DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

23 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Senate backs plan to allow universities to cap English courses

May 22, 2024
Photo: Depositphotos.com

The Dutch government’s hopes of limiting foreign student numbers have been boosted after senators voted to allow universities to set a cap on English-language courses.

The measure was included in the education ministry’s budget, which was passed by the upper house on Tuesday, having already been approved by MPs. The animal rights party PvdD was the only group in the Senate that voted against.

Universities and colleges will be able to specify an upper limit for the number of students registered for undergraduate courses taught in English, separately from the Dutch-language version.

Because the measure was included in the ministry’s budget senators were unable to vote on it separately.

Outgoing education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf submitted a draft law to parliament last year designed to limit numbers of international students by promoting Dutch as the primary language of tuition.

Dijkgraaf’s plans include giving universities the option of setting a ceiling on the number of students from outside Europe and an emergency brake to cap numbers if courses threaten to become oversubscribed.

But he also said it was important to ensure the Netherlands was still able to attract high-quality foreign students and tutors.

“The Netherlands needs the benefits of expertise,” he said. “We cannot do without international talent, whether it is for science, the labour market or the quality of courses themselves.”

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Education Politics Universities
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
Many "new" homes on Funda were already on the market for months
MPs urge cabinet to join banned Pride march in Budapest
Foundations and the future: what you need to think about
Highway to hell: confessions of a would-be Ring reveller
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now