International First-Years at Dutch Research Universities Rebound to About 17,600, Exceeding the Sector's Own Cap
Figures released on November 10 by Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) show that international first-year enrolments at Dutch research universities rebounded by about 6% in the 2026-27 academic year to roughly 17,600, after three consecutive years of decline, exceeding the self-regulation cap of 16,766 a year that the 13 research universities formalised in an administrative agreement with the Minister of Education. Total first-year enrolment rose 3.5%, driven mainly by technical programmes.
Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported about 800 more starters from the European Economic Area and about 300 more from outside it than a year earlier, with a notable rise from Asia. UNL said institutions will tighten numerus fixus limits on English-taught programmes such as psychology, economics and business administration.
UNL and the universities of applied sciences association attributed the shift diplomatically to developments in the United States, which NOS summarised as a Trump effect: U.S. policies deterring students who would otherwise have chosen America. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) gave no causal conclusion for a rise in U.S. citizens applying for Dutch visas. Total enrolment at research universities still fell to about 330,000, roughly 2,000 fewer than last year.
Source: Universities of the Netherlands
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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