Corona: Fewer international students plan to stay in the Netherlands after studies

The surveyed students have recently graduated, or will do so soon. The students were asked to what extent they plan to continue living and working in the Netherlands after their studies. Fewer international students now want to continue living and working in the Netherlands than before the crisis, although it is a light decrease. Before the crisis, 57.3% of the group wanted to stay in the Netherlands, now 53.5%.

Especially students from outside the EU seem to increasingly refrain from a longer stay in the Netherlands after completing their studies. Before the crisis, 72% of that group indicated their intention to apply for a residence permit for a longer stay in the Netherlands; currently this is 56%. Without a residence permit it is not possible for students from outside the EU to stay and work in the Netherlands.

International students are of great value to the Dutch economy - because of the corona crisis they are more negative about their career opportunities

International students are of great value to the Dutch economy. Nevertheless, international students increasingly indicate that their career opportunities have a negative impact on a longer stay in the Netherlands. Just over a quarter of the respondents (28%) saw career opportunities as a negative influence on living and working in the Netherlands before the corona crisis, this has now risen to 44%.

"A study by the CPB shows that a student from outside the EU has a substantial net contribution to the Dutch treasury: between €68,500 and €96,300 per student"

This may also have consequences for the Dutch economy. A study by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) from 2019 shows that a student from outside the EU has a substantial net contribution to the Dutch treasury: €68,500 per student at a university of applied sciences, €96,300 per research university student. Students from within the EU also contribute more than they cost, namely €5,000 (university of applied sciences) and €16,900 (research university). International students are also in demand on the labor market.

Students in technical studies more often indicate in the survey (60%) their intention to stay in the Netherlands compared to other fields of study (52%). Technical students also more often indicate that their career opportunities have a positive influence on a longer stay in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, their perspective has changed. Before corona, 57.3% was positive about the chances for a job in the Netherlands, but only 45.8% now mentions career opportunities as a positive influence on staying longer in the Netherlands.