List of universities in the Netherlands

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A listing of universities in the Kingdom of the Netherlands:

Contents

Research universities

Research universities in the Netherlands are institutions of tertiary education that in Dutch are called universiteit. Their focus is towards academic education and scientific research. They are accredited to confer bachelor's, master's and (with the exception of the Netherlands Defence Academy) doctoral degrees. Prior to the Bologna Process, the universities granted drs. ( doctorandus ), mr. (for law studies) and ir. (for engineering studies) degrees, which are equivalent to current MA, LLM or MSc degrees. The term universiteit is reserved to doctorate granting institutes in the Dutch context, and the additional qualifier "research" is hardly ever used in practice.

There are Semi-Public Universities and Private Universities in Netherlands. The semi-public status of most Dutch universities arises from the fact that they have both public and private characteristics. In this respect, their public funding is entirely output-based, determined by the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees delivered. Except for this output-based funding, Dutch universities are largely private entities that, since 1998, own and operate their real estate at their own risk; [1] moreover, all employees of Dutch universities have labor contracts based on private sector terms (as of 2020). [2]

NameEstablishedUniversity statusCityOrganisationTypeNumber of staffNumber of students
Members of the Universities of the Netherlands association
University of Amsterdam [3] 16321877 [4] Amsterdam Semi-publicResearch university4,06232,739
Academic Medical Center 1983 Amsterdam
Amsterdam University College 2008Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam 18801880 [4] AmsterdamSpecial: ProtestantResearch university2,20018,000
VU University Medical Center 1964Amsterdam
Amsterdam University College 2008Amsterdam
University of Groningen 16141614GroningenSemi-publicResearch university5,00026,500
University Medical Center Groningen 2005 Groningen
Leiden University 15751575LeidenSemi-publicResearch university3,97319,328
Leiden University Medical Center 1996 Leiden
Leiden University College The Hague 2010The Hague
Maastricht University 19761975MaastrichtSemi-publicResearch university3,00011,463
Academic Hospital Maastricht 1974 Maastricht
University College Maastricht 2002Maastricht
Radboud University Nijmegen 19231923 [4] Nijmegen Special: CatholicResearch university4,309*17,650*
Radboud University Medical Center 1956Nijmegen
Erasmus University Rotterdam 19131937 [4] Rotterdam Semi-publicResearch university3,70026,212 [5]
Erasmus MC 1950Rotterdam3,361
Erasmus University College 2013Rotterdam270
Tilburg University 19271939 Tilburg Special: CatholicResearch university1,062*11,399*
University College Tilburg2008Tilburg
TIAS School for Business and Society 1982Tilburg
Utrecht University 16361636 Utrecht Semi-publicResearch university8,22426,787
University Medical Center Utrecht 1999Utrecht
University College Utrecht 1998Utrecht
University College Roosevelt 2004 Middelburg Semi-publicUniversity College
Delft University of Technology 18421905 Delft Semi-publicTechnical university5,40024,000
Eindhoven University of Technology 19561956 Eindhoven Semi-publicTechnical university3,00012,000
University of Twente 19611961 Enschede Semi-publicTechnical university3,0008,500
Wageningen University and Research Centre 20001918 Wageningen Semi-publicTechnical university6,500##12,847
Wageningen University 1876Wageningen
Wageningen Research1877throughout the NetherlandsResearch Institutes
Open University in the Netherlands 19841984Nationwide; main office in HeerlenSemi-publicOpen university67316,888 [6]
Other universities
University of Curaçao 19791979 Curaçao PublicNational university
University of Humanistic Studies 19891989UtrechtSemi-publicResearch university150550 [7]
Netherlands Defence Academy  [ nl ]18232005Breda/Den HelderSpecial: National Military AcademyMilitary Academy, since 2005 includes Department of Military Sciences~75~200
Privately Funded Universities (accredited as Universiteit by Dutch law) (by type)
Nyenrode Business University 19461982 Breukelen PrivateBusiness school
Protestant Theological University 18541939Originally Kampen, moved to Amsterdan and Groningen (2010) and then to Utrecht (2024)PrivateUniversity for Protestant Theology
Theological University of the Reformed Churches 18541939Originally Kampen, moved to Utrecht in 2021PrivateUniversity for Protestant Theology
Theological University of Apeldoorn 18941962ApeldoornPrivateUniversity for Protestant Theology
Universities that no longer exist
Catholic University of Utrecht 1991–2007UtrechtPrivate: merged into University of Tilburg University for Catholic Theology
University of Harderwijk 1648–1811 Harderwijk disbanded by Napoleon
University of Franeker 1585–1811 Franeker disbanded by Napoleon, since 2017 the Academie van Franeker was developed to revive the academic traditions of Franeker [8] , and the commercial school Euler-Franeker memorial university [9] honours it's heritage with several programmes accredited by the National Accreditation Agency of Curaçao
University of Nijmegen1655–1680 Nijmegen closed in the aftermath of the 1672 rampjaar
University of Theology and Pastorate1966-1999 [10] HeerlenPrivate: merged into Radboud University Nijmegen in 1993, Heerlen location closed 1999University for Catholic Theology

† 2003–2004; ‡ 2004–2005; # 2005–2006; * 2006–2007; ##including research staff at the associated institutes. All figures without signs are estimates or from undated sources. According to Dutch law, it is illegal to use protected titles which can only be given by universities that are accredited. Protected titles are ing. bc. mr. ir. drs. and dr. [11] English variants (MSc BSc MA BA LLB LLM BEng PhD) are not (yet) [12] protected by Dutch law [13] (but using the title "dr." based on a PhD degree, without permission from DUO, is a violation of Dutch law as the title "doctor" is protected). One may bear in the Netherlands foreign titles according to the laws of the country wherein they were granted, but without translating them in Dutch.

Universities of applied sciences

Universities of applied sciences (Dutch: hogeschool) in the Netherlands are focused on professional education rather than scientific research. While the literal translation of hogeschool is "high school", these are second-tier institutes of higher education, and can be compared with colleges or polytechnics or similar in other countries. They are accredited to confer bachelor's and master's degrees. Prior to the Bologna Process, they also conferred professional engineer's (abbreviated ing.) degrees. Dutch universities of applied sciences are not accredited to confer doctoral (PhD) degrees; PhD studies can sometimes be conducted in the context of a university of applied sciences, however, the title will be granted by one of the research universities, and a full professor of that university will be appointed as principal supervisor (promotor). In international contexts, the phrase University of Applied Sciences is used for the majority of these schools, as suggested by the Dutch Minister of Education. [14] Some specific exceptions have been made. For example, tertiary art schools and schools of education use an internationally recognisable name of choice.

The Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences funded by the governement are:

Former universities of applied sciences (not exhaustive)

Private for-profit medical schools

Although there are none of these schools in the mainland, many exist in the Dutch Caribbean either in the special municipalities of the Netherlands or constituents countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Only one (Saba University) has direct accreditation from Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders, which accredits universities in the Netherlands and Flanders.

Private for-profit business schools and other universities of applied sciences

A number of private universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) are active in the Netherlands. Some of these are exclusively distance learning (online) medium learning providers.

Webster University: the American university in the Netherlands

Webster University Leiden is a university outside the Dutch system, offering Bachelor and Master programs in the Netherlands. Webster University is a private, non-profit American university, accredited in the United States by the Higher Learning Commission's North Central Association. The International Business and Management program, as well as the Applied Behavioral and Social Sciences program are accredited in the Netherlands by the NVAO at the hbo (professional master) level.

International rankings

In relation to their population size, Switzerland (first), Sweden (second) and the Netherlands (third) are the three countries with the highest number of universities among the 100 best of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (2014-2015). [17]

Below are shown the international rankings of the government funded research universities of the Netherlands, and the number of times they rank in the top 200 of one of the six prominent global rankings:

University QS World
(2026) [18] 		THE World
(2025) [19] 		ARWU World
(2024) [20] 		USNWR World
(2025–26) [21] 		CWTS Leiden
(2024) [22] 		CWUR World
(2025) [23] 		#a
University of Amsterdam 5358=101-150335483
6b
Utrecht University 103=66 c55497178
6b
Leiden University 119=73=101-150567288
6b
University of Groningen 147=80=697597104
6b
Erasmus University Rotterdam 140=107=101-15076104111
6b
Wageningen University and Research 153=67=151-200115=75193
6
VU University Amsterdam 194=136=151-20079=60159
6
Delft University of Technology 47=56=151-200191117269
5
Radboud University 279143=101-15012280172
5
Maastricht University 239132=201-300176=169264
3
Eindhoven University of Technology 140=185=401-500409=177366
3
University of Twente 203=180=401-500427=274463
1
Tilburg University 347=251-300701-800653=197733
1
Open University N.A.N.A.N.A.1659=N.A.N.A.
0
University of Curaçao N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.
0
University of Humanistic Studies N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.
0

Notes:
N.A.: Not Applicable
a Number of times the university is ranked within the top 200 of one of the six global rankings.
b The university is ranked within the top 150 of all six global rankings.
c THE World University Rankings 2023 (rankings thereafter are not available).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Algemene Rekenkamer, Vastgoed bij universiteiten: Twintig jaar na overdracht van eigendom (Real estate of universities: Twenty years after the transfer of ownership), 2018. Available from: https://www.rekenkamer.nl/publicaties/rapporten/2018/01/18/vastgoed-bij-universiteiten
  2. ↑ "Verandering rechtspositie medewerkers in het openbaar onderwijs - Werken in het onderwijs - Rijksoverheid.nl". 21 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Facts and figures". University of Amsterdam. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Rüegg, Walter (ed.): A History of the University in Europe. Vol. III: Universities in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries (1800–1945), Cambridge University Press ISBN   978-0-521-36107-1, pp. 39
  5. ↑ "Annual Report 2015" (PDF). Erasmus University Rotterdam. Retrieved 4 January 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ "Introduction - University of Humanistic Studies". www.uvh.nl. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  8. ↑ https://www.academiefraneker.nl/ [ bare URL ]
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "Centrum Theologie en Pastoraat - Publicaties". Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Uitvoering motie bescherming naam universiteit | Kamerstuk". Rijksoverheid.nl. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Briskmagazine.nl: Zet gerust MBA achter uw naam". Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  14. ↑ "Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap | Organisatie | Rijksoverheid.nl" (PDF). Minocw.nl. Retrieved 1 August 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ https://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/europort-business-school-is-accreditatie-definitief-kwijt~a97f3ec0/ [ bare URL ]
  16. ↑ "Waarom Hogeschool HBO Nederland - Hogeschool HBO Nederland". Archived from the original on 4 April 2018.
  17. ↑ "Top of the class". The Economist . 28 March 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2026". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "World University Rankings 2025". Times Higher Education (THE) . Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  21. ↑ "2025-2026 Best Global Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report . Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024 - PP top 10%". Centrum voor Wetenschap en Technologische Studies (CWTS), Leiden University . Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "Global 2000 List by the Center for World University Rankings; 2025 Edition". Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) . Retrieved 7 June 2025.
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