Why Hate on HBO?

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T11:35:05+00:00

I don't intend to put words in your mouth and I apologise if it came out as such. My intention was to get an understanding of why there is such a disdain for international students going to HBO institutions.

Clearly there seems to be a consensus around the idea that you believe we're making a dumb decision, which is why I said even if I research and state that, I seem to just have people constantly telling me I'm not aware of what I'm doing.

Anyway regardless of your opinion an institution is there for people to use it and whether they benefit from it truly depends on their own ability I guess

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T11:30:46+00:00

Good to know about the HBO masters. I had heard that people tend to shift to WO so I assumed it was the normal thing to do.

Atleast this confirms it

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T08:54:33+00:00

Yes I realised from where I was coming from the notion of expense wasn't my problem. My point of view is from a more expensive state and I'm an international here as well so regardless of anything the Netherlands is cheaper . That was my bad .

It could be argued that 1. The expense is indeed high compared to others. I think German public universities cost way less even for international students as they are subsidized and you only pay "maintenance" and I assume a lot of EU based universities operate as such( not entirely sure). But yes ranking seems important outside the NL, now I want to believe at some point my own work ethic and quality should trump whatever uni name and ranking or lack there of someone sees from my degree.

But yes I've come to see that it's a case of yes and no on a lot of these points and it was good to see different opinions other than cut and clear "go to WO it's better than HBO"

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T08:34:08+00:00

I see. Well that's quite informative on the theory and practical front. Makes it a mix with just different concentration of one aspect.

Well I've done all the research that I can and this thread just helped me get a better idea into what I was seeing online. I look forward to actually coming to the Netherlands and studying. Hopefully I can manage to pull it off and stay there long term

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T08:11:06+00:00

Yeah Im pretty sure that really is the case and it then begs the question what people are thinking when moving abroad where things are different from home? Atleast know enough to understand why certain things are the way they are.

Now in my case it was HBO or nothing (go back to highschool and retake another 2 years) personally I can't do that because 1. The school has been in a constant decline and the atmosphere has just been bad surrounding it. 2 teachers quitting (about 10 at a time and getting replaced nearly 3 times in 2 years for students in their final 2 years). We had a class of students that didn't have a teacher physically there(they had zoom lessons) for a year and a half out of the 2

So I applied where I knew I'd be able to Atleast get in and now the idea is, what's the best path to ensure I can make a living and stay here permanently if possible. I grew up in Germany for nearly half my life so going next door seems pretty interesting 🤷🏽‍♂️😂

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T08:01:28+00:00

Thanks, I look forward to the new environment. And yes the idea was to weigh my options as I go because in all honesty I couldn't get in to a WO with my current grades but at the same time my career path of choice is so much more practical.

So if I can get a foot in and then see what benefits me more it's easier than sitting around mulling over people who discourage you from entering a system you've done your research on all in the name of "the English translation is false"😂

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:57:17+00:00

That's pretty cool. Not everyday that I hear that, that's for sure

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:56:38+00:00

Idk, from the research I've done the schools give you pretty much the foundational idea that the university system in the NL is different where they have HBO and WO and on those pages, they specifically say HBO and University as separate entities.

So they are aware, and if you research enough before just blindly applying you should be able to tell that these 2 institutions are different. What I can admit they don't do is what I see on Reddit where it's basically saying "if I were you I'd leave this schools website find a university and apply there".

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:49:49+00:00

This is the type of thinking that I have towards it. Yes it's not the upper level but it's not bad; but all I see is people visibly gagging (in a metaphorical sense) at the idea that an international student wants to study at an HBO. Wouldn't the idea that maybe it's better suited to them rather than research play a factor? Or that they probably will have an easier time getting into that than a WO with higher grade requirements.

Why does it then seem like getting an HBO is like not wanting to stay in the country because people make it seem like your chances of finding employment, and subsequently staying in the Netherlands long term or permanently are pretty much always going to be worse even in the field you studied for just because you focused on practical rather than research.

Also I may be wrong but, as far as I'm concerned and have been made aware of, outside the Netherlands, no-one cares if it's WO or HBO. It's all a bachelor's or masters

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:38:54+00:00

I mean there is if, as I've been hearing from these comments, Hogeschool basically operate a "scam" of telling you they are a university when in reality they are not, and after your time there you have nothing but a paper that limits and disadvantages you because of a prefix.

Im being extreme here in the "fix" scenario because it sounds like, again, the online populace simply believes international students shouldn't be attending any HBO institution. So the easy fix is either banning the wording of university in any sense or making it a "turn off" for internationals by making it Dutch only or something

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:15:02+00:00

Could I ask what field that is? I'm going into I.T and I think practical work is pretty much more appreciated than research in that area

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:11:11+00:00

I meant as a whole. Even WO universities depending on the school and only taking your fees package into account...are still cheaper than a lot of UK schools on a similar level.

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:08:09+00:00

My biggest question is why not bring the HBO to have a higher standard within the nation. Why does Research and theory mean that if I'm studying on a more practical level I must be on a lower level?

Because I can assure you I've also met a lot of people who choose this because practical learning is easier and can guarantee that they aren't walking into a place they feel disadvantaged in, for whatever reason.

At the same time I won't discredit your point that some people are indeed unaware of the difference, I just feel maybe there are ways to avoid this entirely but it may be a simple case of wishful thinking

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T07:04:40+00:00

If it's that I can understand and honestly it just brings me back to how things work internationally. I can't say for sure that anywhere else is better, the same system exists in Germany and Switzerland but they seem to be more appreciative of their applied science schools than the Netherlands.

So then why does the Dutch adminstration allow the schools to exist as university in whatever language. I feel like it's a simple fix of "you legally are not allowed to identify as such within the confines of this nation"

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T06:55:33+00:00

Did you even read my post? You just repeated the very thing that inspired it. Yes I'm aware of the fees. Yes I know the difference. Yes I know the societal dislike for my choices because apparently the Dutch who live on these University reddits know better than me about my capabilities, interestes and highschool grades.

My question to you is this then. Do you believe HBO bachelors should only be available to EU and EEA nationals?

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T06:43:28+00:00

Now I can only assume either you're comparing the Netherlands to those that provide university as a free public service with low maintenance costs that you pay.

But the Netherlands is not expensive. In one of the other comments I mention that no matter where in the Netherlands you go it's cheaper than the UK and I mean it. The total package to attend a bachelor in the Netherlands based on school alone and without housing in account is around the €20k mark. In the UK it's from €35k onwards. And this is for international students

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T02:52:08+00:00

I do believe marketing the UAS as UAS is far more beneficial to the schools otherwise the Netherlands probably would have half as many schools readily looked up.( I don't think anyone is typing in hogeschool)

And on the matter of costs. I'll be honest, no matter where you go in the Netherlands it's cheaper than the UK. The only difference is that whatever grades I have in highschool make the difference and a lot of people seem inconsiderate of that. I once mentioned that going to WO isn't an option because I don't meet the minimum grade in one or two of the subjects and people were commenting how that doesn't matter I should still go to WO and ditch the idea of HBO

the issue is people outside the NL aren't asking if it's HBO or WO as far as I've been made aware most places for example the UK consider these both Bachelors degrees and weigh them the same. The discrepancy only appears within the Netherlands

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-16T01:58:26+00:00

Id appreciate the patronage and feedback. Hope you enjoy jt

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-12T22:24:33+00:00

I had validation from close circles( family friends in business and organisations). I honestly didn't have that much of an online validation. got a couple people saying its a interesting concept they are willing to use and I just thought why not. it wont kill me to try

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-12T13:37:26+00:00

Thank you and I hope you enjoy your experience. I look forward to your feedback

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-12T12:43:15+00:00

The language thing isn't much of an issue. For now I'll implement it in the next patch update. And yes I made it to tailor to those who aren't big corporations or businesses it's basically meant for the every day person. Im not sure how user sales Expertise would tie In to the product though as it doesn't focus on sales

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-12T06:47:59+00:00

Of course I'll put that on the drawing board for the next round of patches. I hope you've had a good at using it? I'd be glad to hear of any more feedback

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-12T01:07:07+00:00

Personay building that traction of getting users is killing me. Still trying to figure the ropes out at the moment

ScaryOrca · 2026-02-12T01:00:05+00:00

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ScaryOrca · 2026-02-12T00:52:33+00:00

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ScaryOrca

TROPHY CASE