University of Groningen

The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

We collaborate with a number of renowned, foreign universities, including Uppsala, Göttingen and Ghent. The University of Groningen is very popular with its 27,000 students and 5500 staff members from home and abroad. Talent is nurtured, enabling the University to bridge the gap between science and society. We are committed to actively collaborating with our social partners, with a special focus on the research themes Healthy Ageing, Energy and Sustainable Society.

The University of Groningen is an ambitious international research university with strong roots in the north of the Netherlands. The University creates and shares knowledge through outstanding research and education, and thus benefits society.

The University of Groningen is an international academic community in which disciplinary and cross-disciplinary research leads to scientific breakthroughs and societal innovation, and in which talented students are trained as innovators who will contribute to a sustainable society. Its research and education are driven by intrinsic curiosity and interaction with global society. As a result, research, education and processes that have a societal impact are closely intertwined at the University.

Our research, which is of the highest standing, is based on strong core disciplines and a critical mass of researchers. These strong core disciplines are the foundation of our cross-disciplinary research. Our research in these core disciplines and our cross-disciplinary research help us to both deepen our fundamental understanding and knowledge of the world and find innovative answers to today’s societal challenges. Understanding the world and putting this knowledge to use are two key responsibilities.

With these responsibilities in mind, we actively engage in the dissemination of knowledge and converting this knowledge into economic and societal value. We do this with an emphasis on our three research priorities – healthy ageing, energy and sustainable society – and with a specific focus on the needs of the Northern Netherlands. Due to t heir political and economic constellation, the northern provinces provide us with a unique environment for innovative research on the global societal challenges , and in return the University provides a window on the world for the North of the Netherlands.

We want our students to become active, independent, and responsible citizens who can think critically and help solve the scientific and societal challenges of today and become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. To achieve this goal we aim at small-scale teaching and focus on establishing strong links between students and staff, between teaching and research, and between teaching and relevant social issues in national and international contexts.

Exceptional teaching and research are only feasible with a diverse perspective on teaching and research and a university community encompassing different talents and nationalities. We achieve this by establishing a setting in which talent is recognized and can blossom. In keeping with the University’s ambitions, talented staff and students from all over the world are attracted by the career prospects and challenging study programmes. Moreover, they are given ample opportunity to apply, train and develop their specific strengths. Our university thus delivers a knowledgeable workforce that can make a significant contribution to a deeper understanding of the world and solving the challenges it presents. We believe that it is important to keep in touch with our alumni around the globe and to enable them to contribute to the mission of the university.

The University of Groningen is an ambitious international research university with strong roots in the north of the Netherlands. The University creates and shares knowledge through its outstanding research, scholarship and education. With an academic tradition dating back to 1614 and a rich heritage, the University is a unique academic community with a strong sense of belonging and a culture of innovative education and research.

Research and teaching at the University of Groningen are curiosity driven and relate closely to global societal needs. The research is based on strong core disciplines.

In Groningen, we believe that exceptional teaching and research depend on a diverse academic community with a broad range of nationalities and talents. Research, societal impact and education are closely intertwined at the University, and are set against a backdrop of academic freedom. We thus enable our students to become active, independent, critical and responsible global citizens who will help solve the scientific and societal challenges of tomorrow.

The University of Groningen has high hopes that alumni will stay in touch with us and with fellow students after graduation – for social purposes, to support us or to develop their career. The department of Alumni Relations & Fundraising and the Ubbo Emmius Fund support and organize activities and services for alumni. Mutual involvement between the University and its alumni is important to us. We offer various possibilities for continuing education and career counseling. Alumni can also support our university. For example by making a donation to one of our special research and education projects.