The University of Groningen (UG) was founded in 1614 and has a long tradition of education, innovation and research. We are consistently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world and have one of the largest international student communities in the Netherlands. In fact, of our 36,420 students, over 9,000 are international, coming from 127 different countries. Our campuses in Groningen and Leeuwarden are located in popular student cities and situated in the north of the Netherlands.
Why Groningen?
Highly-regarded degree programmes: the University of Groningen offers over 180 highly regarded, English-taught bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. Our students receive high-quality supervision, a well-rounded education and have many opportunities to choose from, including electives, minor programmes, exchange possibilities and joining the Honours College. Ten of the UG’s Bachelor’s degree programmes have been awarded the ‘Top Degree Programme’ quality label by the Dutch Higher Education Guide for Universities (Keuzegids) 2022, placing them among the best in academic education in the Netherlands. Moreover, the Global Responsibility and Leadership programme, taught at Campus Fryslȃn, holds the prestigious honour of being rated as the best bachelor’s programme in all of the Netherlands.
High-quality research: the University of Groningen is among the top European institutes in the field of academic research. We are successful because we apply fundamental academic research in an innovative way when dealing with social and individual problems. UG researchers collaborate with partners from all over the world and our professors and lecturers actively involve their students in research. Professor Ben Feringa, based at our Faculty of Science and Engineering, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry five years ago.
International environment: Currently a quarter of the student community at the university is international, with 9,000 students representing 127 nationalities. This diversity grows every year and means you will enjoy an international experience, sharing your classroom with people from all around the world, as well as the opportunity to go abroad yourself through the university’s many international exchange partnerships. Several Master’s degree programmes at the University of Groningen are in cooperation with other European universities, meaning it is possible to study part of your degree abroad. In addition, the Dutch are among the best non-native English speakers in the world, so the language barrier is not a problem here. However, if you do want to pick up some Dutch while studying here, you can take free Dutch classes provided by the university.
Distinguished reputation for over 405 years: Over the last four centuries, the University of Groningen has evolved to build an excellent reputation around the world. The people who have studied or worked at the university include the first president of the European Bank, the first female University student and the first female lecturer in the Netherlands, the first Dutch astronaut and four Nobel Prize winners.
Lively student life: With the youngest population in the Netherlands and a quarter of the inhabitants being students, Groningen is a fantastic, and extremely popular, student city. Walking through the city you will see students everywhere - whether they are studying in a café or in the library, biking to class, hanging out with friends in the park, working a part-time job or enjoying the vibrant nightlife. The UG also has a smaller campus located in the city of Leeuwarden, which is 35 minutes away from Groningen by train. Leeuwarden is the home of our youngest faculty, Campus Fryslân, and in recent years the city has held the impressive titles of the UNESCO City of Literature and the European Capital of Culture. Both Groningen and Leeuwarden are very safe and eco-friendly places to live in and rank amongst the happiest cities in the whole of Europe
