Most employers say there are significant advantages to hiring international graduates, with nearly eight in ten citing increased diversity, innovation and specialist expertise, according to new research from international education body Nuffic.

But hiring foreign nationals who have graduated from Dutch universities also comes with challenges, the survey of 382 firms showed.

Companies say administrative burdens, particularly around work permits for non‑EU employees, remain a major hurdle. “The procedure for a work permit is complicated, expensive and time‑consuming,” said one employer.

Employers also say universities can do more to prepare international students for the Dutch labour market. These measures, said lead researcher Elli Thravalou, could include a dedicated university contact person and offering Dutch‑language courses.

While about a quarter of international students stay in the Netherlands after graduation, earlier research has focused on their views, showing many face practical, financial and language hurdles. Around one‑third report discrimination while studying or when applying for jobs.

“Even with staff shortages, managers sometimes hesitate before hiring an international graduate,” Thravalou said.

Language barriers are the main drawback, with about three in ten employers reporting recurrent misunderstandings. International graduates may also miss out on social interactions at work due to limited Dutch, Thravalou said.

At the same time, their diplomas already meet Dutch standards and they are used to Dutch society and culture. Overall, employers felt that downsides such as language hurdles and paperwork are outweighed by the advantages.

• Read the report in English

Amsterdam’s VU university already offers a basic Dutch on‑campus course, which is gaining in popularity. But VU policy adviser Hayke Everwijn warns against having overly high expectations.

“International students must juggle learning a new language with all the other challenges of living abroad,” she said. “Many easily switch to English, which doesn’t help in fully mastering Dutch.”

Fewer foreign students

The number of new international students starting a university bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands fell by 5.2% this academic year, according to Nuffic figures. The number of foreign students enrolling in a degree course at an hbo college fell even further, by 6.7%, the Nuffic figures show.

The right-wing Dutch government wants to reduce the number of foreign students coming to the Netherlands and is planning several steps to achieve this, including cutting the number of English-language courses.

Almost three-quarters of international students come from the EU or EER, down by around one percentage point on a year ago. Most come from Germany – although their number was the lowest in 10 years – followed by Italy, Romania and Spain.

China leads the group of non-EER students, followed by India and Turkey.