Jul 23, 2021

A sneak preview of lectures at HZ

You might wonder what the lectures at HZ look like? Whether the lectures are going to be long, how you need to prepare, what the level of English might be. Well, I’m in my first year and since I have followed many lectures, I will give you a sneak preview in this blog!

The duration of the lectures is 90 minutes
Some professors give a small break in the middle. Others finish earlier. Nevertheless, the lectures are so interesting that you are going to be wanting to stay for more!

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What is the English level?
Am I prepared to study everything in English? You might know, that the level required for admission should be an equivalent of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0 of a B2 level of the Cambridge course. However, English is a foreign language for most of the professors, as well. Generally the language they use is not complex and the lecturers explain specific terms. And you have also the possibility to ask the teacher if you didn’t understand it. The classes are quite small and therefore there is room for questions.

Bring a laptop or paper for taking notes
Prepare for each lecture by bringing a laptop or paper for taking notes. Professors post their presentations of the lesson online, so even if you do not take notes, make sure to listen. Attendance is not strictly checked, but it is strongly advisable since they provide you so much knowledge during the lectures.


How does the ECTS credit system work.jpgThis photo you see students working on projects together in a classroom at HZ. 

For some lectures you may have to prepare an assignment 
Such homework is uploaded online as well, and then checked by the professor or discussed in class. In addition, you may work on projects within a group. When the deadline approaches, you need to upload your project for assessment.

All the lectures fit together
The study plan is made in a such way that all the information contributes to the overall picture. The skills that you gain from each course are all within the competency required by the programme.

Grading system
The grading system in the Netherlands is from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
A grade of 5.5 is needed for passing the exam. You may also get grades for participation in class.

The ECTS credit system
By finishing a course, you get ECTS-credit points. The ECTS credit points show the amount of work you did for the subject. For completing one course, you may get 2.5 ECTS (in the Netherlands 1 credit equals 28 hours of studying). Some courses require more work, which leads to more credits that you obtain. In order to finish your first year of studies, you need at least 45 ECTS. For receiving the propaedeutic diploma, you need 60 credits accumulated at the end of your first year.

The lecturers have experience in the work field
So, don’t expect only theory! There will be a lot of practical information and other examples from the real world. These can be videos, real cases or illustrations. This is also the big difference between a research university and an university of applied sciences. 

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