Dutch students take long to complete their studies – TU Delft students are a little faster

Prolonged studying is far more common in the Netherlands than in many other countries. This was shown in a survey by the OECD, an economic member organisation of over 40 countries. In its lengthy report entitled Education at a Glance, the OECD compares various facets, including the length of completion time. The researchers looked at tertiary education and university bachelor students who started a four year course in 2016 or a three year course in 2017.

Of all the students in the countries researched, 43% graduated within the recommended period. In the Netherlands, that figure was 30%. Only Austria, Colombia, Chile, Peru and French-speaking Belgium scored worse. In Ireland (68%) and Great Britain (67%) students most frequently earned their bachelors within the time-frame.

Firm conclusions about the state of education worldwide cannot be drawn from this report. The data comes from 32 countries, in which Flemish and French-speaking parts of Belgium were counted separately.

Translation of the graphic above: bachelors with a diploma with or without study delays (in %) per country. What the colours mean: light green = within set time frame; ‘middle’ green = + 1 year; dark green = + 3 years. (Image: HOP, Source: OESO)

Higher than average

What is the situation at TU Delft? TU Delft itself reports that of the students who started a bachelor in 2017 (the same year as the OECD research), 31% graduated within three years, which is the prescribed time frame. This is a little higher than the average in the Netherlands.

Another 33% graduated in four years, 16% in five years, 5% in six years, and 3% in seven years. Nine percent dropped out, and 2% are still enrolled. In total, 89% of the students who started in 2017 have their bachelor’s degree.

Since then, the share of bachelors who graduated within the set time frame at TU Delft fluctuates around the 30% mark. This share was a little lower among the students who started in 2019 or 2020. They were subject to Covid pandemic lockdowns early in their courses.

Two thirds within four years

After that the share rose to 33% – this is the percentage of the bachelor students who started in 2021 and now have their degrees. On average, around two thirds of the bachelor students graduated in four years. Nothing can be said about the new students who started in 2022 or later as their recommended course period is still ongoing.

The now outgoing Cabinet had intended to levy a long-term study penalty of EUR 3,000 for students who took more than one year longer for their course. This got so much resistance that it did not go ahead. But not all the political parties have swept the subject off the table. The BBB wants students who take a lot longer to pay part of their course fees, and the VVD wants to give students who graduate within the prescribed term a payout.

HOP, Bas Belleman/Delta, Kim Bakker