During the 2022-23 academic year, a substantial cohort of nearly 123,000 international students was enrolled in Dutch higher education institutions, comprising a 15 percent of the entire student body, as reported by the Dutch statistics office, Statistics Netherlands.
The Netherlands has experienced a substantial increase in its international student population over the past decade, with the 2022-23 academic year reaching a historic peak.
During the academic year, Dutch higher education institutions saw a significant influx of international students, with nearly 123,000 students from abroad, constituting 15 percent of the total student body, as reported by Statistics Netherlands.
Focus on science education
One notable trend is the strong preference of international students for pursuing science-related education in the Netherlands.
In the 2022-23 academic year, over two-thirds of international students chose universities as their educational destination, with a particular emphasis on bachelor’s degree programs, accounting for 43 percent of their academic pursuits.
Among international students, a considerable number opted for computer science and mathematics and natural sciences for their bachelor’s degrees, with 3,630 and 3,260 students, respectively. In the realm of master’s degrees, mathematics and natural sciences remained a popular choice, attracting 4,660 international students, while 2,740 students opted for computer science.
Fields such as journalism, behavior and society, as well as law, administration, trade and business services, continued to be in high demand among international students, with 22,350 students enrolling in bachelor’s degree programs in these areas.
Interestingly, healthcare, welfare and education programs garnered less interest among international students.
Statistics Netherlands’ report reveals that both international and Dutch students at the university level frequently selected programs in journalism, behavior and society, as well as law, administration, trade and business services. International students showed a slightly stronger preference for these fields compared to their Dutch counterparts but displayed less inclination toward healthcare and education studies.
Origins of international students
The majority of international students in the Netherlands hail from Europe, with Germany contributing the largest number, accounting for 93,410 students in Dutch universities during the 2022-23 academic year. Asia followed with 21,130 students, while the United States contributed 5,260 students, according to Statistics Netherlands. African and Oceanian nations sent 2,230 and 160 students, respectively.
A recent report from Nuffic, the Dutch organization for internationalization in education, identified the most sought-after universities in the Netherlands among international students. Based on enrollment figures, the University of Amsterdam, University of Maastricht, University of Groningen, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Leiden University, University of Tilburg, The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Utrecht University emerged as the top choices.
Amsterdam: Preferred study hub
Amsterdam remains a favored destination for international students, with a significant majority of 8,660 students choosing the city as their study hub for the 2022-23 academic year.
The report indicates that 66.2 percent of these students originate from countries within the European Economic Area (EEA), while the remaining 33.8 percent come from non-EEA nations.
