Disposal of buildings, larger course groups, and severe cuts in support services. These are some of the ways in which Radboud University will try to survive these financially tough times, as revealed in the 2026 Policy Letter. Reorganisations cannot be ruled out.

‘The University’s financial perspective looks very negative in the coming years.’

Radboud University is facing hard times, according to a sentence on the first page of the 2026 Policy Letter. Based on this document, faculties and other departments have to prepare their budgets for the following year. VOX was allowed to view the document.

The main reason for the gloomy outlook is a further decline in projected future student intake, on which the state funding for universities is based. In addition, the Schoof government is cutting back heavily on academic higher education and research. In contrast, costs are rising, partly due to wage increases, higher energy costs, and inflation.

All Radboud University’s faculties and services were already tasked with achieving a balanced budget by 2027. Specifically, this concerns a reduction in budget of €5.7 million in 2026, down to €36.8 million by 2030.

External consulting firm

In making the cuts, the University aims to spare teaching and research as much as possible. The Executive Board wants to realise most of the savings from operations: an amount that increases up to €20 million by 2030.

The Executive Board plans to realise three quarters of those savings, some €15 million, from Radboud Services support services, which amounts to a 16% cut. To achieve this goal, a review of the business columns is taking place, in partnership with the external consulting firm EY. In relative terms, the biggest cuts are required from the Faculties of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies (-10%) and Arts (-9%).

The Policy Letter lists several ways in which faculties and departments can make savings. One measure that was leaked earlier is the plan to abolish the Honours Academy as of 1 January 2027. Measures to help students obtain their degrees faster are also being considered. Compared to other universities, students at Radboud University are enrolled longer without graduating, while universities’ revenues depend partly on the number of qualifications issued.

Other possible measures include increasing course groups, more intensive use of teaching spaces, and assigning staff members more teaching than research time. In better economic times, the reverse trend is often observed. The University also wants to make less use of external hiring.

Reorganisations

The University also sees opportunities to use property more efficiently, which should lead to the disposal of buildings, although it is not clear what exactly is meant by this. And that while just a few years ago, there was talk of new building plans for the humanities on the site of the Spinoza building – although that plan was shelved last year.

In any case, the impact on the University will be significant, as the document shows. Reorganisations cannot be ruled out. The Executive Board requests units to indicate by 1 July whether reorganisation is needed to achieve a balanced budget by 2027.

The Policy Letter is not yet final. The topic is on the agenda of the last Joint Assembly of this academic year, on 30 June. Only then can faculties and departments draw up a final budget.