Enrollment down at Dutch universities; Big drop in international students

Fewer people have enrolled for a study program at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences. The intake of both Dutch and international students at universities is 3.5 percent lower this academic year. The number of new students at universities of applied sciences has fallen by 1.8 percent.

The number of European students enrolled at a Dutch university of applied sciences has decreased by 7.6 percent. Last year, this decrease was 8 percent. “The efforts of universities of applied science to limit the international influx are working,” said the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences.

At universities, the number of European bachelor’s enrollments shrank by almost 5 percent. Universities and universities of applied sciences are opposing government plans to further restrict the influx of international students.

The universities currently have a total of approximately 332,000 students. They expect this to drop to around 304,000 in ten years.

The umbrella organizations for higher education institutions in the Netherlands are concerned by the figures. The Universities of the Netherlands, for example, are worried about “the continued existence of small programs and the loss of talent.” They are asking the government for stable funding following the current government’s budget cuts.

Technical and ICT programs at universities of applied sciences saw a 7.5 percent drop in the number of new students. According to the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, this is due to fewer students enrolling from senior general secondary education (HAVO) and pre-university education (VWO). New students also chose a technical profile less often.

The Association of Universities of Applied Sciences called the declining enrollment in technical programs worrisome. “The Netherlands faces major challenges in construction, energy, defense, and digitization,” said chairman Maurice Limmen. Universities of applied sciences, therefore, need more opportunities to provide further training and retraining, he said.

Teacher training programs at universities of applied sciences are popular. The number of new students there increased by 1.9 percent. A year earlier, the number of new enrollments there increased by 7 percent. Healthcare programs at universities of applied sciences also attract many new students.