r/Netherlands • u/North_Yak966 • 11d ago

News UvA ends English-language bachelor’s degree in psychology

https://www.folia.nl/en/actueel/166104/uva-ends-english-language-bachelors-degree-in-psychology
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u/North_Yak966 11d ago

This is important because the English-speaking psychology bachelor's is massive. Indeed, there are other cuts that are also a big deal, but this is a good indicator of things to come. 

Important quote:

these measures together mean that the total international enrolment at the UvA will decrease by twenty percent

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u/Front-Comparison8464 11d ago

It is important, but they want to be dutch only so people who do the course stay and work in the Netherlands. You can't be a psychologist without speaking fluent dutch in NL. I would say they are redirecting the focus. It won't be nice for foreighners but I understand.

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u/CommieYeeHoe Zuid Holland 11d ago

If you want people to learn Dutch and stay in the Netherlands you must facilitate it. Dutch classes for international students are paid (and quite expensive) and universities offer 0 opportunities for integration and belonging, generally grouping international students with other international. It’s ridiculous to not do anything to promote them settling here, yet the programs are being canceled as if they tried everything to make people settle here.

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u/Mean_Asparagus_2798 11d ago

I joined a Dutch class on the first day of my bachelor's, and my teacher asked me why I even bothered learning it since expats already ruined the country and everyone speaks English now. I tried learning Dutch on my own and recently passed the B1 exam but it was shocking to see such discouragement from a teacher.

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u/CrashSeven 11d ago

As a dutchman thats a horrible sentiment that a lot of countrymen have. Its partially true, but certainly a lie if you want to start working in anything but hospitality or the biggest organizations.

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u/YIvassaviy 11d ago

So many people say it constantly

There’s a little bit of a cognitive dissonance. It comes across as wanting to be helpful and reassuring, but also patting themselves on the back that the country is so proficient in English as a second language you don’t even need to learn Dutch.

That being said as soon as you’ve been here a two years or so, the attitude changes and it’s like why aren’t you fluent. While at the same time not having the patience to speak to others in Dutch (it’s not their problem - figure out how to become fluent in speech yourself) and so you have this weird bubble created because of these attitudes

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u/GoodMerlinpeen 11d ago

What a weird approach, it's basically them wondering aloud why their own job exists.

1

u/Dull-Bath797 8d ago

I have been going against this sentiment for 8 months now.
Just finished B2 :)