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Income of universities in the Netherlands by source of funds

data publication
Science in Figures
08 January 2024
university income Funding government
In this data publication we show the trends in income of the group of universities by source of funds and focus on the funding sources of individual universities.

In short

  • The total income of the universities has developed positively since 2004, from 4.2 to 9.1 billion euros in 2022.
  • The government remains the largest source of income for the universities.
  • The Vrije Universiteit (VU) has the largest share of government funding of all universities, with 67% of the total income.

Income of universities in the Netherlands by source of funds

Source: Annual accounts of universities in the Netherlands, analysed by an agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Education Culture and Science (DUO)
Notes: From 2008 onwards, the figures have been collected in accordance with the new OCW guideline. The figures for 2004-2007 have been converted on the basis of this new guideline. Until 2010, this concerned the 14 universities (including the OU), excluding the umbrella centres. As of 2010, the PTU, TUA, UvH and TUK have been added. * Other income includes other contributions from the national government. These figures also include income from the university medical centres, insofar as this is reported in the consolidated financial statements of the corresponding university.

Analysis
The total income of the universities has developed positively since 2004, from 4.2 to 9.1 billion euros in 2022. The government remains the largest source of income for the universities. Its share has decreased from 61% to 57% between 2004 and 2015. Then it rose again to 62% in 2021. The decrease between 2004 and 2015 was mainly due to the fact that income from 'Work for third parties' rose faster than the income from government. The share 'Work for third parties' rose between 2004 and 2015 from 22% to 28%. Thereafter, this percentage decreased to 24% in 2022. More information on this source of income can be found in our datapublication on the contract research activities of universities, linked in the sidebar. The share of Tuition fees grew slightly between 2004 and 2022 from 7% to 8%. The share of 'Other income' falls from 10% to 7%.

Income of universities in the Netherlands, by university and source of funds

Source: Annual accounts of universities in the Netherlands, analysed by an agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Education Culture and Science (DUO)
Notes: The universities are ranked, based on the share of direct government income. Due to their relatively small financial size the four universities added in 2010 and the Open University have not been included in this figure.

Analysis
The Vrije Universiteit (VU) has the largest share of government funding of all universities, with 67% of the total income. At Erasmus University (EUR), less than half (50%) of income consists of government grants and the shares of 'Work for third parties' (27%) and 'Other income' (15%) are relatively large. The Vrije Universiteit (VU) has the lowest share of 'Work for third parties' (14%). It should be noted here that VUmc's third-party assignments are not included in the university's annual accounts (where this is the case for most others). More information on this source of income can be found in our datapublication on the contract research activities of universities, linked in the sidebar. At 13%, the share of tuition fees, course, teaching and examination fees is relatively large at Tilburg University (UvT).

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