Two-year Social Science MSC to stay for now

The possible introduction of a social loan system for students will not change this, says Tiny van Boekel, head of the Education Institute. If the current basic grant is replaced by a social loan system, the Social Science MSc at Wageningen will be a good deal more expensive than the one-year programme offered at other Dutch universities. There is a chance that students may decide against the Wageningen programme for financial reasons. But Van Boekel is confident that the number of lost enrolments will not be that large. ‘The Economics Master’s programme in Wageningen is quite different to the ones in Rotterdam or Utrecht. The programme is multidisciplinary and is related to a particular field of studies. Students for whom that has added value will be prepared to commit themselves to a two-year programme.’ Van Boekel emphasizes that it is all speculation at present. ‘The social loan system is still just a vague idea at the moment. Everything depends on the conditions under which it will be introduced. The only thing that is clear right now is that students will have to borrow more money.’