Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht

What Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht does

Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht (GLU) is a privately operated but publicly funded Dutch MBO (secondary vocational education) institution based in Utrecht, Netherlands, specializing in creative and technical training for students aged roughly 16-25. The school delivers five main programs — Creative Media Design, Creative Marketing & Communication, Creative Motion Production, Creative Software Development, and (Allround) Mediamaken — supplemented by a one-year Creative Startup bridging program for graduates pursuing entrepreneurship. Teaching is anchored in industry-standard creative and development tooling, including the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects, Audition, Animate), Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, HTML/CSS/JavaScript/PHP/MySQL, C#, and Microsoft Office, with GitHub Copilot integrated into software development instruction. A distinctive asset is the only MBO-level Virtual Production LED studio in the Netherlands, alongside a dedicated GameLab facility.

The institution operates a hybrid distribution model combining physical campus locations on Vondellaan and Koningin Wilhelminalaan in Utrecht, the national inschrijvenmbo.nl enrollment portal, on-campus Open Days and GLUren school visits, and active social media channels. The primary revenue stream is regulated Dutch government tuition administered through DUO, with a secondary professional services stream from Het Bureau, an internal student agency where supervised students deliver work to external clients. GLU maintains a network of 4,000+ internship companies coordinated by its internal Bureau Bedrijfscontacten, including partnerships with Talpa, Ubisoft, RTV Utrecht, America Today, and Voetbal International. The organization has no parent company, no external ownership, and no venture or private equity involvement, consistent with its status as a Dutch publicly funded vocational institution.

Name

Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht

Legal name

Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht

Website

https://glu.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht is a Dutch MBO vocational school in Utrecht delivering creative and technical training in media design, software development, motion production, and marketing to students aged 16-25, funded by regulated government tuition via DUO and supported by a 4,000+ company internship network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Vocational Education

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Vocational education programs
• Creative media training
• Software development courses
• Media production training
• Marketing communication programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded education (Lesgeld): As a publicly funded MBO institution, the school receives government funding. Students pay tuition (lesgeld) which is regulated by DUO. Students aged 18+ on August 1 pay tuition fees (BOL-opleiding) or course fees (BBL-opleiding).
2. Professional services through Het Bureau: Internal agency where students work on real client projects under teacher supervision, generating revenue through client work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht (GLU) is a Dutch MBO vocational school that delivers secondary vocational training programs in media design, software development, marketing & communication, and media production. The school offers multi-year level 2-4 programs plus a one-year Creative Startup bridging course, supported by facilities such as a Virtual Production LED studio and a GameLab, and an in-house student agency (Het Bureau) that executes paid work for external clients.

Product overview

Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht (GLU) is a vocational school (mbo) offering creative and technical programs. The institution provides a portfolio of educational programs at levels 2-4, including (Allround) Mediamaken (Level 2/3), Creative Media Design (Level 4), Creative Marketing & Communication (Level 4), Creative Motion Production (Level 4), and Creative Software Development (Level 4). These programs are organized into specialized profiles that allow students to develop expertise in areas such as animation, game art, audiovisual design, virtual production, web development, game development, extended reality, AI development, marketing, and content creation. Supporting facilities include a Virtual Production LED studio, GameLab, and Het Bureau student agency where students work on real client projects. The school also offers a Creative Startup bridging program for entrepreneurship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• (Allround) Mediamaken A 2-year MBO vocational program at levels 2 and 3 in which students learn to execute designs, edit images, lay out digital files, and work with design software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) to produce technically correct files ready for print or digital production. Targeted at MBO students seeking entry-level creative production skills.
• Creative Media Design A 4-year Level 4 MBO program with four profiles (Art & Design, Brand Design, Content Design, Digital Design) in which students learn design principles, create advertising campaigns, build portfolios, and explore concepts before specializing. Targeted at prospective MBO students aged 16-25 pursuing media design careers.
• Creative Marketing & Communication A 3-year Level 4 MBO program with three profiles ((Online) Marketing & E-commerce, Content Creation & Social Media, Media Production & Event Management) in which students learn to create marketing campaigns, develop content strategies, and manage events for clients. Targeted at MBO students aiming for marketing/communications roles.
• Creative Motion Production A 4-year Level 4 MBO program in video, animation, and game production with four profiles: Animation, Audiovisual Design, Game Art, and Virtual Production. Students learn motion graphics, 3D modeling, and virtual production using industry-standard tools and the school's Virtual Production LED studio. Targeted at MBO students pursuing careers in film, television, gaming, and animation.
• Creative Software Development A 4-year Level 4 MBO program in software development with four profiles: Game Development, Web Development, Extended Reality, and AI Development. Students learn to build applications for web, games, and XR using Unity, C#, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and AI tools like GitHub Copilot. Targeted at MBO students pursuing careers in software development, game development, and XR.
• Creative Startup A 1-year bridging program for students holding an MBO diploma that combines entrepreneurship education with creative skills, teaching them how to start their own business. Targeted at MBO graduates intending to launch a creative-sector business.
• Het Bureau An internal student agency where supervised students work on real assignments for real external clients, generating revenue through client work and providing students with practical experience before entering formal internships. Targeted at Dutch organizations seeking creative, media, or marketing project execution.

Quantifiable outcome

• All students successfully placed in internships - the school has helped everyone find an internship position, with approximately 30% of study time dedicated to internship experience.

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie (Cultuur educatie mbo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with the Dutch Cultural Participation Fund for the 'Cultuureducatie in het mbo' regulation enabling documentary projects such as the IDFA collaboration on the 'De Caravans' documentary by student Jonas.
• IDFA (International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with IDFA festival allowing Creative Motion Production students to have their documentaries screened and participate in the prestigious documentary festival.
• Go Short Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Annual participation in Go Short Film Festival in Arnhem where Creative Motion Production students submit their short films for competition. The festival includes Academy Award qualification for winners.
• Global Game JamminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023School participates in Global Game Jam - one of the largest game events in the world. 60 students participated, with 12 second-year students traveling to Malaga for international collaboration with Spanish game students and professionals.
• Bureau BedrijfscontactencoreOthersInternal internship bureau with extensive network of 4,000+ internship companies across the Netherlands and internationally, actively mediating between students and companies to find suitable internship placements.
• HLO (Hilversum)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the HLO in Hilversum where Creative Software Development students work in teams on practice-oriented projects in cooperation with external partners.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Albeda: Rotterdam-based MBO institution with creative media, design, and technology programs. Direct competitor in the Randstad Dutch MBO market, sharing the same employer and student recruitment pool.
• SintLucas: Dutch MBO school in Boxtel specializing in creative media, design, and technology vocational programs at MBO levels 2–4. Closely comparable in curriculum (media design, software development, marketing/communication) and student demographic to GLU.
• Mediacollege Amsterdam: Direct Dutch MBO peer in Amsterdam offering media, design, and technology vocational programs to a similar 16–25 student segment. Competes for the same Dutch creative vocational applicant pool and corporate internship partners in the Randstad.
• Cibap Vakschool voor Verbeelding: Creative MBO school in Zwolle offering visual design, media, and creative technology programs. Direct competitor in the Dutch creative MBO market with overlapping programs in media design, marketing, and digital production.

Broad incumbents

• HKU (University of the Arts Utrecht): Larger established university of applied sciences for arts in Utrecht, offering higher-tier (HBO) programs in media, design, games, and music. Competitor for advanced creative students and broader creative education market in the same Utrecht geography.
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: Large Dutch applied sciences university with media, creative business, and communication programs. Competes for similar Dutch creative-industry talent and offers comparable pathways to creative employment.
• ArtEZ University of the Arts: Major Dutch university of the arts with media, design, and creative technology programs across multiple campuses. Operates broadly in the same Dutch creative-education market with overlapping target students at the higher-education level.
• Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas): Dutch applied sciences university known for games, media, and creative technology programs. Adjacent in the Dutch creative-education market with overlapping target applicants in software development and motion production.
• Willem de Kooning Academy: HBO creative arts academy in Rotterdam (part of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences) offering media, design, and games programs. Adjacent Dutch higher-tier creative education competitor for portfolio applicants.

Regional players

• Yuverta: Dutch regional MBO institution (formerly Groenhorst and Citaverde) with creative media and design programs across multiple regional campuses. Comparable MBO-level vocational delivery model in adjacent Dutch regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/grafischlyceumutrecht
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grafisch-lyceum-utrecht
• Instagraminstagram.com/glutrecht
• TikToktiktok.com/@glutrecht
• Xx.com/glu_student

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 Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht