Abstract
The present study attempts to ascertain whether the Netherlands places more obstacles than other countries in the path of incoming students from outside the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). A comparison is made with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Denmark. For each of the five host countries, descriptions are given of the procedures for obtaining entry and a residence permit, the problems students experience as they go through the procedures, the quality of the information explaining those procedures, and the government initiatives being taken to remove obstacles to mobility. It is fair to conclude from the study that the mobility of foreign students is hampered by problems in all five of the host countries to differing degrees. But compared with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, the Dutch government is doing relatively little to remove obstacles to mobility. The conclusion of this study is that the Netherlands places obstacles in the path of incoming foreign students, despite desiring their presence. These obstacles are equal to or greater than those experienced by foreign students in the other countries examined.
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