Background
Higher tuition fees for non-Europeans
Universities and universities of applied sciences should control the influx of students from abroad by demanding higher tuition fees for non-Europeans or by limiting the number of available places.
Thursday 31 May 2018

These measures are the advice of the institutions of higher education. Although internationalising our higher education seems like a good idea, the advance of the “international classroom” poses a number of problems too, including the poor English spoken by lecturers and students, packed lecture halls and a growing shortage of accommodation.

In response, the Association of Universities and the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences published an internationalisation agenda in which they present solutions to some of these issues. The most striking part is that they want to limit the ever-increasing influx of international students.

But how? The agenda has four suggestions. Higher tuition fees for non-Europeans, who already pay institution-specific tuition fees. “Where preferable, institutions should be able to demand a fee from non-EEA students that is higher than break-even.” In addition, students might be asked to pay a deposit when they apply for a place, because many apply to several universities but don’t actually enrol. Where preferable, the number of students from outside Europe should be limited.

Moreover, educational institutions should be able to introduce enrolment restrictions for English-language tracks. However, these measures would mean amending the law. At present, universities and universities of applied sciences impose set enrolment restrictions, but only on programmes, not on tracks; most English versions of the programmes are not separate programmes but tracks.

The English-language Bachelor Psychology programme in Leiden, for instance, is not a separate Bachelor programme but a track on the Dutch Psychology programme. Likewise, the International Relations and Organisations programme, which is also given in English, is part of the Political Sciences Programme.

This situation is causing problems because universities have no way of limiting the influx from abroad without reducing the number of places for Dutch students too. A prime example is the Political Sciences programme, which announced enrolment restrictions for the entire programme earlier this year, which are mainly directed at limiting the huge influx into the English-language track.

The educational institutions also advise using “diversity” as a selection criterion, to ensure that the international classroom remains balanced. “Institutions should have the option of aiming for a balanced mix of students in the international classroom” the agenda claims.

“Accordingly, it should be possible to include additional admission requirements in the Education and Examination Regulations for more Bachelor programmes; ones that contribute to diversity, which increases the quality of the international classroom, should be used as a selection criterion.” AK