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Budget audit — Drained reserves and ongoing losses are forcing the Faculty of Law to find millions of kroner in savings. Cuts to research positions cannot be ruled out.
The Faculty of Law at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) faces significant budget cuts. From 2027 onwards, the faculty will need to save between DKK 8 and 12 million annually compared to current spending.
This is according to a news item published on KUnet.
The cuts are part of a plan to restore financial balance to the faculty after several years of budget deficits.
»The required adjustment is considerable, but not entirely unexpected,« says Jacob Graff Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Law, in the KUnet release. He points out that the faculty has for a long time been drawing on savings to fund additional academic staff positions.
The Faculty of Law has been running a structural deficit for a number of years, which has been covered by drawing on its savings. With backing from university management, the faculty has increased the number of academic FTEs — or full-time equivalent staff — adding further pressure to the budget.
According to the management, the use of the savings was always intended to be temporary. Over the next couple of years, reserves will be reduced to a minimum, and from 2027 onwards the budget will need to balance without relying on them.
The working group
The working group includes two heads of studies: Professor Thomas Riis and Professor Kim Frost
Two centre directors: Professor Vibe Garf Ulfbeck and Professor Helle Krunke
One academic staff member appointed by the Cooperation Committee: Professor Ulrik Rammeskow Bang-Pedersen
One academic staff member appointed by the Academic Council: Professor Jens Elo Rytter
Also participating are Dean Jacob Graff Nielsen and Chief of Staff Rasmus Conradsen.
To prepare for the cuts, a working group has been set up to propose where they are to be made. The group consists of the heads of studies, centre directors, and selected academic staff representatives. Their task is to prepare a catalogue of savings options to form the basis of the final plan.
Although it is not yet clear where the cuts will fall, the dean has indicated that it may be necessary to reduce the salary budget for academic staff.
»It will probably be difficult to completely avoid a reduction in the VIP payroll budget, but the senior management has decided initially to look at the faculty’s costs broadly, including its educational financing,« says Jacob Graff Nielsen.
According to the dean, a priority is to resolve the situation swiftly so that staff and management do not have to operate under prolonged financial uncertainty.
The working group is due to submit its report in early December 2025. Management will then make a decision on the specific savings plan, which is expected to be adopted later that month.