Dutch parliament debates cap on international students

Concerns about homelessness and overcrowding prompt proposal to limit number of arrivals

Dutch primary and secondary education minister Dennis Wiersma has said that his ministry will aim to produce a timeline for the potential introduction of a student cap that would limit the number of international arrivals at Dutch universities.

The cap would apply to oversubscribed degree programmes—including any master’s or PhD programmes where more students are attending than can reasonably be accommodated, Wiersma said. He did not specify the exact details of the cap but said it would be an “instrument” to help universities reduce enrolment of international students in cases where they cannot cope with the numbers.