International students on the Dutch labor market: working and studying
More and more international students in the Netherlands are combining their studies with a job. For many of them, this is necessary to be able to pay for the rising costs of living and tuition fees. An example of this is 31-year-old Sheovan, who came to the Netherlands to study and now has a job where he earns 2,750 euros per month.
Sheovan says that combining a study program with a full-time work week is very challenging. He works long days and has to manage his time carefully to successfully perform both tasks. For many international students, this work ethic is the only way to continue living in the Netherlands and earn their degree.
The Dutch labor market benefits from this motivated group of employees. In sectors such as hospitality, logistics, and customer service, international students are often indispensable. At the same time, this trend raises questions about the balance between study and work, as the pressure on students can increase significantly due to the high workload.
Despite the difficult combination of work and study, many international students remain positive about their future in the Netherlands. They see the hard work as an investment in their careers. Meanwhile, the government and educational institutions continue to discuss how they can better support these students during their stay in our country.