Netherlands Sees Slower Growth in International Student Numbers

The Netherlands is no longer seeing a surge in the number of international students. This academic year, 52,000 international students registered for programs in the country, marking an increase of just 0.4% compared to last year. According to Nuffic, an organization focused on internationalization in education, this is the smallest growth since the 2007-08 academic year.

Similarly, the overall number of international students in the Netherlands grew by just 3%, bringing the total to 131,000 students. Again, this marks the slowest growth in ten years.

Dutch Bachelor’s programs are seeing a dip in new enrollments, with universities of applied sciences reporting a 7% decrease and universities experiencing a 5% drop. While master’s programs are still attracting more students for now, Nuffic warns that a decline could be on the horizon.

However, there’s one bright spot. Technology-focused programs in cities like Eindhoven and Delft are thriving! These programs have seen over a 20% boost in international student registrations, which could be a much-needed win for the Dutch tech sector currently battling staff shortages.

Germany remains the top country of origin for the number of international students, though the number has dipped below 20,000 for the first time since 2008. Following Germany are Italy (8,600+ students), Romania (almost 8,000), Spain (6,500+), and China (6,100+).

Will these trends hold, or is the Netherlands entering a new phase in higher education dynamics? Only time will tell.