Hospitality Management course summary

The programme for Hospitality Management

Levels and semesters

Instead of academic years, our study programme has levels. You learn at your own pace, which may take longer or shorter than a year. The curriculum is roughly set up as follows: each level has 2 semesters of 20 weeks. During each semester, you will attend theory classes, work on a practical research topic (Design Challenge), and attend practical classes at our own hotel. At the end of the period, you will be graded on your course work.

The degree at a glance

Download the brochure to get a really useful one-page overview of the curriculum with a description of the modules and a list of subjects per year, the study load and the ECTS you can earn. Use it to compare the programme with other studies you’re interested in.

Minors and specialisations for Hospitality Management

In your third year of Hospitality Management, you get to specialise by taking a number of minors. For example: 

• Gastronomy (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, Thailand and Italy)
  Learn about the interaction between humans and their food and develop as an expert in gastronomy, knowledgeable about sensory interaction and capable of recognising and defining flavours in food and wine. 
• Food & Beverage Management (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands)
  Offering in-depth knowledge of the food & beverage industry, the trends & developments, ethical and legal aspects and industry concepts, this minor is for future food & beverage professionals. It also offers a wine-tasting qualification.
• Advanced Wine Studies (South Africa)
  This minor challenges you to develop your palate so as to be able to evaluate and blind taste wine. It offers an intensive grounding in viticulture and vinicultural practices and prepares you for a Wine Masters qualification. 
• Event Management (all NHL Stenden branches)
  This minor provides a realistic insight into the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions industry and what is needed to organise events successfully. Each location gives the minor its own twist to suit the local market. 
• Spa Business Strategy (Bali)
  Focusing on how to develop, manage and sustain a spa business solution, this minor looks at strategies, insights into local markets and feasibility of creative concepts as well as understanding the holistic philosophies behind the spa industry. 

Practical approach of Hospitality Management

We aim to help you put theory into practice as quickly as possible. Through our educational concept, Design-Based Education (DBE), you work in small teams of students, teachers, researchers and industry professionals. You tackle current, real-life issues developing and adapting your visions and ideas to form a solid solution. And you gain yet more practical experience during your internship in your final year.  

International opportunities

We want to prepare you for an international, intercultural, and ever-changing environment, so that you can dive into the unknown and gain experience in an international context. It is possible with our Grand Tour, Exchange programme or one of our mobility options offered by RUN-EU. Or you can choose to do your internship abroad. You’ll be able to put together the right combination of courses and internships to develop both your professional and personal skills – and develop your own network for the future.