Students go to court over €3,000 'fine' for slow students

The three big Dutch student organisations went to court on Monday in an effort to have government plans to charge slow students higher fees overturned.

The measure, which means students who take too long to complete their degree have to pay a €3,000 annual fine, is due to come into effect next academic year.

In particular, the organisations are angry that the fine will apply to students who built up a backlog before the plan was even mooted.

Most Dutch bachelor degrees are supposed to take three years to complete. Students who take more than four will have to pay the fine.