New student numbers rise at Dutch universities and colleges

More students started university and higher-education courses in the Netherlands this academic year, with technical subjects attracting the strongest growth. The rise in international university entrants, after three years of decline, has also put pressure on institutions to meet their own target for limiting overseas intake.

Provisional figures released on Tuesday by the university and applied-sciences sector organisations show that more than 58,000 students began university bachelor’s degrees after the summer, up about 3.5% on a year earlier. New enrolments at universities of applied sciences rose 1.9% to 109,300.

New entrants to university technical courses increased by more than 11%. At applied-sciences institutions, intake to technical master’s courses rose from about 1,100 to around 1,600 — nearly half. Teacher-training courses at those institutions also gained students, while university courses in languages and culture saw enrolments fall by almost 8%.

About 17,600 first-year university students came from abroad, an increase of around 6%. Universities said developments in the United States may be leading more international students to choose Europe.

Universities had agreed to cap overseas intake at 16,766 students, saying internationalisation should not come at the expense of Dutch students. But the universities’ umbrella organisation, UNL, welcomed the increase, saying international students often study technical subjects and that Dutch companies in those fields need skilled workers.

Universities are reducing places on English-language psychology, economics, business administration and political science courses. The lower caps are intended to keep next academic year’s intake within the agreed limit, UNL said.

The increase comes as the Dutch government proposes giving universities and universities of applied sciences more responsibility for managing international enrolment and course languages. The proposal is under consultation and has not yet changed the rules.