As university tuition fees in the UK rise to £9,000 this year,
British students are increasingly looking abroad to do their
degree. Many favour the Netherlands, where courses taught in
English can be found for a fraction of the price at home - and
among Dutch study destinations Maastricht University has
established itself as a market leader for more globally-mobile
Brits.
Applications from UK doubled in Maastricht
Applications from UK students for places on courses starting in
September have more than doubled compared with the same time last
year, thanks toMaastricht's high profile in the British media.
But are British students moving to The Netherlands merely to
limit the size of their debt, or are there more complex factors at
play in their decision-making?
One consideration that has grown in importance is how likely a
degree will lead into a graduate-level job. Youth unemployment in
theUKis the highest it has been for nearly two decades, with almost
a quarter of 16-24 year olds now out of work. Data from the UK's
Office for National Statistics suggests that a third of last year's
graduates were in non-graduate jobs, while a fifth remained
unemployed.
Depressed British job market
Against this backdrop of a depressed job market and rising
student debts, young people are increasingly aware that they need
to stand out from their peers to launch their careers. Thinking
globally and studying abroad at a top European university such as
Maastricht is one way to do this.
British business interests would certainly benefit from this
changing mind-set. Recent studies have shown that three-quarters of
UK business leaders are concerned that young people from emerging
economies will be better prepared for the global job market than
their British counterparts unless UK teenagers assume a more
international outlook.
Across the canal for an international
career
Moving abroad is undoubtedly a huge step for many young people,
but the word is spreading. Young Britons are beginning to recognise
that studying in The Netherlands will change their perspective on
the world and improve their career prospects.
George Neale, 16, from Luton in Bedfordshire, England, who is
planning to read European law at Maastricht, typifies the outlook
of many prospective UK students.
He said: "For the European law course, Maastricht University
sells itself as far as I'm concerned. It would enable me to work in
any European country. In the UK, law courses focus on British law,
so I could only really work here in future. It seems sensible to
put myself in a position where I can work wherever the economy is
good. This is an opportunity for me to spend time abroad while I'm
doing that."
Jeanine Gregersen, director of Marketing &
Communications at Maastricht University