Anyone in academia knows we live in turbulent times, with over €1 billion in cuts for research, education, and innovation, announced by the government. Considering the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW) allocates about €6 billion to universities annually, the blow to Dutch universities will be severe.

Impact on universities

At my university, the term ‘budget cuts’ now comes up in nearly every meeting. The cuts from OCW will have long-term consequences for academic research, higher education, and the broader scientific landscape in the Netherlands. With less funding, educational quality will suffer: classes will be larger, fewer courses will be available, and there will be reduced teaching support. Research also faces setbacks, with cuts affecting ‘sector plan’ funding, which supports early-career researchers across disciplines, including chemistry.

Shrinking ‘first-stream’ funding will force staff to compete even harder for external grants from funding bodies like the NWO and European Commission, intensifying workload and stress – especially among assistant professors. And the picture is no brighter for NWO, as it too faces cuts to some of its programs.

Education becomes less accessible

Beyond funding cuts, new policies also penalize students. The ‘late study fine’ imposes a €3000 charge on students who exceed the standard study period, while the Internationalization Law limits international student numbers and restricts English-language programs. This policy will reduce revenue from non-EU students, who pay higher tuition, and strain the talent pipeline, as many international graduates stay in the Netherlands. These policies, coupled with a declining 18-25-year-old population, will severely impact universities’ funding base.

Effect on PhD students

The impact trickles down to PhD students, both current candidates and those considering a PhD here. The anticipated impacts include:

• Reduced research funding and fewer PhD positions due to budget cuts and increased competition for external funding;
• Less diverse research environments due to limited international enrollment; and
• Increased teaching duties for PhD students to offset budget cuts, potentially reducing research time.

Navigating the present

Are you a PhD student or considering a PhD in the Netherlands? Then I encourage you to:

• Get informed. Understand the landscape by attending management meetings, reading newsletters, and following updates from Universiteiten van Nederland (UNL) on their website or LinkedIn.
• Raise your voice. Share your perspectives – we also need the voice of PhD students! Write posts on LinkedIn, repost UNL news, and join national demonstrations.
• Be mindful of resource use. Think twice before running experiments to avoid unnecessary expenses.
• Connect with your professional support system. Discuss with your colleagues, PhD councils, external network, mentors, etc. Sharing concerns can help you find support and answers.
• Practice self-care. In these challenging times, don’t forget to prioritize your well-being.

The future may not look bright right now, but small steps can make an impact. This isn’t just about universities; it’s about the future of the entire scientific landscape in the Netherlands.