Exchange programs
You’d like to join an exchange program at HAN? How do you apply? What about visas, housing and insurance? Get answers to all your practical questions here.
Who is an exchange program for?
An exchange program is for students from Partner universities of HAN.
Not from one of these universities? Unfortunately you cannot apply for an exchange program.
HAN Exchange programs
Are you in search of an exchange program in the Netherlands? HAN University of Applied Sciences offers a variety of exchange programs. Find out if one of our exchange programs is a good match for you.
Apply as an exchange student
Nomination
Before applying for an exchange program, your home institution needs to nominate you. How does that work? Your international relations office will give you all the details. Make sure you are nominated before the deadline!
Application
Have you already been nominated by your home institution? You'll receive an email with a link to the online application form. Fill in and submit the form before the deadline!
Other important dates
| What? | Deadline |
| Visa application 1st semester | 15 June |
| Visa application 2nd semester | 15 November |
| Housing move-in Fall semester | 17 August 2026 |
| Housing move-out Fall semester | 25 January 2027 |
| Housing move-in Spring semester | 27 January 2027 |
| Housing move-out Spring semester | 16 July 2027 |
| Introduction | 29 & 30 January 2026 |
Visas
To enroll in an exchange program you might need an entry visa and/or a residence permit. Follow the handy guideline to find out which visas and permits you need. Also, find out which documents you need to submit and when.
Housing
Interested in joining an exchange program? Wondering where you’ll stay? The HAN Housing Office arranges rooms in Arnhem and Nijmegen for exchange students under the age of 30. You rent the room from August to January or February to July.
Campus facilities
The HAN campuses have all the facilities you need: modern lecture halls, study and multimedia centers, sports facilities, canteens and cafes. Also important: a reliable wireless network (Eduroam). And you can easily reach the campuses by train, bus or bike.
Cost of Living
To help you perpare for your exchange at HAN, read more about the cost of living in the Netherlands. And discover valuable tips and tricks to save money as a HAN student.
Arrival info
Arriving from Amsterdam Schiphol airport? From there you can take a train to Arnhem or Nijmegen. The train station is directly underneath the airport. It takes a little over 1 hour by train to Arnhem and a little over 1.5 hours to Nijmegen. Make sure you arrive in time for the International Welcome Days. This introduction program helps you get settled into student life at HAN.
Once you arrive in the Netherlands
Insurance
When coming to the Netherlands to study, you need to have good insurance. Health insurance is the most important. Are you from the EU/EEA? Your health insurance policy in your home country might cover you. Non-EU/EEA students receive health insurance through the financial guarantee. Other useful insurances are liability insurance, repatriation insurance and household contents insurance.
Working
The rules on working depend on your nationality. Are you from the EU/EEA? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. Are you from outside the EU/EEA? Then you are free to do self-employed work. If you work for an employer, you need a work permit and the hours are restricted. All international students working in the Netherlands must have Dutch public health insurance.
Public transport
The Netherlands has excellent public transport. In the Nijmegen and Arnhem area you can get almost everywhere by train or bus. In the bigger cities, you can also use the tram or metro. To pay for these services you use an OV chip card (OV-chipkaart in Dutch).
Government
When living in the Netherlands, you need a citizen service number (BSN). This number is important for all your dealings with the government. For example, to open a bank account or to visit a doctor. You get a BSN number after registering at city hall.
HAN International Intro
Get a good start to your studies during this week of orientation:
- learn about living in the Netherlands
- become familiar with the campus
- get on board with your exchange program
- make new friends!
Contact
You can contact the International Office - Incoming Exchange department by mail.
We're happy to help with all your questions!