admin The allure of Dutch universities for international students remains unwavering as the 2023/2024 academic year kicks off with yet another surge in applications. According to newly released data from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), the Netherlands has experienced a notable upswing in the number of international students seeking higher education opportunities within its borders. In the first seven months of this year alone, the IND recorded an impressive 17,870 applications for residence permits from international students.
Rising Trends
Comparing the figures with the same timeframe from the preceding year, this marks a substantial increase of approximately 1,200 applications. The IND has been consistently approving around 98 percent of these permit applications. The demographic makeup of these students is dominated by individuals hailing from countries such as the United States, China, India, Turkey, and Indonesia. Excitement is brewing as nearly 14,000 of these aspiring scholars are scheduled to receive their official residence permits at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht on either September 2 or October 7.
The Post-Pandemic Effect
The IND’s officials consider these figures as part of a longstanding pattern. According to the agency, the trend of rising international student applications has been evident for years, with a yearly increase of over 1,000 applications for the past two years. This resurgence is commonly attributed to the subsiding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent relaxation of related restrictions.
Nonetheless, Dutch universities are grappling to accommodate the burgeoning student numbers, revealing a struggle to match the growing demand for higher education. Alongside the nationwide shortage of housing, the scarcity of student accommodation looms large as a concerning issue. A year ago, student unions raised the alarm about the potential homelessness facing thousands of international students, and universities urged students to consider delaying their relocation if they hadn’t secured housing prior to the academic year’s commencement.
In the midst of these challenges, Robbert Dijkgraaf, the Minister for Education, Culture and Science, has advocated for measures to curtail the influx of students from non-EU countries. However, this stance has been met with resistance from universities, who view international diversity as a pivotal aspect of academic enrichment. The aftermath of the cabinet’s dissolution in July has cast uncertainty over whether Dijkgraaf’s proposals will come to fruition, leaving the course of action regarding student numbers contingent upon the outcome of the upcoming general election slated for November.
Magazine 
