Students can no longer afford a second degree

For many students, obtaining a second degree at a Dutch university is no longer affordable. The Volkskrant reports that the number of students opting for a second bachelor’s or master’s degree has dropped by approximately one third since 2011.

According to the newspaper, this dramatic decrease is the result of the government’s decision to stop funding universities for students taking a second bachelor’s or master’s degree. Arguing that a single degree should be sufficient to successfully enter the labor market, the government now subsidizes only one bachelor’s degree and one master’s degree per student. Students who want to earn a second degree after graduating are faced with high tuition fees, amounting to an average €9,000 a year.

Institutional fee

Since 2011, second degree students are no longer eligible to pay the low statutory tuition fee. Instead, they have to pay the much higher institutional fee. The precise amount of the institutional fee is not set by the government but by the universities, and varies significantly from one university to another. For example, Tilburg University charges a fee of €8,300 a year for a second bachelor’s degree in Economics, while the University of Amsterdam charges an annual tuition of €7,500. Even more strikingly, a master’s degree in Medicine costs €32,000 a year at Maastricht University, while only €17,000 at Utrecht University.

“Dumb decision”

The Dutch foundation Stichting Collectieve Actie Universiteiten (SCAU), founded by concerned (former) students, strongly opposes the exorbitant tuition fees for students who wish to continue studying after they graduate. SCAU attorney Maarten Kalkwiek calls the government’s decision to cut second degree funding “dumb”, warning that many motivated students are forced to quit studying because they are simply unable to afford the steep tuition fees.

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