Increasing number of international students return home after graduation
An increasing number of international students return to their home country after attending university in the Netherlands according to a report by Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education.
In absolute numbers, the number of international students to remain in the Netherlands upon completion of their studies has increased, although this largely reflects the general rise in numbers of international students studying at Dutch universities. The so-called ‘stay rate’ dropped from 30 to just over 20 per cent.
According to Nuffic, the relative decline in remainers may have been caused by the economic crisis and poor job opportunities in 2008. In addition, the number of English-language courses in the Netherlands is on the rise, meaning that graduates more proficient in English are able to work abroad more easily.
Should I stay?
An important indicator used to determine the likelihood of a graduate remaining is what course they follow. Students who study education, technology and natural sciences, for example, often stay in the Netherlands as, due to staff shortages in these sectors, jobs are often easier to find.
Of UvA graduates, 29.6 per cent of international students remained in the Netherlands upon graduation. At the technical universities in Eindhoven (52.1 per cent) and Delft (41.0), the number of remainers is higher. Nation-wide, the report states that 72 per cent of international graduates have found a job five years after graduation. The report uses data collected from international students who graduated from a Dutch university or a university of applied sciences between 2006-2012.
