NCOI University of Applied Sciences

What NCOI University of Applied Sciences does

NCOI University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch private education company and the largest provider of adult education for working professionals in the Netherlands, operating as the flagship brand of the Salta Group. Founded in 1998 by Robert van Zanten from a single course offered in an attic in Hilversum, the company has scaled to 1,250+ recognized programs across MBO (secondary vocational), HBO Bachelor and Associate degree (higher vocational), and NVAO-accredited Master levels, organized into three operating divisions (MBO College, Hogeschool NCOI, and NCOI University of Applied Sciences). It trains approximately 20,000 professionals per year through over 20 physical classroom locations and a digital delivery stack that includes the proprietary E-Connect learning management system, Virtual Classroom for live remote instruction, and the OphetWerk® registered work-integrated learning methodology.

The company's technology stack centers on three delivery formats: classroom instruction at nationwide locations, live online Virtual Classroom, and self-paced E-Connect e-learning, supplemented by the OphetWerk® on-the-job variant where employees earn accredited diplomas while applying learning directly at work. NCOI holds the regulatory credentials required to issue legally recognized diplomas at every level — NVAO accreditation for HBO and Master programs and DUO-recognized BRIN numbers (24KB MBO, 29PZ HBO/Master) — and employs more than 2,000 practicing freelance instructors across 11 subject areas ranging from Business & Management and IT & AI to Zorg & Welzijn.

NCOI runs a hybrid B2C/B2B commercial model. Individual professionals are acquired through SEO-driven website content (1,250+ course pages), free online voorlichting information sessions, and personal study advisory. Dutch employers (including named customers HTM, HaagWonen, and Fivoor) are served through a dedicated B2B sales team that delivers customized in-company programs and group enrollments. Revenue is generated primarily from tuition fees invoiced across multi-year contracts, with the SLIM government subsidy program — facilitated by NCOI's Subsidiedesk — reimbursing employers up to 90% (MBO 2-3) or 40% (MBO 4, HBO, Master) of eligible costs, effectively lowering employer acquisition friction.

Name

NCOI University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

NCOI Opleidingen

Website

https://ncoi.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

NCOI is the largest Dutch provider of accredited adult education for working professionals, offering 1,250+ MBO, HBO, and Master programs to 20,000 students annually across the Netherlands. It operates within Salta Group via classroom, virtual, and OphetWerk® work-integrated delivery formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Vocational and Higher Professional Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH), Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)

Keywords

• Adult vocational education
• Higher professional education
• Corporate training programs
• Work-integrated learning
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees for individual programs: NCOI generates revenue primarily from tuition fees charged to individual students and professionals enrolling in its 1,250+ courses, spanning MBO to Master's level. Programs range from short skills workshops to multi-year accredited degrees, with fees varying by level, duration, and delivery format.
2. Corporate training contracts: NCOI sells customized in-company training, group programs, and individual employee enrollment packages to employers. Revenue is generated through bespoke contracts with businesses and institutions, with the company offering financing assistance and subsidy guidance (e.g., SLIM) to facilitate purchases.
3. SLIM government subsidy facilitation: While the SLIM subsidy (up to 90% for MBO level 2-3 and 40% for MBO 4, HBO, and Master's) is paid by the government to employers, NCOI facilitates the application process and collects full tuition from employers (who are reimbursed up to 90%). This creates a multi-party revenue flow where NCOI receives full program fees and the subsidy offsets employer costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

NCOI University of Applied Sciences delivers accredited secondary vocational (MBO) and higher vocational (HBO) and Master-level education to working professionals across the Netherlands through 1,250+ recognized programs. Instruction is delivered via classroom sessions at 20+ Dutch locations, live Virtual Classroom, self-paced e-learning on the proprietary E-Connect platform, and the proprietary OphetWerk® work-based learning methodology. The company also sells customized in-company training to Dutch employers and facilitates SLIM government-subsidy enrollment.

Product overview

NCOI University of Applied Sciences operates as an integrated educational platform for working professionals in the Netherlands, organized into three main divisions: MBO College (secondary vocational), Hogeschool NCOI (HBO higher vocational Bachelors and Associate Degrees), and NCOI University of Applied Sciences (NVAO-accredited Masters). The portfolio spans 1,250+ recognized programs across 11 subject areas including Business & Management, IT & AI, Finance & Law, HR & Psychology, Marketing, Education, Government, Project Management, Technical Sciences, Healthcare, and Construction. Delivery occurs through multiple study methods: traditional classroom at 20+ locations nationwide, virtual classroom (live online), e-learning (self-paced), and the proprietary OphetWerk® work-based learning format. Corporate clients receive customized in-company training solutions, and subsidized programs are available through the Dutch SLIM government initiative. The organization trains approximately 20,000 professionals annually with 2,000+ experienced freelance instructors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OphetWerk®: A study method where employees earn a recognized MBO or HBO diploma without long-term absence from classroom lessons; learning takes place at the workplace and is directly applied in daily work activities.
• NCOI Zorg en Welzijn

Products and services

• MBO Opleidingen (MBO niveau 2, 3, en 4)
• HBO Bachelor Opleidingen (4 jaar)
• HBO Bachelor Verkort - 3 jaar (Fasttrack)
• HBO Associate degrees (2 jaar)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Masteropleidingen (Master Programs)
• Post HBO
• MHBO (Middelbaar HBO)
• OphetWerk®
• Bedrijfsopleidingen op Maat (Custom Corporate Training)
• SLIM-subsidie (facilitation service)
• Vak- & Brancheopleidingen (Vocational and Industry Training)
• Trainingen & Skills (Short courses)

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 professionals trained annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Salta GroupcoreOthersNCOI Opleidingen is part of the Salta Group, a large Dutch educational group comprising multiple training providers. The group collectively serves a broad market of professional learners across the Netherlands. NCOI is the flagship brand for working adult education within the group.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Coursera: Coursera is a leading global online learning platform offering degrees, certificates, and enterprise upskilling. It competes with NCOI at the edges — particularly for short courses, professional certificates, and corporate learning content.
• 2U (edX): 2U, which operates the edX platform, partners with universities to deliver online degree programs. It is an adjacent peer in the digital delivery of accredited higher-education programs and a potential competitive pressure point for NCOI's online and hybrid programs.

Direct peers

• LOI Hogeschool: LOI is one of the largest Dutch providers of distance and hybrid higher education for working adults, offering accredited MBO, HBO, and Bachelor programs. It is the most direct Dutch competitor to NCOI in the working-professional segment with a comparable stackable credential model and online delivery.
• NHA Opleidingen: NHA is a long-established Dutch home-study and distance-learning institution offering MBO, HBO, and short-course programs. It addresses the same working-adult learner as NCOI with similar accredited pathways and a subscription-style catalog of programs.
• Schoevers: Schoevers is a Dutch private higher-education provider focused on HBO and vocational programs for professionals. It targets a similar working-adult segment with accredited credentials and is a directly comparable Dutch private hogeschool.
• Hogeschool Tio: Tio is a private Dutch University of Applied Sciences offering accredited HBO Bachelor and Master programs focused on business, tourism, and commerce. It competes with NCOI for the same Dutch working-professional learner seeking recognized HBO and Master credentials.
• Capabel Hogeschool: Capabel Hogeschool is a Dutch private university of applied sciences offering accredited HBO programs targeted at working professionals. It overlaps directly with NCOI's Hogeschool NCOI division in degree offerings and learner profile.
• NTI Nederland: NTI is a Dutch distance-learning provider offering accredited MBO, HBO, and various short programs for working adults. It is a direct competitor in the online/hybrid adult education market and is also part of the broader Dutch educational group landscape.

Broad incumbents

• Adtalem Global Education: Adtalem is a global workforce-education company operating universities and professional training brands. While much larger and U.S.-anchored, it overlaps with NCOI's professional higher-education and workforce credentialing business model.
• Pearson: Pearson is a global education and workforce-learning company with assessment, certification, and digital learning offerings. While broader and more diversified than NCOI, it overlaps in professional certification, corporate learning, and credentialing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ncoi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NCOIOpleidingen
• Facebookfacebook.com/NCOIopleidingen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncoi-university-of-applied-sciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncoi_opleidingen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 NCOI University of Applied Sciences