Tilburg Honors Programs not cut, but merged

Due to national budget cuts, university honors education is being reduced or eliminated. Tilburg University is not cutting its offerings but is merging two honors programs. ‘This idea was already on the table, but the budget cuts have brought it higher on the agenda.’

Honors education is an additional program for students who excel in their studies. At Tilburg University, there are honors programs specifically linked to a faculty or study, as well as interdisciplinary programs offered university-wide. These two university-wide programs, the Honors Program and the Outreaching Honors Program, are being merged.

Maintaining Quality

The university assures that the merger will not compromise the quality of the supplementary education. ‘It will be a different, but diverse offering that aims to combine the strengths of both programs,’ says a spokesperson for Tilburg University.

The Honors Program: ‘Trust in the Information Age’ focuses on the digital society from disciplines such as law and philosophy. It is more theoretical than the Outreaching Honors Program. Students participating in that program do not necessarily take extra courses but gain practical experience through internships and projects.

The university had intended to merge the programs for some time because it ‘could be more efficient without compromising quality.’ In the future, just as many students will be able to follow honors education as they do now. Currently, 68 students are enrolled in the Honors Program and 118 in the Outreaching Honors Program.

‘We hope to offer the new program as soon as possible,’ says the spokesperson. ‘Students who started with one of the old programs can still complete it,’ she adds.

Budget Cuts

‘The idea to merge the honors programs was already there, but the budget cuts (in higher education, ed.) have brought it higher on the agenda,’ says the spokesperson. Various universities in the country are cutting back on their honors education due to the government’s policy.

Radboud University in Nijmegen plans to abolish its Honours Academy by January 1, 2027, although the participation council still needs to approve this. Leiden University is also cutting its honors program: the budget will be halved over four years. Utrecht University wanted to save on honors education, but the participation council voted against the proposal, forcing the university to make cuts elsewhere in the organization.

The Dutch Universities Association (UNL) regrets that universities are cutting their honors programs but is not surprised. ‘The consequences of budget cuts are noticeable. That will only increase,’ says spokesperson Ruben Puylaert. ‘Universities now have to make difficult choices about what they can and cannot offer.’