Howest University of Applied Sciences

Howest University of Applied Sciences is a university of applied sciences in West Flanders, Belgium, with campuses in Kortrijk, Bruges and Oudenaarde. Founded in 1995 and marking its 30th anniversary in 2025, it presents itself as an atypical, creative and enterprising institution whose values are serve, empower and care.

The institution enrols around 11,200 students, among them 1,412 international students from 104 countries, and awards 2,231 degrees a year. Its portfolio takes in bachelor’s and advanced bachelor’s programmes, associate degrees, two European master’s programmes and 22 postgraduate certificates; 93% of students declare themselves satisfied with their programme.

Design and digital media carry much of Howest’s reputation. The Bachelor of Industrial Product Design runs studios and prototyping workshops in the Industrial Design Center, working with wood, metal and textiles, 3D printing and laser cutting, with an elective track in Interior Product Design. Digital Arts and Entertainment covers games and film majors from visual effects to 3D animation, next to Digital Design and Development and Applied Architecture.

Howest favours a flat, agile organisation where education, research and services reinforce one another. Research concentrates on digital transformation, health and an inclusive society, and the university belongs to the RUN-EU European Universities alliance.