Publication of the UG Annual Report 2025

The Annual Report 2025 of the University of Groningen is available online. In this report, the UG provides an account, in text and figures, of the policies it implemented in 2025 and how it utilized the government income. In addition to education, research, and impact, the report addresses topics such as comprehensive safety, student well-being, and internationalization.

The financial situation and necessary budget cuts receive significant attention. Since 2022, the UG has been grappling with deficits primarily resulting from high inflation and a declining government grant. The university now faces even more budget cuts due to declining student enrollment. In light of these further budget cuts, the UG has implemented additional measures aimed at achieving cost-saving targets totaling €45 million by 2030. These measures include, among other things, reducing staff capacity, improving and harmonizing processes, and leveraging natural staff turnover.

The UG is an organization that can adapt quickly in the field of education, is supported by a strong community, and is focused on continuous improvement. Examples of its involvement in technological developments include the establishment of an AI factory in Groningen—in which the UG is closely involved—and the strategic partnership with ASML. Collaboration with various partners in the northern Netherlands is being further expanded, such as the Greenwise Campus in Emmen and the Assen Safety Campus. A highlight was the opening of the Feringa Building, the university’s newest and most advanced building.

The 2025–2026 academic year again showed a slight decline in the number of students: 32,473 (compared to 33,297 in the previous period). The proportion of international students fell by nearly one percentage point, from 26.9% to 26.0% (in absolute terms, from 8,966 to 8,450). The number of ongoing Ph.D. programs also decreased from 4,728 to 4,691, but there was a record number of Ph.D. degrees awarded: 758 (2024: 691).