Minister: Erasmus University must compensate students for sky-high tuition fees

For years, Erasmus University has massively overcharged tuition fees for two RSM master programmes. Minister of Education Ingrid Van Engelshoven feels that students should be refunded. The university is deliberating.

Students of the two-year part-time master in business administration at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) pay 17,000 euros in tuition fees a year. That’s much more than the statutory 2,060 euros that government-funded programmes may charge in tuition fees. Students on the master Finance & Investment Advanced also paid too much: 8,000 euros on top of the statutory tuition fees.

Minister wants compensation

On Friday, the Education Inspectorate published a report in which it concluded that, by charging these high tuition fees, the university did not comply with the law. Van Engelshoven feels that students must be compensated.

“I call on EUR to take responsibility and compensate current and past students who have been charged higher fees than were legally permitted,” Van Engelshoven writes in a letter to the House of Representatives. “I have no way to enforce this, but I call on EUR to act proactively and not wait until a (former) student requests compensation or takes legal action.”

No compensation scheme yet

It is not yet known whether a compensation scheme will be introduced. “I can’t say anything about that at this time,” says RSM spokesperson Marianne Schouten. “We hope to be able to provide more clarity in about three weeks’ time.”

Meanwhile RSM has opened an information desk, where alumni, current and former students can come with questions about the three masters from the Education Inspectorate’s report. You can call this information desk (+31 (0)104081010) or send them an e-mail ([email protected]).