No Room, But Still Studying: HU Launches ‘Beyond Campus’ Bachelor’s Route

Date:
Op afstand leren

Utrecht University of Applied Sciences introduces Creative Business – Beyond Campus, an international bachelor track combining online classes with four yearly bootcamps, offering flexibility and structure for today’s students.

Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU) is introducing a new way to earn a Creative Business degree – offering structure, quality and community, without the need to live in Utrecht or commute daily.

Finding affordable student housing is tougher than ever. Many students are forced to stay with their parents or travel hours each day, while also working multiple jobs to cover living costs. HU’s solution is Creative Business – Beyond Campus: a full, on-campus-quality bachelor’s programme that can be followed from anywhere, with a fixed timetable and four in-person events per year.

From September 2026, students will attend weekly scheduled online classes and meet in Utrecht — the Netherlands’ third-largest and top-ranked student city — four times a year for an intensive three-day bootcamp on campus, including evening activities. This approach allows students to stay connected to campus life and the city’s student culture, while maintaining a predictable study rhythm wherever they live.

“Students today are building brands on TikTok, freelancing from home or even working from abroad. The traditional full-time campus model no longer fits that reality,” says Richard Versmissen, programme manager at HU and PhD in media studies. “Beyond Campus is designed for their lives: location-independent, but with a fixed timetable, clear expectations and personal guidance.”

Built for the Multi-Student

Beyond Campus is aimed at the “multi-student”: creative, strategic, digitally skilled and socially engaged. Many combine their studies with work, entrepreneurship, student board positions, caregiving or travel. The housing shortage drives students to remain at home or move to cheaper cities, pushing up travel times.

Research shows that 94% of students deliberately choose work that connects to their studies or personal growth, and more than a third run their own business. With its structured, year-long timetable and only four intensive on-campus sessions annually, Beyond Campus makes it possible to combine a meaningful side job with a full-time degree.

Preparing Creative Strategists for Tomorrow

Creative Business – Beyond Campus trains students to become creative strategists who combine creativity with business insight, technology and social impact. Graduates enter a variety of sectors, from media and marketing to sustainable start-ups, global companies and social organisations. During their studies, students work on real industry assignments, develop AI literacy and build a professional network that spans borders.

“This is not an online light version,” stresses Versmissen. “It is a full-scale bachelor’s degree, fully preparing you for tomorrow’s creative economy – wherever you live.”

UtrechtInc has been recognized in the Financial Times “Europe’s Leading Startup Hubs 2026” ranking.

UtrechtInc has been recognized in the Financial Times “Europe’s Leading Startup Hubs 2026” ranking.

While UtrechtInc is proud of this recognition, the real stars of the story are the entrepreneurs, researchers, and students who walk through its doors every day.

Hardloopsymposium

Are you participating in the Utrecht Marathon or are you a keen runner? Register for the Running Symposium on March 19th.

On Sunday, May 31st, Utrecht Science Park will once again be the setting for the Utrecht Marathon. Thousands of runners will line up at the starting line to achieve a fantastic feat: running a quarter, half, or full marathon! To help you prepare optimally, the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, in collaboration with partners Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, and Olympos Sports Centre, is organizing a running symposium where you’ll be informed and inspired to get the most out of your running performance.

utrechtinc validation program

Applications Now Open for UtrechtInc Validation Programmes

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn research or an idea into a startup? The validation programmes offered by UtrechtInc may provide the first step. Applications are now open.

Utrecht Science Park researchers receive prestigious Cancer Grand Challenge grants

Several research groups, including researchers from UMC Utrecht, the Princess Máxima Center, and the Hubrecht Institute, have been selected for a prestigious Cancer Grand Challenge (CGC) grant. Cancer Grand Challenges was co-founded in 2020 by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States. The initiative supports international, multidisciplinary research teams focusing on major challenges in cancer research.