The Netherlands is proceeding with its efforts to lower the number of foreign students attending its institutions by restricting the amount of courses provided in English. According to Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Eppo Bruins, universities should offer at least two-thirds of their bachelor’s degree programs in Dutch, with more strict requirements for those that offer foreign language degrees.
With 128,000 registered for the 2023–2024 academic year, overseas students will make up 16% of the student body in the Netherlands. This project attempts to control this flood. The growth rate decreased to 5% from 7% the year before, with students from Poland reporting the biggest increase.
First introduced by Robbert Dijkgraaf, the former president of the Boston Bruins, the Balanced Internationalization Act provides universities greater authority over student admission in English-taught programs beginning in 2025. This involves establishing distinct enrollment caps for courses taught in English, as opposed to the existing setup that applies caps to both Dutch and English courses equally.
In order to decrease the number of international students, recruitment activities will be stepped down and universities will stop participating in international fairs. Financial incentives will also be restricted, with fewer grants available, which will make studying in the Netherlands less alluring to international students. Higher tuition costs are also expected to discourage international students from.
These steps are intended to address issues related to capacity, such as inadequate accommodation and packed lecture halls. The Dutch government justifies these policies by pointing to pressure on student housing, packed lecture halls, and student stress. Universities Netherlands (UNL) backs these efforts, realizing the advantages of internationalization such as a vibrant academic atmosphere and financial gain—while simultaneously noting drawbacks like a lack of affordable accommodation and a decline in the accessibility of education. The goal of implementation, which is scheduled for the 2025–2026 academic year, is to minimize negative effects while maintaining the positive effects of internationalization.
