Fields of study

Summary

Universities of applied sciences (UAS)

• With 16,368 international degree students enrolled, Economics is the largest UAS field of study in absolute terms, followed by Engineering (8,788), and Language & Culture (7,384). Education and Behavioural & Social sciences switched places compared to the previous academic year. In 2024–25, Education had slightly more international degree students (1,659) than Behavioural & Social sciences (1,630).
• In relative terms, Language and Culture is the most international UAS field of study in 2024-25, with more than 1 in 3 students coming from abroad (37%). Education (2.8%) and Behavioural & Social sciences (3.1%) are the least international UAS fields of study.
• The most popular UAS study programme among international degree students is International Business (6.317) at bachelor’s level and Music (961) at master’s level.

Research universities (RU)

• Economics (19,619) continued to be the top choice for international degree students at RU in 2024–25, with Behavioural & Social sciences (17,353) and Engineering (15,154) ranking second and third, respectively.
• Interdisciplinary programmes again have the highest proportion of international students in 2024-25, at 54.2%. Economics is also a highly international field in relative terms, with more than 1 in 3 students coming from abroad (36.8%).
• The study programme Psychology attracts the most international degree students both at bachelor’s level (6.110) and master’s level (2.034).

For more data on university degree students coming from abroad to study in the Netherlands in 2024-25 and an analysis of current trends and developments, see our report Incoming degree mobility in Dutch higher education 2024-25 in Dutch or in English.

For an overview of English-taught study programmes offered by Dutch institutions visit www.studyfinder.nl.

For further information, please send an email to analytics@nuffic.nl