Karel de Grote Hogeschool
KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts has won the EDUopinions Reputation Barometer Award 2026, placing among the top 20 higher education institutions worldwide. The award is based entirely on what students and alumni say about their courses online.
More than 1,000 institutions took part. Alongside KdG, winners include McGill University, Loughborough University and the University of British Columbia.
Award at a glance
- Top 20 out of over 1.000 participating institutions
- Based on 12.676 student and alumni reviews, collected between August 2025 and August 2026
- Reviews pulled from Google, Reddit, Quora and EDUopinions
- KdG scored highest of all winners in three categories: internationalisation, teaching staff, and career prospects
- Organised by EDUopinions, a global platform where students review their higher education experience
What that actually looks like day to day
Scores are one thing, but here's what they mean in practice, based on the three categories students rated us highest on.
Internationalisation. Our English-taught programmes bring together students from all over the world, and the support around you (from admissions to everyday student life) is built with that in mind.
Teaching staff. Students describe KdG's lecturers as approachable and genuinely invested in their progress. Not just delivering lectures, but following up with feedback and guidance when you need it.
Career prospects. Programmes are built around practical, project-based work that connects directly to the job market, so what you learn in class is what employers are actually looking for.
What students say about KdG
Ioana (Romania), Multimedia & Creative Technologies "The teachers are approachable, knowledgeable, and supportive whenever needed. They genuinely want students to succeed and are always willing to provide feedback or guidance. I also appreciate the collaborative environment, working with classmates from different backgrounds helps you develop both technical and communication skills."
Karasira (Belgium), graduate of International Business Management "What I particularly valued were the modern campus facilities, the engaged teaching staff, and the focus on practical, project-based skills that prepare you directly for the professional job market."
Noah (Belgium), graduate of Applied Computer Science "I really liked how practice-oriented the programme was, with a strong focus on projects. I especially enjoyed the group projects — working with great people and learning from each other. The teaching staff were very supportive and always ready to help."
About the ranking
EDUopinions gathered online conversations and reviews from Google, Reddit, Quora and its own platform, then scored the sentiment across eight things students care about: facilities, teaching staff, location, student life, internationalisation, value for money, housing, and career prospects. The 20 institutions with the highest average score across those categories were named "Outstanding Institution".
Second international award
This isn't the first time student feedback has earned KdG international attention. In 2025, we received the Global Student Satisfaction Award for diversity from Studyportals, a platform that helps students find and compare higher education programmes worldwide. That one recognised how strongly students value KdG as an inclusive place to study.
Two different platforms, two different years, and the same message from students: they rate their time at KdG highly, and they're saying so publicly.
Find your programme
Curious what an English-taught programme at KdG actually looks like?