Number of international students at Dutch universities soars

The number of international students at Dutch universities has reached record levels.

More than 112,000 people who usually reside outside the Netherlands came to the country to study in the 2016-17 academic year, according to Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education.

The figure includes students from other European countries and those studying at Dutch universities as part of the Erasmus+ programme.

The report, Update: Incoming student mobility in Dutch higher education 2016-17, finds that the Dutch market share of mobile scholars worldwide has increased by 15 per cent over the past decade.

About 81,000 students from outside the Netherlands enrolled in full degree programmes in 2016-17. Germany sent the highest number of students to the Netherlands, with 22,000 travelling to the country to study.

This was followed by China, originally home to 4,300 of those who enrolled, and Italy, originally home to 3,300, the report says.

In recent years there has been a marked increase in students coming from India, Indonesia and South Korea, the report adds.

Freddy Weima, director of Nuffic, said: "International students contribute to an international classroom at Dutch higher education institutions, which benefits all students. With the knowledge, experience and networks that they bring from their own country, they enhance the quality of education in the Netherlands."

holly.else@timeshighereducation.com