Dutch Higher Education Institutions Reduce Offerings of English Courses to Deter International Student Enrollment

As the Netherlands continues to attract a high number of international students, there have been concerns about the impact on the Dutch language and the availability of courses for local students. In response to these concerns, 14 universities in the Netherlands have committed to increasing the Dutch language proficiency of both students and employees.

The universities do not plan to develop any new English-language programs and are even considering switching some entirely to Dutch. This move comes as a response to the challenges posed by the influx of international students. While the universities still value internationalization, they acknowledge the need to address the social and political questions raised by the current model.

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Jouke de Vries, chairman of the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), emphasized the importance of this commitment, noting that they should have paid more attention to using Dutch instead of English in the past. The focus on Dutch language skills is an effort to address the housing shortage for students and the impact on the accessibility of courses for local students.

In recent years, there has been a slight decrease in the number of international students coming to the Netherlands. Despite this, the universities still see the need for additional measures to manage the influx. One proposed measure is to implement a maximum cap on the number of students for English-language programs, which is considered crucial for managing the influx.

Statistics from CBS Netherlands show that while the number of students from other European countries has risen, the overall influx of international students has been decreasing. However, there has been an increase in the number of students coming from Asia, particularly China and India.

In terms of courses, both Dutch and international students show a preference for programs in law, administration, trade, business services, design, art, and languages. Among international students, programs in journalism and behavioural and social sciences are highly sought after.

Overall, the commitment to increasing Dutch language proficiency and managing the influx of international students reflects the universities’ dedication to addressing the challenges and ensuring a positive academic experience for all students in the Netherlands.