Maastricht University is recruiting foreign students again

Dutch universities had agreed with the previous Minister of Education, Robbert Dijkgraaf, to be cautious when recruiting foreign students. Last year, universities even promised to stop recruiting students abroad altogether, except for studies related to sectors with a labour shortage.

But many things have changed since then. The additional funds for research Dijkgraaf had promised disappeared from the budget after the elections and other investments stipulated in the agreement have also been cut or reduced.

To Maastricht University, this is reason enough to change course. Maastricht is the most international university in the Netherlands, with over 60 percent of its student body from abroad. A spokesperson for the university says it is being hit hard by the declining influx of foreign students, hence its decision to recruit across the border again. 

No substantial scholarships
The university is looking for Belgian and German students to join its Bachelor's programmes in Brain Science and Regenerative Medicine and Technology. The institution is also looking for German and Belgian students to join its new Bachelor's programme in Sustainable Bioscience, which is yet to be launched. Maastricht University told Observant that they need to recruit abroad to ensure these programmes have a "healthy" number of students.

The recruitment is mainly done online, but Maastricht University is also visiting schools in neighbouring countries. The university says it still intends to avoid large education fairs, where universities from all over the world promote their programmes.

Agreement broken
The current Minister of Education is breaking its part of the deal by cutting back on the starter and incentive grants, says the president of Maastricht University, Rianne Letschert. "As far as we are concerned, the agreement no longer exists."

The umbrella association of Dutch Universities (UNL) has reacted to the news by saying that the agreements made between universities and the government still apply. However, the spokesperson for UNL understands Maastricht's decision. "We are in a different context compared to last year, with declining student numbers and substantial budget cuts."