Hanze

What Hanze does

Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Hanzehogeschool) is a publicly funded Dutch higher education institution headquartered in Groningen, Netherlands, founded in 1798. It delivers bachelor's, master's, and associate degree programs across disciplines including business, technology, healthcare, arts, and social sciences, and serves nearly 10,000 students. Specialized sub-brands include Academie Minerva (visual arts and dance), Prins Claus Conservatorium (music), the Academy of Nursing, and ENTRANCE – Centre of Expertise Energy. The institution also operates multiple applied research and expertise centers (e.g., Kenniscentrum NoorderRuimte, Centre of Expertise Healthy Ageing, Centre of Expertise Ondernemen, Kenniscentrum Biobased Economy) and is a co-founder of the STARS EU Alliance, a European Universities Initiative that aggregates 9 partner institutions, 150,000 students, and 15,000 employees.

Revenue is generated primarily through Dutch government funding tied to enrollment, supplemented by tuition from non-EU international students and fees for part-time master's, customized corporate training, and in-company programs. The go-to-market combines direct recruitment of prospective students via open days, study choice tests, and the hanze.nl website with B2B engagement of working professionals and organizational clients (municipalities, housing associations, energy corporations, healthcare organizations, and corporate partners such as Friesland Campina). Delivery occurs at campus locations in Groningen and Amsterdam, with hybrid/online formats supporting part-time professional learners and workplace-integrated learning.

The underlying technology stack consists of standard educational technology platforms — digital learning environments, student information systems, and online collaboration tools supporting hybrid and part-time education — with no disclosed proprietary AI or data-driven products. Hanze is governed by a College van Bestuur led by Chair Dick Pouwels and is subject to Dutch public-education regulation as a semi-public institution without private owners, subsidiaries, or external investors.

Name

Hanze

Legal name

Hanze University of Applied Sciences

Website

https://hanze.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1798

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Hanze University of Applied Sciences is a public Dutch hogeschool in Groningen, serving nearly 10,000 students with bachelor's, master's, and associate degree programs across business, technology, healthcare, arts, and social sciences. It is government-funded, co-founder of the STARS EU Alliance, and operates applied research and customized corporate training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Applied Sciences)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD), Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH), Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Applied sciences university
• Bachelor degree programs
• Master degree programs
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded education: As a publicly funded university of applied sciences in the Netherlands, Hanze receives government funding based on student enrollment numbers and performance metrics.
2. Tuition fees: International (non-EU) students pay tuition fees; Dutch/EU students receive government-funded education. Professional programs may have different fee structures.
3. Professional education services: Part-time masters, customized training, and incompany programs for organizations generate revenue through program fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hanze University of Applied Sciences is a publicly funded Dutch hogeschool (university of applied sciences) delivering bachelor's, master's, and associate degree programs across disciplines including business, technology, healthcare, arts, and social sciences. It also offers part-time professional education, customized corporate training, and applied research through knowledge centers focused on regional challenges in Northern Netherlands. The institution co-founded the STARS EU Alliance, a network of nine European universities.

Product overview

Hanze University of Applied Sciences offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs consisting of Bachelor degrees, Master degrees, and Associate Degree programs (both full-time and part-time), alongside professional development courses and customized training for organizations. The institution also conducts applied research through knowledge centers focused on regional societal challenges. Programs are offered primarily at campuses in Groningen and Amsterdam, with the recent launch of the joint Master Duurzaamheidstransities developed in collaboration with twelve universities of applied sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Academie Minerva: Arts academy within Hanze offering programs in visual arts, dance, and art education.
• Prins Claus Conservatorium
• Academy of Nursing
• ENTRANCE – Centre of Expertise Energy
• Kenniscentrum NoorderRuimte
• BuildinG
• Centre of Expertise Healthy Ageing
• Centre of Expertise Ondernemen
• Kenniscentrum Biobased Economy
• Kenniscentrum Kunst & Samenleving

Products and services

• Bachelor Programs Full-time and part-time bachelor's degree programs across various disciplines including Business, Technology, Healthcare, Arts, and Social Sciences, offered at campuses in Groningen and Amsterdam.
• Master Programs Graduate-level programs including full-time and part-time options with specialized tracks in areas such as sustainability transitions, nursing practice, and digital technology, designed for students who have completed a bachelor's degree.
• Associate Degree Programs Two-year associate degree programs providing vocational education and training, available in various fields including dance and other professional disciplines.
• Professional Education and Custom Programs Part-time programs, courses, and customized training solutions for working professionals and organizations, including in-company training options and post-hbo courses.
• Research and Knowledge Centers Applied research services through various knowledge centers and expertise centers addressing societal challenges in areas such as sustainability, healthy ageing, energy, entrepreneurship, built environment, and the biobased economy.
• Master Duurzaamheidstransities (Sustainability Transitions Master) Part-time two-year master program on sustainability transitions developed jointly with HvA and Inholland, focused on energy transition and climate themes for working professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68% student satisfaction rate (up from previous years)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• STARS EU Alliance (9 European Universities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of STARS European University Alliance comprising 9 progressive colleges and universities from non-metropolitan regions in Europe. Represents 70 faculties, 150,000 students, and 15,000 employees. Focuses on regional transition, sustainable innovation, and technological progress through three themes: Green transition, Digital transformation, and Social Value and Well-being. Part of European Commission's European Universities Initiative.
• Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration for Master Duurzaamheidstransities (Sustainability Transitions). Hogeschool van Amsterdam offers the full-time one-year variant while Hanze offers the part-time two-year variant in Groningen.
• InhollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution for Master Duurzaamheidstransities. Three hogescholen (HvA, Inholland, Hanze) bundle research expertise for the joint degree program.
• Alfa CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Alfa College on neighborhood improvement projects, including the Beijum district project addressing playground design and community needs.
• GGDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with GGD (municipal health service) on community health and well-being research projects.
• WIJ GroningenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with WIJ Groningen on community development and neighborhood improvement initiatives.
• Municipality of GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with municipality on urban development, public space design, and community research projects.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fontys University of Applied Sciences: One of the largest Dutch universities of applied sciences with a similarly broad program portfolio and applied research through knowledge centers, competing in the same national market.
• Inholland University of Applied Sciences: Direct STARS EU and Master Duurzaamheidstransities partner institution. Competes head-to-head with Hanze in part-time and applied sustainability programs.
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: Another large Dutch hogeschool headquartered in the Northern Netherlands (Leeuwarden), offering comparable bachelor, master, and associate degree programs with similar applied-research and regional partnership models.
• Avans University of Applied Sciences: Large Dutch hogeschool with comparable scale and program breadth across business, technology, health, and arts, sharing a similar student-recruitment market.
• Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU): Large Dutch hogeschool with comparable scale, multi-campus model, and applied-research focus across business, health, technology, and education disciplines.
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA): Direct partner with Hanze on the joint Master Duurzaamheidstransities. Serves the same Dutch applied higher education market with comparable program portfolio and international positioning.
• Zuyd University of Applied Sciences: Regional Dutch hogeschool with a similar applied-research model, multiple knowledge centers, and comparable bachelor/master offerings targeting similar student segments.
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences: One of the largest Dutch universities of applied sciences, with multiple campuses and a similarly broad portfolio across technology, health, business, and applied research, competing for the same student segments.
• Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvR): Large public hogeschool in the Randstad, offering the same mix of bachelor, master, and professional education programs with strong applied research and employer partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• University of Groningen: Major research university located in the same city (Groningen). While focused on academic research rather than applied sciences, it competes for top Dutch students and faculty in the same regional labor market and influences Hanze's local ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hanzehogeschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hanzehogeschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hanzehogeschool-groningen
• Instagraminstagram.com/hanzehogeschool
• TikToktiktok.com/@hanzeuas

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 Hanze