The university board approved the 2026 budget at its meeting on 27 November. The forward-looking investments in Eunice, doctoral students and associate senior lecturers, which are financed through the university’s agency capital, will continue. The rest of the budget is expected to be balanced.
The university’s finances are affected by various factors in society, the wider world and sometimes also by challenges within the organisation. In terms of inflation, the situation is somewhat less concerning than before. At the same time, the government’s budget proposal earlier this autumn did not include any new, major investments in the higher education sector.
In real terms, Karlstad University’s budget for 2026 is decreasing. This is primarily because the final temporary COVID-19 initiatives will conclude in 2026.
The results of operations for 2026 are budgeted at -SEK 29.7 million. This is a planned deficit to finance the strategic investments.
SEK 2.5 million is allocated for the European university alliance Eunice, SEK 11.1 million for the strategic investment in doctoral studentships, SEK 14.5 million for the final year of the strategic investment in associate senior lectureships, and SEK 1.6 million for the new model for computers and phones. Funds are taken from the university’s agency capital and do not affect regular operations.
A decreasing budget means that the organisation must set priorities, both in terms of investments and cost reductions. The vice-chancellor’s decision regarding cost restrictions throughout the organisation continues to apply in 2026.
The financial report presented at the university board meeting points to a slightly better outcome than the forecast from August this year.
– Everyone in the organisation has made great efforts based on the first vice-chancellor’s decision on cost restrictions, taken in June this year. Most of what we must take into account are known factors, and there are no cuts imposed by the government, even though there are no new investments in our sector, says Evalena Östlin, head of the Financial and Budgeting Office.
– Thanks to the responsibility shown at all levels of the organisation, we can continue with our forward-looking investments while presenting a balanced budget for our regular operations, says Jerker Moodysson, vice-chancellor of Karlstad University.
More information about the budget proposal that was presented earlier this autumn (in Swedish):
