Last year there was a lot of fuss about the higher education changing the language of instruction to English more and more, as well as the enormous growth in the number of international students. Especially at the universities certain programs taught in English are about to bulge at the seams. Moreover, it became more difficult to provide decent accommodation for all internationals.

Emergency solution

Something has to happen, the institutes agreed, but what? Refusing students based on their nationality is not possible, because that’s discrimination. The introduction of intake limits was at most an emergency solution, especially in sectors with shortages on the labor market. Moreover, Dutch students would also be refused that way.

Hence their proposal to offer programs in Dutch and English versions with the option of introducing an intake limit only for the latter. This would make higher education still accessible to Dutch students, even in the case of a flood of foreign students.

To be in control

Minister Van Engelshoven thought that was a good idea. She wrote to the House of Representatives in June that she would work out the ideas into a bill which is finished now. With a view to the accessibility of higher education, Van Engelshoven does require to be in control of the intake limits. Unlike now, institutes must properly substantiate their intake restriction request, even if it’s only meant for the non-Dutch variant. If not, the minister can refuse the application. In any case, the institutes have to better substantiate the choice for a different language of instruction.

Higher tuition fees

The minister also allows institutes to significantly increase the often already high tuition fees for students from outside the European Economic Area, as TU Delft will do next academic year. With this instrument they can also reduce the number of non-EEA students. In addition, she thinks it is realistic to ask international prospective students a contribution of a maximum of 100 euros for their credential evaluation and to have them pay for a possible language test.

The minister's draft bill can be responded to until the 28th of January. Then it will be sent to the House of Representatives.