Self-management at EUR: Bachelor's Degree in Psychology fully in Dutch and possibilities for tightening numeri fixi

EUR expects to offer the bachelor's degree in psychology only in Dutch for new students from the academic year 2027-2028 at the earliest. For current students of the English-language programme in psychology, this decision has no impact. 

Annually, between 200 and 250 international students enroll in this programme. The possibilities of setting a numerus fixus for the English-language bachelor's in economics and lowering the fixus for international business administration are also being considered.

Annelien Bredenoord, President of the Executive Board: 'This way, we as universities are responding to the political pressure to reduce our international intake. Self-management gives us more certainty than the political "solution" of a language test for all international programs. The outcome of that would be too uncertain and more damaging to EUR.' Bredenoord emphasizes that the implementation of this plan is not taken lightly. 'We are doing this carefully and in consultation with the faculties and the participation council, but this naturally has a significant impact on us as a university.'

First effects noticeable in 2027/2028 

EUR expects the first effects to be noticeable from the academic year 2027/2028. This gives the university time to look at the future of EUR in terms of educational portfolio and investments and to anticipate changes. 

Bredenoord: 'It challenges us as a university to think about robust, future-proof programs that address the major societal challenges of the Netherlands and Europe. But also to broaden our financial base, for example by exploring new avenues and partnerships. This makes us less vulnerable to government funding and the political climate at that time.'

All Dutch universities implement measures 

A key principle of the universities' proposal is that universities have collectively looked at how best to achieve a lower international intake. They propose converting several large English-language or bilingual bachelor's programs to Dutch. The main measure is that universities have agreed that all bachelor's programs in psychology in the Randstad will be exclusively in Dutch. A self-management scenario without this specific intervention was unthinkable given the explicit statements by both the minister and the House of Representatives about the English-language bachelor's in psychology. According to OCW, the high intake of these international students is disproportionate to the relatively low chance that these students will stay in the Netherlands after their studies. In the border region, psychology remains bilingual. 

An important condition for the implementation of these measures is that the Foreign Language Education Test (TAO) for the existing educational offer is removed from the WIB. The universities see this as unnecessary to achieve the desired result and as an increase in the already significant administrative burden. The universities are still in discussions with the ministry about this.

Education and Science Benefit from an International Environment 

Since its inception and in the spirit of its namesake, EUR has been aware of the importance of being international. Annelien Bredenoord: 'We still stand firmly behind the added value of our international classroom. Although the law forces us to reduce international intake, it does not detract from how welcome our international students and staff should feel at our university.'

What's next?

The Dutch universities have discussed the proposals with the Minister of OCW. The conditions for their implementation still need to be worked out, and the participation councils of the universities must also discuss the proposals. Additionally, consultations are being held with the relevant faculties on how best to manage the impact. Annelien Bredenoord: 'The self-management proposal has been discussed in substance by the Executive Boards of the universities. The Deans of the faculties are kept informed of the progress. They have previously made proposals to us about what would be possible within the faculties under different scenarios. We are doing this together. And I also see an awareness that it provides space for new programs focused on the big questions of today.'