Wittenborg University students not affected by Longterm Study Fine: Possibly more than 2000 students (5%) to drop out of their studies at InHolland University this year
Funded education sets a 5 year term for Dutch and EU students: more than 2000 students (5%) to drop out of their studies at InHolland University this year, according to their Chairman of the Board, Doekle Terpstra, on Monday. According to Terpstra, many students who have studied more than 5 years in their Bachelor phase will be charged higher fees of just under 5000 euro per year, and due to the fee increase will drop out.
The so-called “Longterm Study Fine” (Langstudeerdersboete) for Dutch and EU students is aimed at bringing down the costs of higher education in the Netherlands. WUAS students are not affected by this regulation, as they already pay non-funded fees of 6300 euro per year.
Dutch funded Universities have, for many years, been confronted with high drop-out rates in the first year of a chosen programme, with some degrees such as International Business suffering a dropout rate of more than 50% in year 1. Non funded schools such as WUAS have a much lower dropout rate from Bachelor programmes (around 25%) and the Dutch government has seen a need to charge all Dutch and EU Bachelor students full fees after 5 years of study. Non-EU students all pay full fees at all institutions in the Netherlands, and are therefore not affected.
According to Maastricht University “The Dutch government has adopted the bill on langstudeerders, i.e. students who take too long to complete their studies. As of 1 September 2012, these students will be required to pay increased tuition fees. Therefore, if you are taking a three-year bachelor's and you do not complete your degree within that time period, then an extra fourth year (whole or part of) will be charged at the usual tuition fee rate. However, if registering for a fifth year then the higher tuition fee rate will apply. For 2012/13, the government has set this increased fee at €4834. Likewise, if you are taking a one-year Master Degree and you do not complete your degree within that time period, then an extra second year (whole or part of) will be charged at the usual tuition fee rate. However, if registering for a third year then the higher tuition fee rate (€4.834) will apply.
WUP 12/08/2012
Sources:
Maastricht University: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/