Students with foreign background in higher education doubled in twelve years

Over a period of twelve years, the number of students with a foreign background in higher education has doubled to nearly 125 thousand in the study year 2006/’07. More than one fifth of students in higher education now have a foreign background.

Predominantly women with a non-western foreign background

The number of female students with a non-western background in higher education has risen substantially. In the study year 2006/’07, a total of 38 thousand were registered, more than three times as many as in 1995/’96.

Higher education students with a foreign background

Management and personnel management most popular

Most students with a non-western background (14 percent) opted for management or personnel management, which also include international organisations and trade relations and personnel and labour management. Law and social services are also quite popular disciplines, particularly among female students.

The top ten of most popular studies among students with a non-western background resembles the list of most popular studies of native Dutch students. Teacher in primary education is however the most popular choice among native Dutch students (8 percent).

Ten most popular studies among students in higher education with a non-western background, 2006/’07

More graduates

In 2005/’06, there were nearly 5 thousand first-time female BA graduates with a non-western background in higher education, three and a half times as many as in 1995/’96. The number of graduates among male students with a non-western foreign background and male and female students with a western background also increased, albeit to a lesser degree.

Among the native Dutch student population, only the number of female graduates increased in the period 1995–2005.

BA graduates with a foreign background in higher education

Theo van Miltenburg