Our On-Campus Open Day Experience as Prospective Students

Hi, we’re Marta and Alicja, close friends and current students at Hanze. With the upcoming On-Campus Open Day just around the corner, we decided to share our own experience and reflections. We attended an Open Day over a year ago as prospective students who had absolutely no idea what we wanted to do after finishing high school. Looking back now, we can confidently say that experiencing the campus in person gave us far more than we ever expected. If you’re a prospective student feeling unsure between different universities or programmes, our experience might help you picture what an Open Day is really like. 

Before arriving, we weren’t entirely sure what the individual programmes really looked like or which ones we might want to study. Brochures and websites were helpful, of course, but they simply can’t compare to being on campus in person or talking to current students who already have experience and the most honest perspective. 

Before the trip, we also assumed that since we were going to a small city, it would be very quiet and not particularly exciting. However, the moment we entered the city center, we instantly felt the atmosphere of a lively, student town. It turned out to be incredibly charming, safe, and full of life.  

Programme of the Day

The Open Day programme included a kick-off presentation, covering basic but important information - from the university itself to living costs in the Netherlands. Then came the campus tour, followed by programme presentations, where we could get a detailed insight into what studying each course looks like. At the end of the day, there was an information market, where we could ask ambassadors about every detail from their own experience- especially about practical matters like housing, course workload, daily student life and student finance (as our parents were also concerned about those things).  

On-Campus Experience

The campus tour was also very exciting, as we got to see just how large and well-equipped the buildings are. Before the trip, we were convinced that the Hanze campus consisted of just two buildings. In reality, we discovered not only those, but five additional buildings, a sports complex, a cafeteria, and plenty of space for studying and spending time with friends.  Even now, after more than a year, we still occasionally discover new places and hidden corners on campus - and yes, it still surprises us every single time. Simply put - it’s huge. This, combined with the friendly and welcoming atmosphere from the very first moment we arrived, made us feel like we wanted to stay longer… and maybe even start studying there right away. 

City Tour Highlights

In the afternoon, there was also an optional city tour led by the ambassadors - and this quickly became our favorite part of the day. We were shown all the important spots in the town and took part in fun activities that helped us get to know the city. It was also a perfect chance to have more relaxed conversations with the ambassadors - for example, about nightlife and where the best clubs are 😊. Honestly, this city tour is the part of the Open Day that stuck with us the most.  

Looking Back

The entire Open Day had an amazing atmosphere. Students were incredibly open, helpful, and impressively patient - especially considering the number of questions we had (and trust us, there were a lot). The presentations helped us visualize what each program looks like and what it consists of, while the students filled in the gaps with their own experiences. If we had the opportunity to come again, we would definitely do it again!

Wrapping up this article, we can sincerely recommend that you attend an Open Day. It really can change your perspective on studying abroad - especially at Hanze! Talking to current students and experiencing the atmosphere of both the university and the city gives you so much more insight when making the tough decision of choosing a university. If you’re still unsure, attending an Open Day might help you make that decision with much more confidence.

P.S. If you get the chance to attend this year’s Open Day in February, we would really recommend it, and who knows, maybe we’ll see you there to answer your questions! 😉