Dutch Universities See Slight Dip in International Student Enrollment

In a recent trend, Dutch universities have experienced a slight dip in the number of first-year international students enrolling in their Bachelor's programs. The total figure stands at 18,594 international students, a decrease of 220 from the previous year, making up 31% of the total new intake. This decline has been attributed in part to the cessation of international student recruitment and warnings about the scarcity of student housing.

A Broader Context

The issue of the anglicisation of higher education and the significant number of foreign students has been a topic of concern in the Dutch House of Representatives. This has led to legislative efforts aimed at addressing the matter. The decline in international enrolment extends to Master's programs as well, particularly amongst those who travel to the Netherlands specifically for their Master's degree. Here, there has been a reduction of 1,700 fewer students than the previous year.

Continued International Interest

However, it is worth noting that the number of international students who have completed their Bachelor's in the Netherlands and are continuing to a Master's program remains significant. This trend has resulted in an overall increase of 550 international first-year Master's students.

Variation Across Universities

Nationally, the decrease in first-year students in Bachelor's programs amounts to 800. However, the impact varies across universities. For instance, Maastricht University reported a 10% increase in enrolment, while Tilburg University observed an 8% decrease. The total number of students starting Master's programs rose by 2% to 52,500, with international students making up 33% of this intake. In this context, Tilburg University recorded the highest relative growth in Master's programs at 12%, whereas the University of Groningen observed a 7% reduction in first-year Master's students.