Whereas at most universities the number of new bachelor's students is falling, that number is rising at UM. More than 5300 new students arrived, an increase of 7.4 percent compared to last year. This is according to the latest (preliminary) counts. On the other hand, there is a lower enrollment in Maastricht master's programs. This year, 3,395 master's students began their studies: more than 17 percent fewer than last year. Nationally, that number is falling less sharply: a total of 124 thousand enrollments in the master. Last year there were four thousand more. A decrease of over 3 percent.
There is not (yet) a precise explanation for the huge drop in master's enrollments at Maastricht, the UM spokesperson says. "It seems that 2020 and 2021 - the corona years - were peak years. UM peaked harder than other universities and is now falling the hardest." However, "2022 is again just above the level of 2019."
Especially the programs of the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASoS) are in demand. Total enrollment there increased by 12.4 percent. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is also showing an increase, with just under 9 percent more students than last year.
At the other faculties, enrollment is declining. The School of Business and Economics is experiencing the largest decline: over 17 percent compared to last year. At the other faculties, the decline in enrollment remains below 5 percent.
The ratio of Dutch to foreign students at UM is similar to last year: 43 percent Dutch, 57 international.
The low national enrollment rate in the bachelors is mainly because fewer vwo students started. Usually about 70 to 75 percent go directly to university. This year, the figure is 67 percent. They are probably waiting for the reinstatement of the basic scholarship. So, despite the lagging "vwo enrollments," enrollment in Maastricht bachelors is on the rise. A possible explanation for this is more foreign enrollments.