The number of first years starting a bachelor’s degree course at a Dutch university or HBO college has fallen again, with the biggest drop reported among students from other EU countries.

In total, the number of students starting a university degree was down by 3% in the current academic year, with a 3.6% fall in the number of foreign students, according to university figures. Among European students, the decline was 4.4%.

The Dutch universities association UNL said the reduction in Dutch student numbers mirrors a drop in the number of school pupils taking and passing their final exams. More young people have also opted for a gap year, UNL said.

International student numbers have declined for the third year in a row because universities no longer actively recruit abroad, as well as other measures introduced by educational institutions to try to reduce the inflow.

And many universities also warn potential students about the housing crisis, which also has an impact, the UNL said.

The education ministry has warned that student numbers are likely to fall by 10% in the coming years, and this is “reality”, UNL chairman Caspar van den Berg said.

The Netherlands risks undermining its science, innovation and economy by not having a proper strategy to attract the brightest students, he said. “So it is good that the new coalition has included a strategy to encourage talent in its plans.”

At HBO colleges the decline in student numbers was marginal, but there was a sharp rise – 7.6% – in the number of students starting a degree at a primary school teacher training college (pabo). Fewer students are opting to become secondary school teachers, however, with numbers down 8.6%.

There was also a sharp drop in the number of college students taking technical degrees, despite the shortage of skilled technicians in the jobs market and this, college association chairman Maurice Limmen said, will require a concerted government effort to reverse.