Will the Netherlands Restrict English-Taught Bachelor Degrees? What You Need to Know

What Happened: The Original Proposal and Reversal

In October 2024, Dutch Education Minister Eppo Bruins announced plans to enforce strict language requirements across bachelor's programs. The policy would have required that at least two-thirds of bachelor program curricula must be taught in Dutch , with a maximum of one-third in English or other languages.

To enforce this, the government proposed a test called Toets Anderstalig Onderwijs (TAO), or "Test for Foreign Language," which would have required universities to formally demonstrate that teaching a degree in English was "both necessary and of added value."

On July 3, 2025, Minister Bruins announced a reversal in a letter to Dutch parliament. The government abandoned the TAO requirement for existing programs, preserving the status of hundreds of established English-taught bachelor degrees at Dutch universities.

What Changed: The Current Rules

Existing English-Taught Programs

Existing bachelor programs taught in English are no longer subject to the TAO test. Universities retain the right to continue offering these programs without government approval or re-evaluation. Track your first-year ECTS credit progress with the Netherlands BSA Norm Tracker and model your student finance with the Netherlands DUO Planner.

New English-Taught Programs

New bachelor degree proposals still face stricter requirements. Programs taught in English must now demonstrate one of the following:

• The field relates to a sector with significant labor shortages in the Netherlands
• The program serves regions with declining population
• The program has an "inextricably international character" (a rare exemption)

Voluntary University Action

Before the government policy reversal, fourteen universities in the Netherlands agreed to voluntary measures through their association, Universities of the Netherlands (UNL):

• No new English-language bachelor programs will be developed
• Active recruitment at international education fairs is no longer permitted except in sectors with significant labor market shortages
• Universities are reviewing which English-taught courses can be converted to Dutch instruction
• Some universities have imposed enrollment quotas on English-taught programs

These voluntary restrictions remain in effect even after the government's policy reversal.

Real-World Impact: What the Numbers Show

Bachelor Enrollment Drop

The policy uncertainty and voluntary restrictions have already affected enrollment. For the 2024-25 academic year, international bachelor enrollment at Dutch universities declined by 5.2 percent , with 19,440 students enrolled. This marks the first drop in nearly a decade.

The decline was steeper at universities of applied sciences, which saw a 6.7 percent drop in international bachelor enrollments.

Regional Pattern

The drop comes primarily from European students. Applications from European Economic Area students are 4.5% lower than the previous year, and total applications compared to 2023-24 are down 11 percent.

Master's programs, by contrast, grew. Universities reported 9.9 percent growth in international master's enrollments. Related: why countries are restricting English-taught degrees.

Why the Restrictions?

The Netherlands faces two pressing challenges driving these policy changes: Browse all universities in the Netherlands.

Housing Crisis: Dutch student housing shortage stands at roughly 23,000 rooms. Policymakers argue that reducing international enrollment will ease pressure on accommodation.

Dutch Language Priority: Currently, one in three bachelor courses are taught in languages other than Dutch, and half are a mixture of Dutch and English. About 20% of bachelor students are from abroad. The government seeks to prioritize Dutch-language instruction and ensure Dutch-speaking students have access to programs in their native language.

Specific Program Examples

Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen offers a physiotherapy bachelor program with an English-taught track. The English track has faced specific enrollment restrictions as part of the voluntary university measures to limit international bachelor intake in non-shortage fields.

More broadly, eleven degree programs across Dutch institutions have implemented track-specific enrollment caps, limiting spots available in English-taught variants while keeping Dutch-taught tracks open.

What This Means for International Students

If you are applying to an English-taught bachelor program in the Netherlands:

Check Your Field: Review whether your program field falls within sectors with documented labor shortages (such as healthcare, engineering, or technology). Programs in shortage sectors are more likely to continue accepting international students and new cohorts.

Apply to Existing Programs: English-taught bachelor programs that existed before July 2025 face no new restrictions, even if they are not in shortage sectors. These programs remain open to international enrollment.

Research University Recruitment Policies: Contact universities directly to confirm whether they are still recruiting internationally for your field. Many have halted active international recruitment except in shortage sectors.

Consider Master's Programs: International enrollment growth in master's programs remains strong. Master's programs have not faced the same restrictions as bachelor programs.

Plan for Housing Early: Regardless of program type, start searching for accommodation between January and March for enrollment in August. Housing competition is intense, and placement decisions are often made months in advance.

Timeline of Policy Events

Key Sources

• Dutch Government Walks Back Controversial Measures to Constrain English-Taught Degrees – ICEF Monitor
• Dutch Government Set to Restrict English-Taught Degrees – ICEF Monitor
• Government to Limit Number of English-Language Courses at Dutch Universities – iamexpat
• International Student Numbers at Dutch Universities Drop for First Time in Years – iamexpat
• Dutch Universities Agree to Curb Internationalization – The PIE News
• Dutch Government Rolls Back Curb on English-Taught Degrees – The PIE News
• The Netherlands: Foreign Enrolment Slowdown Driven by Declining Undergraduate Numbers – ICEF Monitor
• Dutch to Slash English University Courses, Curb Foreign Students – DutchNews.nl
• Dutch Student Housing Shortage Stable at 23,000 Despite More Students Living Out of Home – NL Times
• Living in the Netherlands as an International Student (2025) – Inforens
• Eleven Degree Programmes in the Netherlands Limit Intake to English-Taught Tracks – U-Krant
• Physiotherapy – Hanze University of Applied Sciences