Fewer international students; More students registered for teacher training

Fewer people from abroad started studying in the Netherlands last summer. The inflow of international students fell by 6 percent at universities and by 4.5 percent at universities of applied sciences. “Disturbing,” said the umbrella organization Universities of the Netherlands when publishing the final registration figures. The organization says it is concerned “about the continued existence of programs and the loss of international talent.”

The picture is in line with the preliminary figures that were released in November. Universities of the Netherlands fears that the number of international students will fall even faster in the coming years. The government wants to limit their numbers, for example, by allowing fewer English-language programs. “As a result, many programs are in danger of disappearing and the labor market is missing out on highly qualified talent,” warned the umbrella organization for universities.

Universities of applied sciences saw many more applications for teacher training programs. Approximately 12,7000 people started a study in that field last summer. That is almost 6 percent more than a year earlier and the highest number since 2020. The increase is largest in teacher training programs for primary education. The number of registrations there increased by almost 9 percent.

Education State Secretary Mariële Paul is pleased with this. “Education is desperate for good and motivated teachers in the classroom. I, therefore, think it is fantastic news that the number of new students in teacher training colleges has increased. It is now important that this growth continues.”

In total, over 108,000 people registered for a higher professional education course this academic year. That is a fraction more than a year earlier. The Association of Universities of Applied Sciences spoke of the first increase “after a period of consistently declining inflow since 2020.”

The Utrecht University of Applied Sciences attracted the most new students, namely 12,428. That is 1 percent less than a year earlier. The inflow at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences increased by 5 percent to 12,369. The Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and Fontys both also got more than 10,000 new students.