On 19 March 2024, the Executive Board adopted the budget for 2024, including an updated Accommodations Plan and ICT Project Portfolio. The Supervisory Board has approved the budget. With the approval on the key aspects of the budget of the Joint Assembly (JV) of CSR and COR after a careful process and consultation on the discussion points, the budget process is now finalised.

More income to be received under the government grant

The budgeted revenues of the UvA have significantly increased in 2024 compared to the projected revenues in 2023. The expected government grant has been updated based on the first government grant letter for 2024.  For the UvA, this leads to significantly more income to be received under the government grant. The main reasons for this are wage/price adjustments and new allocations.

Increased financial scope for CLA wages

The UvA is a non-profit organisation and aims for a zero result. This means that higher income in the 2024 budget also allows us to budget higher expenses. The extra financial scope is mainly used to cover the pay increase under the collective labour agreement (CLA), but accommodation, depreciation and other expenses also increase due to inflation and growth of the university. Although, it is anticipated that inflation in the upcoming period will likely be lower than in recent times.

Long-term forecast

There are new developments that will exert a downward pressure on revenues in the coming years. The proposed legislations for additional regulation of international influx, upon implementation, are expected to result in a lower intake of students. The strain on the Dutch government's finances may have an adverse effect on the UvA's income. Efforts will be made to make up for declining revenues as much as possible by increasing other revenues. At the same time, a long period of financial growth will come to an end after 2024.

On 29 November 2022, the Executive Board adopted the budget for 2023, including an updated Accommodations Plan and ICT Project Portfolio. Subsequently, the Supervisory Board approved the budget on 15 December. The Joint Meeting of the Central Works Council and the Central Student Council approved the key aspects of the 2023 budget on 21 February 2023. With this, the budget process is complete.

More income to be received under the government grant

The 2022 Administrative Agreement on higher education and science was signed in the summer of this year. For the UvA, this leads to significantly more income to be received under the government grant. That is clearly visible in the 2023 budget and the estimates for the years 2024-2026. The additional income is available for sector plans, starter grants for beginning assistant professors and incentive grants for other academics. Income from tuition fees, contract teaching and research and other activities also increase compared to 2022.

Increased financial scope for staff

The UvA is a non-profit organisation and aims for a zero result. This means that higher income in the 2023 budget also allows us to budget higher expenses. The extra financial scope is mainly used to hire additional staff, but accommodation, depreciation and other expenses also increase due to inflation and growth of the university.

On 30 November 2021, the Executive Board adopted the budget for 2022, including an updated Accommodations Plan and ICT Project Portfolio. Subsequently, the Supervisory Board approved the budget on 15 December. The Joint Meeting of the Central Works Council and the Central Student Council approved the key aspects of the 2022 budget on 31 January 2022. With this, the budget process is complete. 

Six percent higher income

The UvA has estimated a 6% increase in its income for 2022. This is mainly due to an increased government grant, which is the main source of income. Part of the increase in the government grant will be offset against lower income due to the temporary halving of the statutory tuition fee. We are also expecting more students in 2022. The funds allocated to the UvA from the National Education Programme will also be deployed in 2022 and later years, following a start in 2021.

Six percent higher expenses

The UvA has also estimated a 6% increase in its expenses compared to the 2021 budget. Personnel costs account for the largest share of this increase. This is largely due to an increase in staffing levels. Depreciation costs will increase in the coming years as a result of the realisation of the Accommodations Plan. In 2022, scope for investment was also included as a financial boost to help us achieve the ambitions in the Strategic Plan.

Coalition agreement

While the UvA's income will increase compared to 2021, this increase will not be sufficient to realise all of the UvA's ambitions for 2022 and beyond. Like all universities, the UvA receives too little money for the quality that it delivers. The coalition agreement includes additional resources for education and research. Much of this will be allocated to the universities. Currently, it is not yet known to what extent and under which conditions (if any) this will be the case. The UvA is preparing to use these resources as soon as possible in order to reduce the pressure on staff and students.