Study delay is often caused by health issues or part-time work

Only one in three students obtains a bachelor’s degree within three years. According to research conducted by ResearchNed on behalf of student organisation ISO, health issues and part-time jobs are the main reasons why many students take longer to complete their studies.

Of the more than 7,500 students surveyed, 22 percent cited health issues as the reason for their delay, while 19 percent indicated that a part-time job played a role. Lack of motivation was also a common reason, while reasons such as “enjoying student life for too long” or “choosing the wrong study programme” were mentioned less frequently.

Sometimes students consciously choose to delay their studies, for example when they become active in a student association. Other students apparently made a conscious decision to pursue a difficult degree programme and accepted that this would cause a delay. This applies to 20 percent of the delayed students who described their studies as “too difficult”.

‘Stop with the pseudo-solutions’

Student organisation ISO feels vindicated by the results. According to chair Sarah Evink, the study confirms that students often have good reasons for taking longer to complete their studies. So it’s not just because students drink too much beer. ‘If politicians think study delays are such a big problem, they should ask students how they can help them. Let’s stop with pseudo-solutions such as sending students away after their first year because they haven’t earned enough credits.’

Politicians want students to complete their studies on time. For example, programmes are allowed to expel first-year students who do not earn enough credits, and the Schoof cabinet considered imposing a fine on students who are more than a year behind schedule, a proposal that was withdrawn after protests.

The ISO wants study advice to no longer be “binding”, so that students can decide for themselves whether to continue with their programme or switch. In addition, the ISO advocates a higher basic grant, so that students spend less time on part-time jobs. (HOP, BB)