Flemish higher education could face budget cuts of €34.9m and €14.5m less for research

Flemish universities in Belgium could face significant budget cuts in 2026, after the Flemish government approved on 24/10/2025 the decree accompanying the 2026 budget for Flanders, as well as a separate decree giving the green light to a reform of student grants.

"The figures for our universities are alarming," said Vlir, the conference of Flemish university rectors. "This is a particularly worrying development given the needs of our knowledge-based economy":

• The budget for higher education is cut by €43.6 M, €34.9 M of which impacts the universities, which could ultimately lead to the loss of 350 full-time equivalent personnel;
• There is a reduction of €14.5 M for research;
• Students will be directly affected by a €33.8 M reduction in financial aid.

This structural decrease is due to the withdrawal of funding from Brussels (€10.6 M), the reduction in funding for non-EEA students (€30.7 M) and the termination of management agreements with the Institute of Development Policy (IOB) at the University of Antwerp and the Institute for European Studies (IES) at the VUB (totalling €5 M)…