If the plan comes to fruition, the programmes will be taught in English starting 1 September 2018. The six bachelor’s programmes concerned are Biology, Forest and Nature Management, Soil, Water and Atmosphere, International Land and Water Management, Environmental Sciences and Food Technology.
The discussion about bachelor’s being taught in English has been going on for some time. Arthur Mol told Resource it would allow Wageningen University to attract more international students.According to the Rector Magnificus, the resulting international classroom is also a good thing for Dutch students. At the same time, Mol understands that people wonder whether the English language will not work as a deterrent for Dutch students.
All master’s programmes offered at Wageningen University & Research are taught solely in English. In the bachelor’s programmes, Dutch is still the official language of instruction, but this becomes English in the third year. A survey performed by Resource during AID revealed 90 percent of the first-year bachelor’s students do not experience the English language as an impediment.