Leiden University reverses decision to get rid of Italian bachelor course

The bachelor programme for Italian at Leiden University will remain after all. The university had announced the end of the course as a part of their budget cuts last month, but they are now reversing this decision.

The university has stated that the staff of the programme have come up with an alternative plan. The bachelor will now be “more compact.” The plan will reduce the shortages. Closure would therefore be "too far-reaching a decision at this time,” according to the oldest university in the country.

However, the danger has not been averted as of yet. The university are concerned about the number of students. The faculty has said that “tough decisions” are required.

Leiden University had previously announced that from the school year of 2026-27, no students would be accepted for the bachelor programme for Italian. Students who were already following the Italian course would be allowed to complete it.

The university has confirmed that they will continue with plans to stop parts of their programs for Africa studies and Latin America studies.

Universities are forced to make cuts because the Cabinet is going to reduce their spending on higher education. Dozens of employees at the University of Twente and Roosevelt Academy in Middelburg have been told that they are going to laid off. The Open Universiteit will also see the departure of 65 members of staff.

Utrecht University has to cut 35 million euros from their budget, but are trying to achieve this without firing staff members. The university wants to stop "unprofitable" studies such as German, French, Islam and Arabic, Italian, Celtic and religious studies in a few years.

The universities will go on strike once again in March against the announced cuts. They will take turns closing their institutions, beginning with Leiden University on March 10. This will be followed by Utrecht on March 11, Nijmegen on March 13, Amsterdam on March 17, and Groningen on March 18.