Student union calls for support for Iranian students in the Netherlands

The US war against Iran is also affecting Iranian students in the Netherlands. Not only do they worry about their friends and family back home, they also face practical problems here.

The Dutch Student Union (LSVb) has sent a letter to all higher education institutions in the Netherlands, asking for support for these students, particularly in the form of financial aid.

Not entitled to student financing

As non-EU citizens, Iranian students are not allowed to work for more than 16 hours a week, nor are they entitled to student financing. As a result, those who can’t access their Iranian bank accounts are often unable to make ends meet. According to the LSVb, many are worried about paying their bills and rent.

The union also highlights the polarising discourse surrounding Iran and the war, which it says increases the mental pressure on Iranian students. “This has a major impact on their wellbeing and ability to graduate.”

“We therefore call on you to show solidarity with these students, and to help them”, the letter reads. It calls on higher education institutions to give these students some leeway, including by being flexible when it comes to academic progress requirements and allowing more resits.

A number of institutions are already doing this, the union acknowledges, “and we are very happy about that, but at the same time this is not happening everywhere, which has major consequences for the students.”

In January, TU Delft announced that Iranian students could make use of services such as academic advisers and student psychologists, and that financial measures had been put in place to support them. In early March, the Executive Board reiterated that message.

‘Their hands are tied at the moment’

“We cannot imagine the stress these students must be under”, LSVb president Maaike Krom wrote in a press release about the letter. “Their hands are tied at the moment, and exams are the last thing on their minds.”

1,200 Iranian students

According to the latest figures, there are 1,200 Iranian students in Dutch higher education. More than half of them are enrolled at a university of applied sciences.

“We understand the difficult situation these students may find themselves in”, the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences said in response to the letter. “We are aware of the problem. Universities of applied sciences are examining how they can reasonably help these students.”

Universities of the Netherlands had a similar response. “Universities are paying attention to the fate and wellbeing of Iranian students”, said a spokesperson. “We are happy to engage with the LSVb about the signals they are receiving.”

HOP, Bas Belleman

Translation: Taalcentrum-VU