Utrecht University

About Utrecht University

Utrecht University is an international research university of the highest quality. This has been demonstrated for many years by its high positions in international rankings such as theShanghai Ranking and the Times Higher Ranking.

The University is the alma mater of many leading names, academics and scientists who have made an important contribution to the quality of society. These include Nobel Prize winner Christiaan Eijkman, one of the first to discover vitamins, neuro-pharmacologist David de Wied and the most recent Nobel Prize winner, theoretical scientist Gerard ’t Hooft. All these scientists and academics, from far in the past up to the present day, are what makes Utrecht University what it is today. Through innovative research and education, they have contributed to the University's mission in society: Bright Minds, Better Future.

Utrecht University invests in educating the leaders of the future, offering high-quality, innovative education, with a high student pass rate. In the Netherlands, Utrecht University is a pioneer in innovative educational concepts, such as that of the University College. The Utrecht model of education stands for personal and interactive education, flexibility and freedom of choice for students, and permanent professional development for lecturers.

The University conducts fundamental and applied research in a wide range of disciplines. Multidisciplinary research in Utrecht focuses on four strategic themes: Dynamics of Youth, Institutions, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

• Faculty of Geosciences

  The Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation.

  A leader in the field of Earth studies and sustainability, the Faculty of Geosciences stands for high-quality teaching in a challenging educational environment. The Faculty is an active discussion partner in the social debate.

  The Faculty of Geosciences offers a challenging educational environment. Every year, our programmes are highly rated in the higher education rankings. Our lecturers are highly committed to providing excellent education.

  We opt for differentiation within our programmes, particularly through the organisation of Honours programmes. Moreover, we never stop looking for ways to help students perform their studies as well as possible.

• Faculty of Humanities

  The Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University covers four areas of knowledge:

  • History and Art History
  • Languages, Literature and Communication
  • Media and Culture Studies
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies

  Both the education we offer and the research we conduct contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe within a changing social and cultural context.

  The Faculty offers a challenging study environment in which research and education are closely intertwined. Partly thanks to the active teaching methods and effective supervision, Utrecht University has the highest student pass rate of any Dutch university. In our Bachelor's programmes, Humanities students are educated to become well-rounded academics with disciplinary knowledge in one of the faculty's four knowledge domains. In our Master's programmes, students specialise in a particular discipline (or choose an interdisciplinary specialisation) in preparation for a successful career or an academic postgraduate programme. There are various (Dutch-taught) Honours programmes for ambitious students who wish to develop their talents to the full.

• Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

  The Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance at Utrecht University is a unique combination of three departments: Law, Economy and Governance. These three specialisations offer education and conduct research independently as well as jointly. This multidisciplinary approach makes the faculty an outstanding partner for knowledge exchange at a high level.

  Our focus is on people who want to take responsibility for shaping our society, both now and in the future. People who want to play a role in solving important social issues. This is why our faculty is fully integrated in society – for example, through national and international cooperation with government, the business sector, social organisations and academic institutes.

• Faculty of Science

  Utrecht University's Faculty of Science stands for world-class research and innovative education. The faculty is the largest science faculty of the Netherlands and is home to over 4800 students and 1100 employees. The Faculty offers research expertise and opportunities across all departments, from Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Information and Computing Sciences to Pharmaceutical Sciences.

  The Faculty of Science is world wide recognized for its excellent research. Among the bright minds of our faculty are a Nobel prize winner, Spinoza winners, ERC grant winners and of course we do all our research in close collaboration with social partners and the industry.

  We believe it is a great privilege to pass our knowledge on to the next generations. The faculty offers a wide variety of educational programmes in both the Natural Sciences as the Life Sciences and we challenge our students to get the most out of their talents.

• Faculty of Science

  Utrecht University's Faculty of Science stands for world-class research and innovative education. The faculty is the largest science faculty of the Netherlands and is home to over 4800 students and 1100 employees. The Faculty offers research expertise and opportunities across all departments, from Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Information and Computing Sciences to Pharmaceutical Sciences.

  The Faculty of Science is world wide recognized for its excellent research. Among the bright minds of our faculty are a Nobel prize winner, Spinoza winners, ERC grant winners and of course we do all our research in close collaboration with social partners and the industry.

  We believe it is a great privilege to pass our knowledge on to the next generations. The faculty offers a wide variety of educational programmes in both the Natural Sciences as the Life Sciences and we challenge our students to get the most out of their talents.

• Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

  The Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences is known as a leader in education and research in the social and behavioural sciences.

  Its focus is on the disciplines of interdisciplinary social sciences, cultural anthropology, educational sciences, pedagogy, psychology and sociology. We use this expertise to contribute to the education of talented young students in a wide array of degree programmes, and to increased understanding of a range of issues relating to human behaviour and society. To achieve this we frequently work together with social organisations.

  The faculty has around 850 employees and over 5,600 students.

• faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen

• faculteit Geesteswetenschappen

• faculteit Geneeskunde / Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht

• faculteit Geowetenschappen

History of Utrecht University

Utrecht University was founded on March 26, 1636. The influential professor of theology Gisbertus Voetius delivered the inaugural speech, and Bernardus Schotanus (professor of law and mathematics) became the university's first rector magnificus. Initially, only a few dozen students attended classes at the university. Seven professors worked in four faculties: philosophy, which offered all students an introductory education, and three higher-level faculties (theology, medicine and law).

Utrecht University flourished in the seventeenth century, despite competition with the older universities of Leiden (1575), Franeker (1585) and Groningen (1614) and the schools of Harderwijk (1599; a university from 1648) and Amsterdam (1632). Leiden, in particular, proved a strong competitor and made further improvement necessary. A botanical garden was built on the grounds of the present Sonnenborgh Observatory, and three years later the Smeetoren added an astronomical observatory. The university attracted many students from abroad (especially from Germany, England and Scotland). They witnessed the intellectual and theological battle the proponents of the new philosophy (René Descartes lived for a few years in Utrecht) fought with the proponents of the strict Reformed theologian Voetius.

In 1806 the French occupying authorities of the Netherlands downgraded Utrecht University to an école secondaire (high school), but after the establishment of theKingdom of the Netherlands in 1813 it regained its former status. Leiden, Groningen and Utrecht were the three universities (Dutch: hoge scholen) of the new state, and Leiden received the title of eerste hoge school ("first university").

Utrecht played a prominent role in the golden age of Dutch science. Around 1850 the "Utrechtian School" of science formed, with Pieter Harting, Gerardus J. Mulder,Christophorus H. D. Buys Ballot and Franciscus Donders among the leading scientists. They introduced the educational laboratory (onderwijslaboratorium) as a practical learning place for their students. The University is represented in the Stichting Academisch Erfgoed, a foundation with the goal of preserving university collections.

Accreditation

Institutional Accreditation or Recognition - Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, Nederland

Rankings

• Shanghai Ranking: 1st in the Netherlands
• Shanghai Ranking: 22nd in Europe,
• Shanghai Ranking: 65th worldwide
• In the The Times Higher Education 2014–15 World University Rankings, the university is ranked 79th
• In the 2015/2016 QS World University Rankings, Utrecht was ranked 94th, it has been among the top 100 universities since 2006

Student life at Utrecht University

Culture

Utrecht University organises numerous cultural, academic and scientific activities and events. Art, culture, music, symposia, lectures, debates and much more contribute to general knowledge and stimulate different ways of thinking about ourselves and society: in other words, science and culture reinforce each other. The various activities and the characteristic buildings where they are held add colour to this cathedral city.

Sport

Utrecht University considers attaches great value to sport. It brings people together, and helps maintain a healthy body and a healthy mind. Sport and exercise also contribute to a positive study and working environment. Utrecht University sees the unifying power of sport, education and research as one of the cohesive factors in society that enable everyone within it to develop – professionally, socially and in the field of education and sport. This is why Utrecht University actively makes an effort to place sport increasingly on the agenda.

Festival deBeschaving

Festival deBeschaving is a festival of discovery featuring music, a creative field programme and the latest insights from science. On Saturday, 27 June 2015, the doors of the Botanical Gardens opened once again for creative spirits, inquisitive minds and smart brains. Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht are partners of the festival deBeschaving.

Cultural student organisations

Students can join one of the many cultural student organisations, including the Netherlands' oldest symphony orchestra, Utrechtsch Studenten Concert, and the acclaimed close-harmony choir Dekoor.

Parnassos 

Parnassos is the cultural centre of Utrecht University. At Parnassos you can attend courses and workshops, visit concerts, and use the facilities that Parnassos offers. Parnassos is open to students and staff of participating institutions for higher education. 

• UES - Law, Economics and Governance International Talent Scholarship
• Utrecht Excellence Scholarships