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Universities in the Netherlands are taking their own measures to make internationalisation more balanced. They will focus on the intake of international students in the bachelor phase and want to give the Dutch language a stronger role in study programmes. In this way, they want to protect the added value of internationalisation, while adjusting to current bottlenecks. And at the same time offer a workable alternative to what they see as the unworkable language test (Toets Anderstalig Onderwijs, TAO) from the current bill Internationalisation in Balance Act (WIB). What does this mean for Utrecht University?

International students and staff are essential to the inspiring climate of Utrecht University, and thus remain welcome. 

At the same time, we see that the growth of the student intake, including international students, also leads to bottlenecks, such as accessibility, preferred language and accommodation. That is why the universities are tackling these bottlenecks together.

Economics and Business Economics in Dutch and English

For ÀÖÓãºǫ́, this means that the bachelor's programme in at the Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) will start with a Dutch-language programme in 2027. We also want to retain an English-language bachelor (with a numerus fixus). This is to maintain the ‘international classroom’, in which students learn from each other's perspectives and from (international) scientists and lecturers. And because of the desire of Dutch students to study in English at our university.

The Executive Board, board of the faculty of Law, Economics, and Governance and the student and employee representation remain in close contact about the developments and how to shape this further.

Essential enrichment

For other ÀÖÓãºǫ́ courses, UNL's plan has no effect. ÀÖÓãºǫ́ undergraduate education is in principle in Dutch - as a result, the number of foreign-language undergraduate courses at our university is very limited. Of the 59 undergraduate courses ÀÖÓãºǫ́ currently offers, 11 are entirely in English and five are partially foreign-language. These include some of the language programmes (such as Spanish and English) and University College Utrecht.

At ÀÖÓãºǫ́, about one in seven students and one in five staff members have an international background. In terms of students, that is about 15% of the population, compared to a national average of 25% at Dutch universities. The university is strongly anchored in the Netherlands and Utrecht. At the same time, we highly value international students and staff because they are an indispensable enrichment for the academic climate. It benefits the quality of education when students come into contact with different perspectives in an ‘international classroom’. ÀÖÓãºǫ́ believes it is important that upon graduation, students have international and intercultural skills needed to function in a strongly globalising labour market.