Some courses have a ‘numerus fixus’. They only admit a limited number of first-year students, for example because of a lack of lecturers or facilities. In the past, those programmes were allowed to hold an admittance lottery, but this was prohibited a few years ago. Students are now selected based only on motivation and suitability.

For some time, MPs have been wondering why this is the case. Would it not be much fairer and simpler if the lottery were reintroduced? Minister Van Engelshoven’s own party (D66) submitted a motion on this subject together with the CDA in February.

Unequal opportunities

The minister now intends to implement that motion. Selection is sometimes necessary, she writes in a letter to the House of Representatives. “But it is important to take into account the side effects that certain selection methods may have.”

They can lead to unequal opportunities, for example for young people with a migrant background or those from low-income families. Another possible effect is self-selection: some young people do not want to or dare not study because they think that higher education is not for them.

Diversity

In general, the accessibility of Dutch higher education is doing well, reports the minister on the basis of the new Policy Measures Monitor. Only four percent of first-year Bachelor's students were rejected; they are now taking a different course instead of their first preference. Regarding Master’s programmes, the vast majority of students (93 percent) also take their first-choice programme.

However, in Associate Degree and Bachelor's programmes with a quota, the student population is less diverse than in other courses, warns Van Engelshoven. This is why the minister wants the lottery to return. Her bill should be ready by early 2021. It will be up to the institutions themselves if and how they organise the lottery.

Group of experts

The minister believes it is important that institutions have sufficient expertise to choose their selection methods well, and that they can learn from each other. Therefore, she is going to establish a special ‘group of experts’ from January onwards. There are also plans for an online knowledge platform on accessibility and a seminar.