Students at Dutch universities are increasingly opting for applied sciences, with technical subjects, natural sciences and agriculture the fastest growing sectors in the last five years.

A survey by the universities’ union VSNU found that 6450 students started a technical course this academic year, representing a 24% increase on the figure in 2012. Natural sciences grew by 22% to 4724, while agriculture reported a 39% leap to 1,486.

A separate study commissioned by education minister Jet Bussemaker found that school leavers are increasingly choosing to go to university rather than vocational college. University entries rose by 8% last year to 47,316, while the number of new HBO students was up by 5% to 98,809.

The number of first-year undergraduates increased in almost every sector, with the exception of language and culture, which experienced a 2.5% fall.

The total number of first-year students is at a record high of 265,000, a 12% increase over the last five years. The number of students starting masters’ degrees has risen by 13.2% over the same period to 42,217.