Fewer students started an hbo college or university degree course last September, according to finalised figures.

The number of hbo college students fell by over 4,000 to 102,400 while the number of university first years was down 2.4% at 44,300.

However, an 8.1% rise in international students helped make up the difference, the university association VSNU said. The drop in the number of Dutch students is because there are fewer pupils in pre-university school streams.

The hbo college association said the drop in first year students was due to government plans to stop student grants last year, prompting a number to delay taking a gap year and go to college early. In the end, grants are not being scrapped until the next academic year.

Technology

The figures also show an increase in the number of students taking technical studies courses, website nu.nl says.

There was a 10% increase in the number of female students starting a technical degree at college in 2014, and their number is now double 10 years ago.

At universities, the number of foreign students taking technical subjects was up almost 23%.