International student numbers fall for first time in 20 years

The number of international students at Dutch universities and colleges has fallen for the first time in 20 years, according to new figures from international education body Nuffic.

Some 129,764 students from abroad are enrolled on a full degree course this academic year, 133 fewer than last year. The fall ends two decades of uninterrupted growth in which annual rises of 10% to 20% were normal.

The reversal had been widely predicted because the number of internationals starting bachelor degrees has been falling for several years.

“The continuing decline in bachelor enrolments makes it likely that the international student population will shrink further in the coming years, including at master’s level,” Nuffic researcher Jonatan Weenink told broadcaster NOS.

Germans and Chinese staying away

The drop is driven by German and Chinese students. Germany remains the biggest source country, but the number of German students fell by 1,680, the fifth annual decline since the 2021 peak of 24,555.

The number of Chinese students fell 28%, or 988 students, the sharpest drop since 2006. Nuffic said it is unclear why both groups are staying away.

Students from India (up 17% at master’s level) and Spain (up 28%) bucked the trend, as did technical subjects: the number of internationals on a technical degree rose 11%, driven largely by TU Eindhoven.

Amsterdam remains the biggest city for international students, but their number fell there too, by 1.7% – also a first in 20 years.

Shrinking sector

The share of internationals in the student body actually rose slightly, to 16.8%, because the number of Dutch students is falling faster. Almost three-quarters of international students come from the European Economic Area.

The decline follows years of political pressure to curb the influx, which led universities to cut English-language bachelor places and stop recruiting at fairs abroad.

It comes just as the new cabinet changes course: legislation to restrict English-language teaching is being watered down, and education minister Letschert told MPs last month that the existing English-language course offering will remain intact.

This year’s international students come from 171 countries. The figures do not include exchange students, such as those in the Netherlands on the Erasmus+ programme.