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Number of English-language programmes offered by Dutch higher education institutions rises to 1300

According to the NUFFIC , the number of English-language study programmes offered by Dutch institutions of higher education is set to rise this year to 1300. The Netherlands will thus retain its position as the biggest provider of English-language higher education in continental Europe. The increase in the number of courses is a response to the growing interest among students throughout the world in Dutch degrees and diplomas.

This is the situation outlined in the latest edition of Study in Holland, ‘International Degree Programmes’, the international study guide for the Netherlands, which is due to be published in the next few days. The 1300 courses cover the entire spectrum of university and higher professional education, from music and economics to geoinformation and business studies, and from social sciences to biotechnology. Many courses lead to a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Dutch higher education also offers a large number of highly specialized short courses designed for highly educated specialists.

The number of foreign students in the Netherlands has been on the increase for many years, and is currently approaching fifty thousand. The number of foreign researchers studying for a PhD at a Dutch university is also rising, particularly in science faculties. The Netherlands has over half a million students, out of a total population of sixteen million. The economy is becoming more and more dependent on knowledge, and the country is investing a great deal in creating an advanced education and research system. Recruiting talented foreign students and promoting international academic collaboration are essential elements of the country’s knowledge policy.