Annual report 2025: Progress and Perspective

08 June 2026 News item

Despite significant budget cuts, social tensions, and financial challenges, Radboud University continued to invest in high-quality education, leading research, and societal impact in 2025. At the same time, the university took important steps toward a new strategic direction. This is reflected in the Annual Report 2025: Progress and Perspective.

Highlights from the annual report:

Strong education and positive quality assessment

A major milestone in 2025 was the successful completion of the Institutional Quality Assurance Assessment conducted by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO). The committee evaluated the university positively in all areas and praised its educational vision based on the three pillars of academic, personal and sustainable.

Students also remained highly satisfied with their programs. For the fifth consecutive year, Radboud University was ranked the second-best comprehensive university in the Netherlands according to the Keuzegids Universiteiten. In addition, a record number of bachelor's and master's degrees were awarded. More than 80% of bachelor's graduates completed at least one course focused on sustainability.

New programmes and more interdisciplinary education

As a comprehensive university, interdisciplinary education continued to expand. In 2025, the new master's programme Healthcare Humanities was launched, a collaboration among several faculties. The programme addresses complex healthcare issues from ethical, philosophical, cultural, and communication perspectives.

Preparations were also completed for the new bachelor's programme Human Neurosciences, which will start in 2026. This programme combines neuroscience, psychology, biology, data science, and neurotechnology.

World-class research

The year 2025 also brought major successes in research. The number of PhD graduations reached a record high of 553. Researchers at Radboud University received several prestigious European grants, including: one ERC Advanced Grant, one ERC Synergy Grant and five ERC Consolidator Grants

The university also continued to excel internationally in research on topics such as: AI, brain and behavior, sustainability, space research and health.

HFML-FELIX became an independent NWO institute, in which Radboud University holds a 50% stake.

New Strategy: Connected for Impact

One of the most important developments of 2025 was the creation of the new strategy, Connected for Impact 2026–2031. Through this strategy, the university explicitly chooses greater collaboration both within and outside the university, stronger interdisciplinary connections, and broader sharing of knowledge. AI and sustainability are common threads running through all ambitions.

Twee mensen zitten aan een picknicktafel te werken

Social safety and the academic community

The year was also marked by social tensions that were felt on campus. Demonstrations, occupations, and other incidents led to extensive discussions about safety, freedom of expression, and academic culture.

As a result, the university continued investing in social safety through the “Prevent–Care–Cure” programme, which includes: a team of professional confidential advisers and ombuds officers, a single, clear reporting point with a transparent reporting process and a culture in which social safety can be openly discussed.

Major financial challenge requires difficult choices

Due to national budget cuts, rising costs, and declining student numbers, the university faced a significant financial challenge.

In 2025, important measures were taken to strengthen its financial position. A university-wide program was launched to simplify, digitize, and improve the efficiency of operations, with the goal of achieving structural savings of at least €20 million without compromising education or research.

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Interested in the full annual report? Download the full annual report (PDF).

Annual Report

pdf 12.56 MB

Previous annual reports

View Radboud University’s previous annual reports here. Here you will find the annual reports of the confidential advisors and ombudsofficer.