At the Bachelor's level
Behavioural and social sciences most popular studies among internationals
International students participating in the information market on Welcome Week. Photo: DUB archive
Previously published figures revealed that last academic year, over 122,000 international students took a degree programme at an institute of higher education in the Netherlands. This represents 15 percent of the total student population, an increase of eight thousand enrolments compared to the previous year. It also means that the rise in international student numbers has been halved. Statistics Netherlands (Dutch acronym: CBS), the national statistics office, has compiled data on what these students come to the Netherlands to study.
University Bachelor’s programmes
More than two-thirds of these students came to study at a university. The largest group (43 percent) signed up for a Bachelor’s degree. CBS breaks the figures down into several subject categories. The most popular category was what the statisticians called ‘journalism, behavioural and social sciences’. The category ‘law, administration, commerce and business services’ also attracted large numbers of students from abroad.
International students were much less likely than their Dutch peers to pursue a degree in ‘education or healthcare and welfare’. Many international Master’s students opted for a programme in the category ‘engineering, industry and construction’.
Studying the arts
International students who enrolled at a university of applied sciences were much more likely to take a programme in the category ‘design, art, languages and history’ compared to Dutch students. Education and ‘healthcare and welfare’ attracted far fewer numbers. A popular category among both international and Dutch Bachelor’s students was ‘law, administration, commerce and business services’.
Greater control
Dutch government policy is now no longer geared towards encouraging the influx of international students. Outgoing education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf wants to exert greater control over international student numbers. He advocates a more centralised approach and is keen for students from abroad to learn at least some Dutch.