Budget balanced for 2026

Financial position UM “robust and stable”

Thousands of students and lecturers take to the streets for higher education

“I really don’t like demonstrating, but sometimes you just have to”

“I suspect protesting cost me my job”

Why these UM staff members and student continue to protest the budget cuts

FASoS prefers investing in homegrown talent over hiring new professors

Faculty faces wave of retirements in coming years

What do the election results mean for students and higher education?

The proposed cuts will likely evaporate, but how soon remains to be seen

Campaigners to watch election debate together

As yet unclear whether there will be a delegation from Maastricht

Government fallen: what are the consequences for higher education?

"It is imperative that policymakers reverse destructive policy before it is too late”

“It’s political disinclination, this cabinet simply has other priorities”

Interview about the lawfulness of the budget cuts with Professor Raymond Schlössels

Spring Memorandum: new cutbacks in higher education

President of Universities of the Netherlands says the new cutbacks are “damaging to education and therefore damaging to the future of the Netherlands”.

Government puts an end to low-cost sporting activities for students and staff

Public funds must not be used to finance private activities, however there are grey areas

What was going on: UM strikes against higher education cuts

Strike day against budget cuts on education

“You can’t just go around smashing up computers during a strike”

Online lecture on the right to strike: what is – and isn’t – allowed

Senate approves budget cuts, two universities go to court

Maastricht University is not yet taking legal action

Maastricht strike day moved

Demonstrators don't want to compete for attention with other protests

Bruins unveils plans to force higher education institutions to work together

Education minister wants to force institutions to consult their 'competitors' before launching or discontinuing programmes

Inspectorate of Education: plenty of reasons for English-language instruction

An advance survey of five such programmes reveals they have solid arguments for their choice of language of instruction

“UM is currently financially stable”

'Ask Me Anything' session about internationalisation and budget cuts

Letschert: “Minister returned the issue without providing a framework”

Bruins’s letter offers little clarity about position of universities in contracting regions

Yes, there will be strikes in higher education

Further cuts on international students may not be necessary

Reduction target is already locked in if intake remains at current level

“They listened to us on some things, which is good, but a lot is still unclear”

President Letschert on education cuts deal which spares contracting regions

Opposition cuts government break, majority of cuts upheld

Cutbacks on foreign students in depopulating areas, such as Limburg, will be decreased

"If the opposition agrees to this, we will strike"

Another demonstration against budget cuts in Maastricht

Fewer international students? At worst, it will cost UM 32 million

Interview with Rianne Letschert and Jan-Tjitte Meindersma about budgets and cuts

Stand-off over education and research cuts

Coalition has been negotiating with opposition parties over the 2 billion euros in proposed cuts

“I’m not afraid of hitting a brick wall”

House of Representatives debates education budget

“I have three thousand reasons to be here”

Twenty thousand demonstrate against cuts

Left-wing opposition wants all education cuts scrapped

They would rather see businesses pay more tax instead

“Excuse to suppress an inconvenient protest”

Criticism on decision to cancel demonstration against cuts

“This will be a long-haul fight”

Alternative demonstration: Livestream and gathering at the Vrijthof

UPDATE: location for alternative to demonstration announced

Classes will proceed at some faculties, others still need to decide

Demonstration against budget cuts canceled

Organisation follows "urgent advice" for safety reasons

“Nothing more than resentment of a perceived ivory tower”

Dutch participation councils call for “full-throated protest”

Painting banners and cutting red squares

UM contingent ready for demonstration on 14 November

Time off for demonstrating against budget cuts

FASoS, SBE and FSE will provide bus transportation

Response to budget: “Cabinet is shooting itself in the foot”

University cuts go into effect as early as 2025, much to the dismay of universities

Budget Day: feasible or not, cutbacks are going ahead

The cabinet wants to free up extra money for some things, including 8.6 million euros for the Einstein Telescope that is to come to Limburg:

Letschert: Workload will rise, and a blow to innovation

President Rianne Letschert on cabinet's austerity plans

Coalition programme: also less money for Dutch Research Council and open science

The cabinet still wants to come down on migration, including student migration

UM President Rianne Letschert: “It's definitely going to hurt, we just don't know where and how much”

Cabinet continues to cut hard, but differently

“Anyone who wants to dictate the language I teach in is infringing on my academic freedom”

Farewell interview with Harald Merckelbach, departing dean of FPN

Letschert takes a swipe at the government

UM President gives passionate speech during opening academic year 2024-2025

Dutch voters don’t want science budget cuts

UNL has announced legal action

Government still intent on higher education cuts

Universities calculate that up to 5,000 jobs are at risk

"Why have we as University Council not yet seen plans for budget cuts?"

Nick Bos: "Mark my words, we came up with different scenarios"

PVV celebrates cutbacks as victory over activism in higher education

“For too long, the activist woke culture dominated the lecture halls and institutions”

Cuts in the sector plans: “Can a new cabinet simply obliterate an agreement like that? Is that legally admissible?”

What does that mean for Maastricht?

Formation agreement: drastic cuts and penalty for slow students in higher education

Fewer international students should come to the Netherlands, the four parties think