A year abroad with an Erasmus scholarship is very popular among Dutch students. However, when it comes to full-degree programs, the opposite is true. Only 1.4 percent of Dutch bachelor's students take the leap, compared to the European average of 3.5 percent.

Nuffic, the Dutch organization for internationalization in education, surveyed Dutch students about their reluctance to pursue a full study program abroad. Nearly half of the 378 respondents said they did not want to be far from family and friends.

Financial concerns also play a significant role. Many students worry that studying abroad would be too expensive. They want better information about available programs, costs, financial aid opportunities, and how to prepare for studying abroad. Nuffic concludes that improved guidance is essential.

TU/e

At TU/e, many students also never seriously considered studying abroad. For Nienke van Abkoude, a bachelor’s student in Built Environment, the main reason was convenience. “You spend your entire high school years here, so continuing at a Dutch university is the logical next step. Plus, everything is well-organized here, and the education system is good. It’s simply easier than figuring out how things work elsewhere.” For her, a full degree abroad was never an option. “I’d be open to spending a semester abroad, but not my entire study program.”

For her fellow student Kyana Wijnands, the distance from family and friends was the deciding factor. “You’re quite young when you start university. I didn’t like the idea of being so far away that I would only see my parents at Christmas and during summer vacation.” At the same time, she acknowledges that some students are willing to take the plunge. “A friend of mine went to the U.S. for a year on a hockey scholarship, but she liked it so much that she decided to stay there for her entire degree.”

Out of balance

While Dutch students are reluctant to study abroad, the Netherlands itself sees a significant influx of international students. In the 2023-2024 academic year, more than sixteen percent of all students in higher education came from abroad. Minister Bruins aims to restore balance by curbing international enrollment while encouraging more Dutch students to study abroad.