Freie Universität is forced to take extensive measures in order to meet around fifty percent of the mandated budget cuts that have been declared for 2025. These measures will have a tangible impact on university life and will affect all employees and students at Freie Universität.

Human Resources

• Recruitment: New positions in central university administration and central facilities will only be created, advertised, and filled in exceptional cases and with the express permission of the Executive Board.

• Staffing budgets: Departments and central institutes will be required to reduce their personnel costs by six percent.

• Early appointments for regular professorships (Strukturplanprofessuren): These will be decided upon by the Executive Board on a case-by-case basis.

Material Funds and Central Funds

• Material funds: No additional cutbacks; however, it will be necessary to make economical use of resources. Upper limits for the amount of funding that can be carried over to the next calendar year to be provisionally introduced in 2026.
• Central management funds: Cutbacks of up to fifty percent. Protected areas such as faculty recruitment funding and the General Professional Skills curriculum will be unaffected.

Research

• There will be a reduction in the amount of funding for supplementary funding for infrastructure and equipment costs.