German and French studies are disappearing at Utrecht University: how bad is that?

German and French studies are disappearing at Utrecht University how

What’s going on?

The UU is stopping six studies. In addition to German and French, the Islamic and Arabic, Italian, Celtic and Religious Studies courses will also disappear. No new students will be accepted from September 2026. The training courses will stop completely in 2030.

The six studies attract fewer than 25 new students per year. That is why, according to the university, they have not been profitable for years. Moreover, the financial situation of the Faculty of Humanities, which includes the courses, has been unstable for years. And now the government also wants to make significant cuts in higher education.

Students who want to start studying German or French in 2026 must go to Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden or Nijmegen.

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