Barriers Not Bridges: The Breakdown of Human Rights in Dutch Higher Education for Displaced Ukrainians

By Hilde van Schaeren & dr. Olha Kulyna, Zuyd university of applied sciences, the Netherlands.

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe rightfully responded with an unprecedented level of humanitarian support. Under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, displaced Ukrainians were promised access to essential services, including education. But promises on paper mean little when national systems fail in implementation. The Netherlands—known for its progressive stance on human rights—now risks violating those very principles through systemic exclusion of Ukrainian displaced persons from higher education.

At the heart of this failure is the lack of clear, consistent, and correct information about study options for displaced Ukrainians. The fragmentation of guidance, conflicting interpretations of eligibility, and opaque procedures leave many in limbo, unsure of whether they can apply, what their rights are, or how to navigate a foreign system. This is more than a bureaucratic issue – it’s a structural barrier that undermines access to education as a fundamental human right.

One of the most critical obstacles is financial. Despite being under protected status due to war, Ukrainian students are now classified as non-EU nationals, subject to tuition fees of up to €11,300 per year. These are costs few displaced individuals can bear—especially without access to study financing or Dutch student loans (DUO). The result is exclusion, not inclusion.

This is not an abstract policy problem. It’s a lived reality. A recent study of the Pre-bachelor Programme at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, designed specifically for refugees and displaced persons, shows the transformative potential of inclusive education. Since its launch in 2017 – and its adaptation to Ukrainian needs in 2022 – the programme has helped around 160 newcomers, with half progressing to higher education or employment. It’s free, flexible, and deeply committed to social integration.

Yet, even successful initiatives like this are now under pressure. The broader system is failing. High tuition fees, lack of financial support, and the mental toll of displacement mean many capable young people are being left behind. According to programme researchers, the current landscape is “diffuse in information provision” and risks creating a lost generation.

Let us be clear: Education is not a privilege – it is a right. Blocking access based on nationality or residence status, especially for those fleeing war, is not only ethically indefensible but legally questionable under both EU and international human rights law.

For a country like the Netherlands, which prides itself on being a knowledge economy and an inclusive democracy, this is a moral and strategic failure. We must ask: can we afford to squander the talents of these young people? Can we continue to erect financial and bureaucratic barriers and still claim to uphold human rights?

The answer must be no.

It’s time for Dutch policymakers to act:

• Eliminate discriminatory tuition fees for displaced persons.
• Provide access to study financing or create alternative support funds.
• Ensure national clarity and transparency in educational guidance for refugees.
• Invest in long-term integration programmes, not stopgap solutions.

Programmes like Zuyd’s show us what is possible. But we must scale up, not shut down. For the sake of these students, for the future of inclusive societies, and for the integrity of human rights in education.