In spite of the world economic downturn that has hit China hard, the number of new Chinese students coming to Dutch universities has increased steadily over the past two years, bringing the total number to around 7000. For Chinese students, the most popular courses are those that can improve chances of employment, such as economics, finance, logistics and business studies, and also those subjects the Netherlands specialises in, such as agriculture, horticulture, environmental management and industrial design.

Increase in student numbers

In September 2008 about 2000 Chinese students came to the Netherlands, a 30 percent rise from the previous year. A similar increase is expected this September, bringing the number of Chinese entering the Netherlands to study to around 2600. Among these students, about 50 percent are studying at Master’s level, 30 to 35 percent at  Bachelor’s level and 15 percent are on preparation courses that will enable them to follow an academic degree once they pass. Fee-paying students still vastly outnumber exchange students.

Special visa and scholarships

Jacques van Vliet, the director of NESO Beijing, an affiliate of the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC), told RNW what makes the Netherlands an attractive destination: “The government issues a special visa enabling foreign students to stay for another year after completing their studies to look for a job.”

Lan Zhang, a former Chinese student who now works at RNW, explains: “Once you get a work contract, you can get a work visa for the duration of your contract. As soon as you get a permanent work contract, you can get a 5-year work visa, which entitles you to apply for a permanent Dutch residence permit.”