What happens when a country is too good at English? Northern Europeans are grappling with their own success at internationalising their universities
, a luxury problem. Many citizens of Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden are fluent in English and often impress tourists with their command of the language. This aptitude has also prompted controversy, however, as universities have become excellent, international institutions offering courses taught mostly—or even entirely—in English.
Language concerns have been bolstered by economic gripes. European universities are heavily or entirely state-funded. In some countries, foreign students put pressure on scarce resources like housing. In others, such as Denmark, they can even be given cash grants for living expenses. If students finish their programmes without ever learning the local language, they may scarper rather than staying and contributing to the economy.
Like the Netherlands, Denmark courted controversy in 2021. In an attempt to boost Danish at university, the government limited the number of places on courses taught only in English. This year it seems to have changed tack again, expanding the number of places on English-language masters’ programmes.
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