New enrolments

Dutch higher education institutions received 51,796 new enrolments from international students for the academic year 2024-25. Germany remains the most common country of origin for newly enrolled international students. It is followed by Italy (2nd), China (3rd), Romania (4th), and Spain (5th).

Summary

In 2024-25, 51,796 new international students enrolled in higher education in the Netherlands - just 202 more than the academic year before. This slight increase of 0.4% is the smallest percentage growth since first measurement in 2007–08.
In universities of applied sciences (UAS), the total number of new international enrolments dropped in 2024-25 compared to the previous academic year (-531, ‑4.1%). This decline was mainly due to fewer UAS bachelor’s level enrolments (-723, -6,7%), while there was an increase at the UAS master’s level (+192, +8.8%).
In the 2024–25, there was a small increase in new international enrolments at research universities (RU) compared to the previous academic year (+733, +1.9%). While new enrolments increased at RU master’s level (+1,793, +9.9%), they decreased at RU bachelor’s level (-1,060, -5.2%).
With a 25% increase in new enrolments compared to the previous academic year (+335), Turkey showed the largest increase in new enrolments among the top 15 countries of origin based on total numbers of international degree students (see Countries of origin).

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