HZ University of Applied Sciences

What HZ University of Applied Sciences does

HZ University of Applied Sciences (HZ) is a Dutch public hogeschool founded in 1987 and headquartered in Vlissingen, Zeeland, with a secondary campus in Middelburg. The institution delivers practice-oriented higher professional education to approximately 5,000 students through a portfolio of full-time and part-time associate degree, bachelor, and master programmes, supplemented by roughly 30 short-cycle minors and continuing-education courses (including Energietransitie in zicht at €1,800 and the AI & Hulpverlening short course at €289).

The institution is structured around four applied research spearheads — Water, Energy, Vitality, and Education & Research — and operates a dedicated Data Science lectorate that conducts practice-based research on AI and data products for delta-region challenges (coastal protection, water quality, offshore energy, logistics). Core technology infrastructure includes the Osiris student information system, Panopto for event livestreaming, Microsoft Power BI and DataCamp integration for analytics teaching, and proprietary physical assets such as the HZenzor autonomous sensor boats for water quality monitoring. The institution also co-founded the Delta Climate Center and participates in the Joint Research Center Zeeland and Energy Campus Zeeland.

HZ's revenue model is primarily tuition-based (statutory HBO tuition of €2,314/year for EU/EEA full-time students in 2024-2025) augmented by Dutch Ministry of Education block grant funding, part-time programme fees, professional development course fees, and contract research income via its 64,000-partner (50,000 unique) research network. Go-to-market is community-led: the institution markets through hz.nl, open days, peer chat, online information sessions, education fairs, and HZ Discovery content channels, targeting Dutch full-time and part-time students, international exchange students, and working professionals seeking upskilling in regional priority domains such as AI, energy transition, and offshore renewables.

Name

HZ University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

HZ University of Applied Sciences

Website

https://hz.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HZ University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch public hogeschool in Vlissingen, Zeeland, delivering practice-oriented bachelor, master, associate degree, and minor programmes to roughly 5,000 students. It combines higher education with applied research in water, energy, vitality, and data science, serving regional Dutch and international exchange students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Applied Sciences)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI)

Keywords

• Higher professional education
• Applied research services
• Part-time continuing education
• Minor specialisation programmes
• Professional short courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Vlissingen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: HZ generates revenue from tuition fees charged to students for full-time, part-time, and continuing education programmes. Tuition fees for full-time HBO programmes in 2024-2025 are €2,314 per year for EU/EEA students. Part-time programmes, professional courses, and customized corporate training generate additional fee revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HZ University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch public higher education institution that delivers practice-based full-time, part-time, and dual study programmes at associate degree, bachelor, and master levels, alongside approximately 30 minor specialisations (15–30 ECTS) and customised short professional courses. It conducts applied research through research groups (lectorates) in Water, Energy, Vitality, and Education & Research, collaborating with a network of 64,000 research partners. The institution serves approximately 5,000 students per year across campuses in Vlissingen and Middelburg in Zeeland, Netherlands.

Product overview

HZ University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes and research services. The institution provides full-time and part-time programmes at Associate degree, Bachelor, and Master levels, complemented by approximately 30 specialized minors (15-30 credits each). Key educational products include AI & Hulpverlening (a short course on AI in social services), Energietransitie in zicht (energy transition course), and minors such as Applied Research - HZ Studio, Design Thinking and Doing - HZ Studio, International Practice, Business Analytics, Applied AI and Ethics, Applied Data Science, and Offshore Renewable Energy. The institution operates research lectorates including Data Science focused on data products and AI applications. Supporting platforms include Osiris for student registration and Panopto for video streaming. The product portfolio is structured around practice-oriented education integrating with regional business and research partners, primarily serving approximately 5,000 students in Zeeland, Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-time Study Programmes (Voltijd) Full-time higher professional education (HBO) programmes including Associate degrees, Bachelor degrees, Master degrees, and bridging (schakel) courses for students transitioning from vocational (mbo) or pre-university (vwo) secondary education into higher education. Designed for students seeking personal, small-scale, practice-oriented full-time study.
• Part-time Study Programmes (Deeltijd) Flexible part-time and dual education programmes at associate degree, bachelor, and master levels, plus short courses, designed for working professionals. Includes dedicated offerings for employers and the option of flexibel studeren.
• Minor Programmes One-semester specialisation programmes worth 15 or 30 credits (ECTS), typically taken in the third or fourth year of study. Available in Dutch and English for both HZ students and students from other Dutch universities of applied sciences, with options including a 'minor abroad' for international experience.
• Applied Research (Onderzoek) Practice-based research services organised through research groups (lectoraten) and expertise centres in four focus areas: Water, Energy, Vitality, and Education & Research. Includes joint research with business partners, public institutions, and other knowledge institutions. Delivered via the Joint Research Center Zeeland, HZ Impact Lab, and HZ Studio facilities.
• AI & Hulpverlening (AI & Care) Course A half-day (3-hour) training course for professionals in social services teaching the basics of AI, its applications in the social sector, and ethical considerations around privacy and AI use. Priced at €289 and held at HZ Tower Vlissingen, taught by Lector Data Science Mischa Beckers.
• Energietransitie in zicht (Energy Transition in Sight) A 9-session continuing-education course for energy professionals covering technical, administrative, and social aspects of the energy transition in Zeeland. Topics include solar, wind, water, heat, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. Priced at €1,800.
• Applied Research - HZ Studio (Minor) A 30-credit semester minor where students work on practice-based research projects guided by HZ researchers on topics including energy transition, climate adaptation, biobased building, circular economy, water technology, and food innovation. Located at HZ Impact Lab in Vlissingen.
• Design Thinking and Doing - HZ Studio (Minor) A 15 or 30-credit minor using Design Thinking methodology to solve societal challenges in Zeeland. Students work on real projects from organisations, applying user-centred creative solutions. Available in packages of 6, 10.5, or 15 ECTS.
• International Practice (Minor) A semester-long minor involving 12+ weeks of international internship and research abroad. Students gain intercultural competencies through practical assignments in diverse cultural settings.
• Business Analytics (Minor) A two-part minor teaching data collection, analysis, and visualisation using Python (DataCamp) and Microsoft Power BI. Part 1 covers CRISP-DM methodology; Part 2 involves a real business case from the student's employer.
• Applied AI and Ethics (Minor) An English-taught minor exploring AI technology, ethics, privacy, and societal impact. Covers topics including bias in algorithms, autonomous weapons, job displacement, and EU AI regulations. Assessment via portfolio and criteria-based interview.
• Applied Data Science (Minor) A minor covering machine learning and deep learning using Kaggle competitions (handwriting recognition, image classification) and real Data Science lectorate projects. Located at Het Groene Woud, Middelburg.
• Offshore Renewable Energy (Minor) A minor focusing on renewable energy at sea, covering tidal energy, wind energy, and the complete lifecycle of offshore wind farms. Students prepare a tender bid for a real offshore wind farm project. Includes hydrogen as energy storage.
• Data Science Research Group (Lectoraat) A research lectorship conducting practice-based research on data products including AI applications, with focus on the delta-region context of Zeeland. Focus areas: coastal protection, safety, tourism, food, industry, energy, and logistics. Operates the HZenzor autonomous sensor boats for water-quality research. Led by Lector Mischa Beckers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 3 ranking among Dutch multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences since 2011
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability10 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Delta Climate Center (Founding Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta Climate Center is a collaborative initiative founded by six organizations: Scalda, HZ University of Applied Sciences, University College Roosevelt, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Universiteit Utrecht, and Wageningen University & Research. The center focuses on connection and collaboration for a sustainable Zeeland delta, hosting annual events that bring together knowledge institutions, government bodies, civil society organisations and the business community.
• Energy Campus ZeelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy Campus Zeeland is a collaborative initiative focused on the energy transition in the Zeeland region. The Energietransitie in zicht course was developed within the framework of Energy Campus Zeeland, bringing together technical, administrative, and social expertise on sustainable energy topics.
• International Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHZ maintains a global network of partner universities for exchange programmes, enabling students to study abroad and international students to study at HZ. The institution also collaborates with partner universities on research and joint initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: Dutch hogeschool of comparable size and multi-campus profile, offering practice-based bachelor/master programmes and applied research. Directly comparable to HZ in funding model, student scale and regional focus.
• Avans University of Applied Sciences: One of the largest Dutch hogescholen with a similar portfolio of applied bachelor/master programmes and practice-based research. Directly comparable to HZ on regulatory funding model and HBO positioning.
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences: Dutch hogeschool offering applied bachelor, master and short programmes with strong industry-partnership model. Directly comparable to HZ in target market, programme mix and government funding structure.
• Hanze University of Applied Sciences: Large Dutch hogeschool based in the north of the Netherlands offering practice-based education and applied research centres. Comparable to HZ in HBO positioning and regional economic-development mandate.
• Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas): Medium-sized Dutch hogeschool known for practice-based, internationally oriented programmes. Directly comparable to HZ in scale, applied-research orientation and English-taught offerings.
• Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences: Major Dutch hogeschool with broad portfolio of applied programmes and strong industry connections in the Randstad. Comparable to HZ in HBO funding model and practice-based teaching approach.
• HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht: Large Utrecht-based hogeschool with extensive applied-research and professional-development portfolio. Comparable to HZ in HBO positioning, regulated tuition and part-time/continuing-education offerings.
• Windesheim University of Applied Sciences: Dutch hogeschool offering applied bachelor/master programmes and practice-oriented research. Comparable to HZ in scale, funding model and regional economic-development role.

Broad incumbents

• Delft University of Technology (TU Delft): Larger, internationally branded Dutch technical university with deep engineering and applied-research portfolio including water and offshore-energy themes. Comparable to HZ in subject-matter adjacency but operates at far greater scale and prestige.
• Wageningen University & Research: Dutch research university with a leading life-sciences and sustainability portfolio and a co-founding partner in the Delta Climate Center with HZ. Comparable through joint applied-research activity in water, food and delta themes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HZUniversityofAppliedSciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hz-university-of-applied-sciences

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 HZ University of Applied Sciences