With this decision, the UT is anticipating the Internationalisation in Balance Act, a bill that outgoing Minister Dijkgraaf sent to the House of Representatives on Monday. The relatively large UT Psychology programme will have a Dutch-language variant and will therefore be bilingual. From September 2025, the Dutch-language psychology variant should start. There is a joint numerus fixus of 600 students, which is divided between the Dutch-language and English-language track.
The decision follows an earlier elaboration of plans by the UNL association of Dutch universities. A total of 35 bachelor's programmes would have a Dutch-language variant. For the time being, psychology is the first and only UT programme to become bilingual.
Under fire
Remarkably, this field of study has been under political fire for the past year and a half. 'Eighty percent of psychology students who study at the UT or in Maastricht come from Germany, ninety percent go back after their studies. They receive a grant of 5000 euros per year and 1500 euros in public transport. Where is the benefit for the Netherlands as a society and our economy?', said Pieter Omtzigt during a committee debate on internationalisation. Such sentiments led to dismay among UT students and alumni. In addition, BMS faculty board members Tanya Bondarouk and Ciano Aydin criticized the lack of nuance in the discussion.
Legislation
The ‘Internationalisation in Balance Act’ was sent to the House of Representatives yesterday. This bill makes it possible to make a distinction between the English-language and the Dutch-language track. You can then limit the influx in the English-language track, while the Dutch-language track remains open. The UT is not opting for that at the moment, for practical and administrative reasons.
At the moment, it is still a proposed decision of the Executive Board. The University Council has the right to advise on this decision.
