals, with revenue primarily from government-regulated tuition and applied research partnerships with industry and healthcare organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tilburg

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded tuition subsidies (DUO): As a publicly funded Dutch hogeschool, Avans receives government funding based on student enrollment numbers administered through DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs), which handles student financing and registry.
2. Student tuition fees: Students pay tuition fees (collegegeld) for enrollment in programs. For non-EU students, Avans also administers tuition and immigration compliance through IND.
3. Contract research and professional services: Avans generates revenue through its Centres of Expertise (Centre of Expertise BWNO, MNEXT, Perspectief in Gezondheid) conducting practice-based research for businesses, governments, and societal organizations. Research projects and professional development courses are additional revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Avans Hogeschool is a Dutch university of applied sciences offering bachelor degrees, associate degrees, masters, and professional courses across campuses in Breda, Den Bosch, Tilburg, and Roosendaal. The institution delivers practice-oriented education integrated with applied research through four Centres of Expertise (healthcare, broad prosperity/new entrepreneurship, resilient cities, and materials/energy transition), serving prospective students, working professionals, and partner organizations.

Product overview

Avans Hogeschool is a Dutch university of applied sciences offering a comprehensive portfolio of higher education programs and professional development courses. The institution operates on a platform of educational programs organized across bachelor degrees, associate degrees, and continuing education courses. Core bachelor programs include Environmental Science (ESSET), Construction Engineering (Bouwkunde), Healthcare Management, and HBO Nursing. The institution also offers 30 professional courses covering topics like AI, cybersecurity, circular economy, and digital skills. All programs emphasize practical application, sustainability, and industry partnerships. The educational approach includes modular teaching (introduced 2024-2025), work-based learning, and collaboration with industry partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Science for Sustainability, Ecosystems and Technology (ESSET) A 4-year full-time English-language bachelor program in Breda focused on solving climate problems, protecting ecosystems, and addressing air quality by combining biology, chemistry, management, and technology.
• Bouwkunde (Construction Engineering) A 4-year full-time bachelor program in Den Bosch and Tilburg focused on making the built environment future-proof, addressing themes like climate, energy consumption, resources, and dense construction.
• Management in de Zorg (Healthcare Management) A 4-year part-time bachelor program preparing students for leadership positions in healthcare or welfare organizations, combining business management with leadership skills.
• HBO-Verpleegkunde (HBO Nursing) A part-time bachelor program in Breda and Den Bosch for developing nursing knowledge, skills, and Evidence-Based Practice to make an impact on tomorrow's healthcare.
• Built Environment (Associate degree) A 2-year full-time associate degree program in Den Bosch training specialists in shaping living environments, creating sustainable places with good infrastructure and water facilities.
• Professional Courses (Cursussen) 30 practical professional courses offered part-time in various locations including Tilburg, Breda, and Den Bosch covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Circular Transition, and digital skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of alumni employed within 3 months of graduation (HBO-Monitor 2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PIONEER (European University Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PIONEER is a European alliance of 10 hogescholen and universities from 10 different European countries. Since 2024, PIONEER has held the designation of European university. Avans contributes to SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) through this alliance, enabling student and staff mobility, joint research, and international knowledge exchange.
• Centre of Expertise Brede Welvaart & Nieuw Ondernemerschap (BWNO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvans operates Centres of Expertise that connect practice-based research with education and industry. BWNO focuses on broad prosperity and new entrepreneurship, with lector Ton van Kollenburg leading the Impactvolle Waardeketens research line.
• Centre of Expertise MNEXT (Materialen- en Energietransitie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMNEXT focuses on materials and energy transition research, led by lector Martijn Zieverink (Biobased Transities). Partners with industry and government on sustainable innovation.
• Centre of Expertise Perspectief in Gezondheid (Perspective in Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis centre focuses on healthcare, well-being, and health perspectives, housing multiple lectorates including Betrokken Wetenschap (Gera Nagelhout) and Zorg rond het Levenseinde (Anne Goossensen). Conducts practice-based research for healthcare organizations and professionals.
• ASVZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASVZ is a healthcare organization in disability care that partnered with Avans deeltijd students in the Management in de Zorg program. Students developed future scenario plans (2040) for ASVZ as part of a course module on future-oriented healthcare organization.
• Leger des Heils (Salvation Army)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Leger des Heils participated in Avans student projects on future healthcare organization scenarios, collaborating with students from the Management in de Zorg deeltijd program.
• Theatergroep KullisminorOthersTheatre group Kullis collaborated with Avans to bring a performance about dementia and cultural sensitivity to Avans students in Social Work, as part of culturally sensitive care education.
• VVM (Vereniging van Milieuprofessionals)minorOthersVVM is the Dutch Association of Environmental Professionals that awards the annual Rachel Carson graduation prize for the best thesis on sustainability in higher education. Avans student Léo Chenu won this award in 2026.
• Expertisecentrum Inclusief Onderwijs (ECIO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvans signed the ECIO intent declaration in December 2020 for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, committing to become a more inclusive hogeschool.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fontys Hogeschool: Fontys is one of the largest Dutch hogescholen, with campuses primarily in North Brabant and Limburg including Tilburg and Eindhoven. It competes directly with Avans for students in the southern Netherlands across similar applied science and professional programs.
• Hogeschool Utrecht: Hogeschool Utrecht is a large Dutch university of applied sciences in central Netherlands offering a comparable portfolio of bachelor, master, and research programs. Notably, Avans's interim board member Frits Gronsveld was previously on Hogeschool Utrecht's executive board.
• Saxion: Saxion is a large Dutch hogeschool with campuses in Enschede, Deventer, and Apeldoorn. It competes with Avans in applied research, healthcare, and technical programs and is similarly engaged in practice-oriented research through its own research centers.
• BUas (Breda University of Applied Sciences): Breda University of Applied Sciences is located in the same city as Avans's headquarters and competes directly for students in Breda. BUas focuses on tourism, leisure, events, media, and built environment, partially overlapping with Avans's portfolio.
• Hogeschool Rotterdam: Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is a large Dutch hogeschool with strong programs in healthcare, engineering, business, and creative industries. It competes with Avans for Dutch and international students and is similarly positioned in the urban applied sciences segment.
• Hanzehogeschool Groningen: Hanze University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest hogescholen in the Netherlands, based in Groningen. It competes with Avans across similar program areas including healthcare, technology, and applied research, with comparable practice-oriented approach.
• NHL Stenden: NHL Stenden is a large Dutch hogeschool formed from the merger of NHL and Stenden, with campuses in the northern Netherlands and international locations. It offers a comparable range of bachelor, master, and professional programs with strong applied research focus.

Regional players

• Nyenrode Business Universiteit: Nyenrode Business Universiteit is a private business university located in Breukelen, Netherlands. It offers bachelor, master, and executive education programs, competing with Avans's management programs for certain student segments and corporate training clients.
• Tilburg University: Tilburg University is an academic university (not a hogeschool) located in Tilburg, near Avans's campuses. It offers research-focused bachelor and master programs in social sciences, humanities, and law, serving as a regional alternative to Avans's practice-oriented programs.
• TU Eindhoven: Eindhoven University of Technology is a technical university in North Brabant (Eindhoven), competing with Avans for students interested in technical and engineering fields at a more research-oriented, academic level rather than applied sciences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/avansonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/avans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avans-hogeschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/avanshogeschool
• TikToktiktok.com/@avanshogeschool
• Xx.com/avanshogeschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Avans Hogeschool