University of Groningen

University of Groningen

The University of Groningen is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands, founded in 1614 and it ranks amongst the top 100 universities in the world. We are a research-intensive institution offering a wide range of highly regarded bachelor, master and PhD programs in all fields, entirely in English. Currently, we have a student body of more than 36,000 students, of which are more than 9,000 are international, coming from 127 different countries. We are proud to have won the prestigious International Student Satisfaction Excellence Award for the last two years running.

Many international students are attracted to Groningen predominantly for the world-class education offered at the University. However, the city is the Netherlands’ best-kept secret. Based in the Northeast of the country, approximately 2 hours by train from Schiphol Airport, the city is home to almost 200,000 people with one in four being a student! Groningen is a buzzing student city and a very safe place to live. As soon as you arrive, you’ll notice the youthful, safe, fun vibe of the city.

Our bachelor graduates can continue their studies by doing a master's degree with us or at another university around the world. Some individuals will decide to go even further and earn a PhD in their field of expertise. Notable alumni include the first-ever female graduate in the Netherlands Aletta Jacobs, the first Dutch space traveller Wubbo Ockels, as well as the Nobel-prize winner Ben Feringa.

By obtaining a degree at the University of Groningen you’ll be in a strong position to take any path you wish.

• Top 100 world-ranked university
• More than 405 years of experience
• 180+ English-taught programmes
• 11 faculties and 10 graduate schools
• Global exchange partnerships
• International environment
• Earn an additional 45 credits at the Honours College
• Learn Dutch - 50 hours of free lessons

The university is committed to recognizing excellence in academic achievement through offering a number of scholarships for international students and researchers. Several scholarships are available for international students who are motivated to study Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes, as well as for exchanges, short courses and research stays at our university.

For more information, or to see what scholarships you may be eligible for, please visit the institute website or click on Information Request.

We're a Top 100 University

Study at one of the world’s leading universities. Learn from the best and take advantage of exciting research opportunities. Live in a vibrant city where over a quarter of the population are students. Whatever you’re seeking from your university experience, you’ll find it in Groningen. With over 45 world-class Bachelor’s programmes and 160 highly-ranked Master’s programmes, we have a field of study for you.

Our groundbreaking research

As a student, you will be actively involved in research at one of Europe’s top research institutions from the get-go. The University of Groningen carries out ground-breaking and socially-relevant research that builds bridges between disciplines and closes the gap between science and society.

400 years of reputation

The University of Groningen is the second oldest university in the Netherlands and has built a reputation for excellence. Many talented people have passed through the university during its rich 400-year history, including Nobel Prize winners like Ben Feringa (Chemistry, 2016) and Frits Zernike (Physics, 1953). Some have been pioneers in their respective fields, such as the first female University student and the first female lecturer in the Netherlands, the first Dutch astronaut and the first president of the European Bank.

Vibrant Student Life

While its history can be traced back to 300 BC, today Groningen is a vibrant student city with the youngest population in the Netherlands – one in four people here is a student! That means there’s always something to do, with various art and music festivals, theatres, cinemas and performance venues catering to all tastes, whether you prefer to watch or want to join in. In Groningen, you’ll see students everywhere: studying in the pretty Noorderplantsoen park, working various part-time jobs and partying the night away.

Global Community

The University of Groningen attracts a large international community! Our Erasmus Student Network (ESN) conveniently facilitates all international students in Groningen and organizes over 150 activities a year. The University of Groningen has strong international connections which means that you can easily spend part of your degree studying abroad. The University also offers several unique international Master’s degree programmes in cooperation with other large European universities.

QANU

Quality Assurance Netherlands Universities

NVAO

Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders

AACSB

ranks Faculty of Economics & Business best 5% of business schools in the world

• Library with study spaces, access to more than 80,000 e-journals, one million ebooks, three million printed books and 5000 magazines
• Career services which prepares students for the job market with CV checks, workshops, and personal career advice
• Language centre with courses ranging from French and Italian to Japanese and Hebrew, as well as Dutch
• Student Service Centre offering support on study skills, psychological problems, financial matters, and studying with a functional impairment
• ACLO, a large sports association offering up to 100 different types of sports you can participate in

The University of Groningen has three campuses spread out over two cities. In Groningen, 11 faculties are based in 150 different buildings around the city, across two campuses.

If you study within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, or the Faculty of Economics and Business, you will probably attend classes at the Zernike campus in the north of the city.

For the faculties of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Theology and Religious Studies, Arts, Medical Sciences, Law, Spatial Sciences, Philosophy, and University College Gronigen, the buildings are spread out across the centre of the city.

In Leeuwarden, a city nearby Groningen, you can find Campus Fryslân. This is a unique faculty as multiple disciplines are represented within the faculty.

Have a look at our website for more information on our faculties!

Student life is about so much more than just preparing you for a lifetime of achievement. During your time in Groningen, you’ll get to experience everything the city has to offer, from a vibrant art and music scene to a unique, student-inspired nightlife.

Join Clubs

Whether you want to follow your passion, try a new hobby or simply make new friends, you can join one of our many student-run sports, study and student associations! From sports to culture, politics to parties, you will no doubt find an association that suits your interests. You can find information about study, student and sports associations on our website!

Party Town

As the quintessential Dutch student town, Groningen offers an unparalleled nightlife, with over 150 bars and entertainment venues attracting people from far and wide. Free entrance is standard and student discounts are common, making the city the perfect place for those on a student budget. Find out about the world-class festivals, the street art installations and internationally renowned museums that Groningen has on our website.

Young City

While Groningen is an old city with roots that can be traced back to the Iron Age, population-wise it’s one of the youngest in Europe. With an average age of 34 years, the city has a unique vibe that you won’t find elsewhere. Recently named the “biking capital of the world” it’s no surprise that Groningen has a fantastic biking infrastructure - everything is just a short bike ride away. The city itself has everything you need, from open-air street markets to popular fashion chains. Find out about what else Groningen has to offer on our website!

Great Base

Groningen makes an ideal base from which to launch your travel adventures. For open space and fresh air, you can go and explore the seaside or one of the Dutch islands - located just 40 km from the city centre. Most of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, and several large German cities such as Hamburg, Bremen and Dortmund are reachable by train, car or bus in just a few hours. With Belgium, France or Denmark mere hours away by train, car, ferry or bus, and our very own Groningen-Eelde airport, you're a perfect location to travel!

Groningen is a city with a large student population which can often make finding accommodation a challenge. Students live throughout the city in different types of accommodation. These vary in price and include shared housing with other students, individual studios or apartments and with SSH - the city's independent student housing provider. The University of Groningen is not a campus university and does not offer campus accommodation. Therefore, you will need to find your own accommodation. The earlier you find accommodation, the better.

For more information on accommodation in Groningen, visit our website and look for the information for prospective students section!

Do you want to know what it's like to study at University of Groningen? Visit the link below to student ambassadors and get answers to all of your burning questions about academic and student life.

Find a student ambassador