Medical students in Rotterdam are reportedly offering money to secure earlier hospital training dates.
Some offers have reached €2,000 as students try to move ahead in the queue for clinical placements at Erasmus MC.
The placements form a major part of the medical master’s programme. Students must complete them in different hospital departments before qualifying as doctors.
However, each department can only accept a limited number of trainees. Erasmus MC uses a lottery to decide when students can begin.
About 380 students took part in the latest draw.
An email sent to students reportedly showed that about 25% cannot start until autumn 2027. Another 35% must wait until 2028.
The long delays have encouraged some students to offer money to classmates willing to exchange their earlier starting dates.
This is not the first time medical students in Rotterdam have traded placement dates. A medical journal reported similar activity in 2020.
Critics say the practice gives students from wealthy families an unfair advantage.
Erasmus MC said it does not want money to decide who begins training first. The medical centre is considering stricter rules for students who exchange their starting dates.
The institution described the shortage of places as temporary. It said more students are currently graduating because the medical programme is changing to a new curriculum.
Students who experience long delays may qualify for compensation from a university fund. The fund supports students whose studies are delayed by circumstances beyond their control.
The Netherlands is already dealing with shortages in parts of its medical workforce.
