Utrecht University axes 6 programs, incl. French, German & Arabic; Layoffs possible
Utrecht University will phase out six programs over the next few years as part of budget cuts, driven partly by reductions in the national government's budget for funding higher education. Financial struggles means a reorganization is likely, as the university cuts its German, French, Italian, Celtic, Arabic, Islamic Studies and Religious Studies programs. New enrollments in these degree programs will end starting with the 2026-27 academic year, and the programs will close entirely by 2030.
These programs are part of the Humanities Faculty, which has long faced financial challenges, but they now face a mandate to eliminate their deficit. Dean Thomas Vaessens said the faculty has been supporting a range of programs that have gradually become unaffordable. The university noted the financial strain has been worsened by government funding cuts, and potential layoffs have not been ruled out.
The university described the decision as a significant measure, and noted that it was a decision rooted in financial necessity. Each of the six programs enrolls fewer than 25 new students per year and has been financially unsustainable for several years, according to the institution.
In a statement released on Monday, the university explained that the Humanities Faculty's deficit is expected to reach 7 million euros in 2025 and could swell to 13 million euros by 2027. “As a result, we have to cut our expenses substantially. To eliminate deficits by 2030, we need to reduce costs by 10 percent,” Vaessens said.
“That is a major task, which requires more than just closing unprofitable degree programs. It can’t be achieved with small measures or patchwork solutions; a full transition is needed,” he added.
Eaarlier this month, Education Minister Eppo Bruins announced he would advance a stricter version of a bill proposed by his predecessor, Robbert Dijkgraaf. Known as the Internationalization in Balance Act, the legislation would limit bachelor’s degree programs to offer no more than one-third of credit-earning courses in a language other than Dutch.
Bruins also added back then that he wants to reduce the number of foreign students at Dutch universities, citing that “the large influx puts pressure on student housing, causes overcrowded lecture halls, and creates high pressure on lecturers.”
National politicians have spoken with divisive rhetoric about courses taught in the Netherlands in languages other than Dutch, especially while campaigning for the 2023 Tweede Kamer election last November. Universities warned against this, especially with regard to programs in sciences and mathematics, just before the election results led to a coalition of right-wing and far-right nationalist parties.
Universities do support a national policy could lead towards making it possible for them to cap the number of international students in some courses not taught in Dutch. However, the blunt measures being introduced by the Cabinet have been a controversial issue, especially in Amsterdam.
“If we have to implement this, Dutch will become the norm and we will have almost no English-language programs left. We will lose all those international students who come here to learn a trade, who contribute to the economy and to society. And that also means that we cannot contribute sufficiently to major social challenges such as sustainability and healthcare. We need them desperately,” said Peter-Paul Verbeek, rector of the University of Amsterdam.
