HvA Students More Satisfied in NSE 2026

The NSE is an annual satisfaction survey in which students evaluate their degree programme at a Dutch university of applied sciences or university. We are seeing improvements in almost every area compared to last year. More than 61% of students are now (very) satisfied with their degree programme overall. The percentage of (very) dissatisfied students has fallen to below 10%. More than 61% of HvA students would choose the same degree programme again based on their experiences so far. Student satisfaction has also increased at other universities of applied sciences in the Randstad region.

Student support

Satisfaction with student support has increased across the HvA. This trend had already become visible in the 100 Days Monitor among first-year students. Since the 2025–2026 academic year, the Student Support Promise has applied to all students. Every student now has a personal adviser as their first point of contact within their degree programme. We remain committed to providing tailored student support.

First effects visible in institution-wide improvement approach

Last year, we sharpened our focus in improving student satisfaction. Across the institution, we are working on the following areas:

• Providing clear information about, for example, the coherence of the curriculum and follow-up actions resulting from educational evaluations. 
• Offering clarity about assessment criteria and providing useful feedback on assignments, reports and exams. 
• Improving preparation for professional practice for full-time students. 

The NSE results show improvement in these areas as well compared to last year. This reinforces our confidence in the current approach. The results also reveal significant differences between degree programmes. Some programmes have highly satisfied students, some have seen strong increases in satisfaction, while others still score below the level we consider desirable. This means there is considerable potential for further improvement by learning from one another.

Nynke van Dijk, member of the Executive Board: ‘We can see that the efforts made across the institution are beginning to have an effect. It is wonderful recognition for all colleagues who work hard every day for our students, and we can be proud of that. At the same time, we know we are not there yet. That is precisely why we will continue to focus on improving our education and student support.’

Areas for attention

The NSE results show that there is still room for improvement, particularly in the area of assessment and evaluation. Students do not always experience sufficient clarity about the criteria on which they are assessed. Degree programmes are therefore working on improving assessment, feedback and communication about these topics.

There are also opportunities for improvement in areas such as curriculum coherence, freedom of choice and alignment with professional practice. Many programmes have already introduced improvements, for example by providing students with clearer information and by sharing good practices between programmes and faculties. This also aligns with the institution-wide improvement approach aimed at further increasing student satisfaction.

View the full overview of the HvA and its degree programmes on the Studiekeuze123 website (opens in new window).