The Netherlands might be the new destination for Erasmus students seeking English-speaking courses

Erasmus plus is no longer available after more than 30 years of receiving and sending students to many EU and UK students who would have liked to try to experience the UK and mainland EU uni life respectively.  

In 2019, 54,619 participants, 684 UK Erasmus projects, benefited from mobility in higher education, vocational education and training, school education, adult learning and youth.

For the Erasmus Student Network the Netherlands, the end of Erasmus+ mobility with the UK has been a big disappointment. ESN the Netherlands together with other Erasmus Student Network organisations advocated for the continuation of the UK’s participation in the Erasmus+ programme, highlighting the benefits for the youth in the UK and EU.

Kostis Giannidis, President of the Erasmus Student Network the Netherlands, expressed his opinion by saying: “I had the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom myself thanks to the Erasmus+ programme and it breaks my heart to see that the UK won’t be an Erasmus destination anymore. If it wasn’t for the Erasmus+ programme I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to study at Durham University, one of the world’s top 100 universities, and experience the British culture.”

Countries such as the Netherlands might be able to fill in the gap for students wishing to study courses in English. The Netherlands is a magnet for international students with years of experience in welcoming students from abroad and with universities such as the University of Utrecht, where international students make about 10% of its students’ population, can be an alternative.

 Despite Brexit, several European and British universities believe that the long time existing cooperation between institutions in mainland Europe and the UK will lead to new bilateral agreements and scholarships.

The introduction of new alternative Turing Scheme by UK government is currently going to be available only to outgoing students, therefore, cooperation among institutions will be essential for the UK to receive students from EU who are not able to pay the new higher fees.

Moreover, since Brexit, European universities have been increasing the number of English-language courses available to students, many with a partnership with British universities. Now when the UK is no longer an EU member, the students, whose intention was to study on the British isles, are no longer entitled to pay the same fees as British students. The solution is to seek alternative options elsewhere as the international student fees are not affordable for many.

A survey conducted in July 2020 by Study.eu, among 2,505 EU nationals, shows that 49% of EU students who would have planned to study in the UK would consider studying in the Netherlands, followed by Germany with 36%.