Why do Dutch students go abroad?

The diploma mobility statistics for foreign students in the Netherlands show that 10.1% of students at research universities and 6.5% of students at universities of applied sciences are from abroad.

This triggered NEWS to investigate the motives of Dutch students going abroad for a full study programme (bachelor, master or doctorate). Which difficulties do they encounter in the information services? How do they fund their studies and what do they expect a study abroad will do for their future careers?
 

Life experience and challenge

Dutch students mainly look for study programmes across the border to get more life experience, enhance their career opportunities and to give themselves a real challenge.

Apparently, previous study abroad experience leaves students wanting more. Dutch students who have already done an internship or exchange abroad, are more likely to pursue further studies outside the Netherlands. Nevertheless, the majority say they will return to the Netherlands after graduation.

The students are not necessarily worried by the tuition fees and costs of living, both of which are usually higher abroad, although they often depend on grants from the Dutch government and private organisations. Particularly for undergraduates and PhD students there is a shortage of scholarships.
 

Room for improvement

According to the NEWS study, the information services on practical matters such as health insurance, municipal administration and social security at their higher education institution could be improved. Students indicated they received relatively little help from the International Offices at their institution.

Nuffic offers this kind of information for students through the WilWeg website and also has information materials for higher education institutions. Recently, Nuffic started the Gap Year project which looks at the information services for students wanting to do a gap year abroad before starting a study programme.

You can read the full study from NEWS here (in Dutch).

More information about WilWeg is available at www.wilweg.nl (in Dutch). For more information about the Gap Year project (also in Dutch) you can check the Nuffic website or contact Margje Geurts, project manager at Nuffic.