A pilot scheme by Delft University of Technology to make their aerospace engineering training course more inclusive by reserving 30% of places for women has been shot down by the education inspectorate for being illegal.

Inspectors told press agency ANP they understand the need for more equality but that the law as it stands does not allow for preferential treatment based on gender.

TU Delft announced it would make 30% of the 440 bachelor places available to female students to boost their number earlier this year, but has now retracted the scheme.

Some 80% of the aerospace engineering students are men and earlier attempts to encourage women to take part have not worked, department director Joris Melkert said.

“We have already taken measures to boost the number of women, in campaigns using role models and by using more inclusive language in the communication and selection process.

“The government has also taken measures to increase the number of female technology students but it isn’t enough. And as female students are doing really well here we thought an additional measure would help,” Melkert said.

The university has said it will contact the education ministry to discuss measures to promote equal opportunity in higher education.

The selection for next batch of students for aerospace engineering will now go ahead as usual, based on exam grades. Some 3,000 students apply every year for a place.