University of Groningen

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

The University of Groningen is a top 100 research university with a global outlook. We are currently ranked 80th on the Times Higher Education ranking and offer over 30 English-taught Bachelor's programmes and over 120 Master's programmes.

By studying at the University of Groningen, you join a well-established, global networked community of world-class staff and students. The work of those at the university has contributed to all areas of society.

Our degrees are designed to encourage students to think independently and develop their own opinions at an early stage in the programme. There are plenty of opportunities to contribute, collate information, and present evidence using the various libraries we have on all of our campuses. This is a much more effective method of learning than just from a book and will provide the transferable skills which are sought after by employers.

As a University of Groningen student, there are several opportunities to find the right balance between studies and social life. Through an ever developing range of services and facilities, different bodies within the University work together to ensure a well-rounded student experience. Student-led organisations within your study, sport associations, or general student associations exist to help you settle and develop yourself both in and outside of your study life. All of this means that time spent as a student with us is not just about work, but also includes socialising and personal development.

If you want to know a bit more about what it’s like to study here, then you should hear it from our students themselves. You can read our student blog, attend an online webinar, or contact us on one of our social media channels.

Groningen is a young, student city located in the north of The Netherlands. One in four people living in the city is a student, meaning that it is very easy to fit in and feel at home here and that there are lots of things going on catered to students throughout the city.

From the moment you arrive, you are integrated into the city by attending introduction weeks. Within the first weeks, you have the opportunity to attend a general introduction week, an international focused week, and a week or weekend organised by a study association which is focused on helping you meet other people who will study the same degree programme. After this, you will feel right at home and already know the city like the back of your hand.

Throughout the year, there is plenty to do in Groningen. Student organisations organise a wide variety of events and you can play sports at the student sports facilities, attend concerts at different venues around the city, and get involved in various cultural activities. You can see more about Groningen’s festivals and nightlife in this video.

The best way to find out what it is like living here is to hear it from one of our students. We have a blog written by students, and you can always send us a message on one of our social media channels. We also recommend coming to Groningen to check out the city for yourself! You can combine it with a student tour of the university, which you can request here.