How can I tell whether students get enough hands-on experience?

Look beyond the university name and check the curriculum and syllabi for your intended faculty or department. See whether laboratory work, practical classes, design or production, exercises, projects with companies or local communities, and internships are offered, in which years, and as required or elective activities. Also check how much access students have to equipment, what supervision is provided, and what students actually produce or report. Open days and conversations with current students can help you judge the gap between the published plan and the experience.