National Interests vs. Global Education: The Netherlands’ Shift in Higher Education Policy
In April 2025, the Dutch government implemented substantial budget cuts to higher education, totaling €497 million, with €186 million specifically targeting international student policies. These cuts were accompanied by measures aimed at limiting the influx of non-Dutch students and promoting Dutch-language instruction. Education Minister Eppo Bruins proposed that no more than one-third of undergraduate teaching be conducted in a foreign language and introduced mechanisms to restrict and evaluate English-language degree programs. Additionally, universities will be required to cap the number of international students and may face reduced per-student funding if limits are not met.
Institutions with strong international profiles, such as Maastricht University, have expressed concerns over declining enrollments and the financial sustainability of their programs. A counterproposal, which allowed universities to manage foreign-language course reductions autonomously, was rejected by the government. As a result of the cuts, departments such as Earth Sciences at the Free University of Amsterdam have already been shut down, and psychology programs for international students are set to be discontinued at several universities by 2027.
The government justifies the reforms on economic and societal grounds, arguing that many international students leave the country after graduation and do not contribute to Dutch society. However, recent data contradict this rationale, indicating a net fiscal benefit of €96,000 per non-EU student and a 31% retention rate five years post-graduation.