Can Students Be Nudged Towards Making More Conscious Decisions on Higher Education and Borrowing?

This thesis evaluates the pilot program ‘Bewuste Studiekeuze’ (Conscious Study Choice) of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This policy intervention was aimed at increasing the efficiency of information provision by adjusting the timing and form of current communication means and emphasizing the benefits and affordability of higher education. This, to nudge students to take more conscious decisions on higher education enrolment and financial aid. We conclude that, first, there is an important difference between an opt-in and opt-out design in receiving the treatment in the mails. Second, if any, we do not find positive effects on higher education enrolment, and for some subgroups we even find significant negative effects. Third, we find positive effects on the request of a means-tested grant (4% on average), which seems driven by the effect on the opt-in group that opened the mails.