Between 700 and 800 Brazilian nationals are studying at Dutch universities, propelling the South American country into the top five of non-EU student bodies.

A special government programme and word-of-mouth have been crucial in boosting the popularity of Dutch universities, Remon Boef of the higher education body Nuffic, told the Volkskrant. Nuffic has a special office in Brazil.

Brazil has also set up a billion euro programme to encourage students and researchers to gain experience in other countries.

‘Brazilian students can live well here and make friends,’ Jan Schut, international student coordinator at Twente University, told the paper. ‘It is different with students from China and Russia.’