ip target image
You are currently browsing our site with content tailored to students in your country

Wageningen University and Research Centre

Netherlands Netherlands

4363 Views

THE World Ranking: 64

Overview

Overview

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is a higher education institution focused on the study of life sciences. WUR is in the Netherlands, right in the historic town and municipality of Wageningen. It was first established as an agricultural college in 1876, becoming a public university in 1918.

 

Across its long history, WUR has always been respected and highly rated. There are now many successful WUR alumni, and students of any and all backgrounds can join these alumni in their success if they choose to enrol. Around 3,000 of the 13,000 students currently enrolled at WUR are international, and in total, there are over 100 different nationalities on campus, including Chinese students, Italian students and German students.

 

This is a specialist university for life sciences. There are over 60 programmes available to study in an important, growing industry. Some courses at WUR are delivered in Dutch, and others are delivered in English. After graduating, students will be able to follow their professional dreams in areas from animal science to tourism.

 

They’ll learn everything they need to know and more, coming out of their time at the university with a degree and a high level of practical understanding (which equals a high level of employability). In the classroom, students will be held to the standards of the working world. Outside of the classroom, students will have access to a range of useful career services, scholarships and support options.

 

The WUR campus is green and beautiful, but it’s also filled with convenient facilities and amenities. The learning environments are designed to keep students focused and interested, and there are campus accommodation options to suit every student’s needs. Life at WUR lets students from across the globe enjoy the best of the Netherlands as they prepare for professional success in the world of life sciences.

 

Teaching Quality

 

WUR has a great reputation for its teaching quality and its exciting research efforts. Staff are focused, caring and invested in their students’ success. WUR is the best university in the Netherlands according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It’s also 53rd in the world. In rankings by subject, it ranks number one for agriculture and forestry, agricultural sciences and environmental ecology.

 

These rankings show that students enjoy high-quality teaching at WUR. The quality teaching isn’t just about delivering information. It’s about a careful blend of theoretical and practical knowledge and an approach in the classroom that makes every student feel heard. The ratio of students to faculty members, for example, is 18 to one. Every teacher has a manageable number of students to focus on, so no person studying at WUR is ever ignored or forgotten about.

 

As mentioned, the university is also known and respected for its research (programmes, centres and individual researchers have all been recognised). WUR’s research is focused on exploring all the amazing potential of the natural world. The six key research themes at WUR are:

 

  • Biodiversity
  • Climate change
  • Circular and biobased economy
  • Food security
  • Nutrition and health
  • Artificial intelligence

 

Entry Requirements

 

General university entry requirements for WUR include a minimum level of English language understanding, and for undergraduates, a secondary school leaving certificate. For domestic undergraduate applicants, this will be a Dutch VWO Diploma. For international undergraduate applicants, this will vary between countries. Beyond these basic university requirements, there will be some course-specific entry requirements, like certain previous subjects of study. For example:

 

  • Applicants who want to study animal sciences need secondary-level qualifications in mathematics, chemistry and biology
  • Applicants who want to study environmental sciences need secondary-level qualifications in mathematics, chemistry and physics
  • Applicants who want to study food technology need secondary-level qualifications in mathematics, chemistry and biology or physics
  • Applicants who want to study international land and water management need secondary-level qualifications in mathematics and physics
  • Applicants who want to study soil, water, atmosphere need secondary-level qualifications in mathematics, chemistry and physics
  • Applicants who want to study mathematics need a secondary-level qualification in mathematics

 

At the postgraduate level, a similar requirement will apply, and applicants will need relevant university qualifications (usually at least a bachelor’s degree) to be considered for admission. Other programme-specific admission requirements will also need to be researched and fully understood before an application is made.

 

English Score Required

 

All programmes taught in English at WUR ask students to have a certain level of understanding of the English language. Without this level of understanding, students won’t be able to get the most out of their education and succeed in tests and assessments. So, WUR won’t admit them.

 

There are some exceptions to the rule, but generally, international students who don’t speak English as a first language will need to prove their English proficiency by taking a test and getting a minimum English score. There is a range of accepted test methods, and two of the most common are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

 

The minimum accepted IELTS overall band score at the undergraduate level is 6, with a band score of at least 6 for speaking. The minimum accepted online TOEFL score is 80, with a score of at least 20 for speaking. For postgraduate programmes, the English requirements are higher, and the accepted test scores for entry into each individual programme are explained on the WUR website.

 

Admission

 

WUR is a competitive university with a 54 per cent acceptance rate, but if a student meets all the requirements and submits a good application, they’re in with a strong chance of being accepted for student admission.

 

The admission process starts when an applicant decides on their programme of choice and checks whether they’re eligible for it. They should then complete a study choice check, which is a questionnaire that makes sure the applicant’s professional and academic goals match up with the programme they want to study. WUR offers this check to make sure all students are on the right course for them, and it reduces the number of post-enrolment programme transfer requests.

 

Domestic and international students should then apply through Studielink, the Dutch national database for university admission. Applications from EU/EFTA nationals must be in by the first of July, and applications from non-EU/EFTA nationals must be in by the first of May.

 

There’s a To Do List section in Studielink that explains everything an applicant needs to do after submitting their application. This will include a list of required supporting documents, like forms of ID, academic transcripts and exam results), and a request to fill in payment details (though these won’t be needed until May).

 

When an application is fully complete and the To Do List has been cleared, WUR asks students to check Studielink regularly for application updates. When WUR reaches a decision, the university will reach out and let an applicant know if they’ve been offered a place or not.

 

One important thing that applicants need to think about during the admission process is tuition fees and whether or not they will be able to cover them financially. Tuition fees for the year 2022–2023 were EUR 2,209 for European undergraduate students (or EUR 1,105 if they were a first-year undergraduate enrolling at a Dutch university for the first time) and EUR 15,700 for non-EU undergraduate students. More information on fees and costs can be found on the WUR website.

 

Scholarships & Funding

 

WUR understands the financial difficulties that students can experience, and it wants to help however it can. This is why there are so many ways to get funding help at WUR, including university scholarships, bursaries, grants and awards.

 

For undergraduate international students, there are two main options for scholarships. The first is the Holland Scholarship programme. The Holland Scholarship is a EUR 5,000 as a one-time payment awarded during the first year of study (or a EUR 10,000 payment if the university chooses to grant a double scholarship, as it does in special cases sometimes).

 

To be eligible, students must be excellent applicants who have not studied in the Netherlands before. They must be admitted to one of WUR’s BSc programmes and from one of the following countries:

 

  • Australia
  • Costa Rica
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • Turkey
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Vietnam

 

The second option is the Orange Tulip Scholarship. There are a maximum of 30 Orange Tulip Scholarships available to students from India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Vietnam, and they earn a student 25 per cent off their tuition fees.

 

As well as the scholarships, there are different routes to financial support. Students can receive sums of money from the university if they run into unexpected financial hardship and need some extra help. This monetary aid is a part of WUR’s commitment to every student getting an amazing education, no matter what their background or financial situation happens to be.

 

University Structure

 

Wageningen’s structure isdifferent to a lot of other higher education institutions because it has only one faculty: the faculty of agricultural and environmental sciences. The university-wide focus on this subject doesn’t limit student options, as there is still a wide selection of courses available for students who want to enter the field.

 

There are 40 postgraduate programmes of study for students to choose from in total at WUR, as well as 20 undergraduate programmes of study. Seven of the undergraduate programmes are taught in English:

 

  • Animal sciences
  • Environmental sciences
  • Food technology
  • International land and water management
  • Marine sciences
  • Soil, water, atmosphere
  • Tourism

 

Research at WUR is done across a number of research institutes and centres, and they are all working hard toward WUR’s sustainable development goals and innovation objectives. New and important discoveries are made every academic year. There are lots of research topics and ongoing projects, with key areas and centres including:

 

  • Wageningen Bioveterinary Research
  • The Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation
  • Wageningen Economic Research
  • Wageningen Environmental Research
  • Wageningen Food & Biobased Research
  • Wageningen Food Safety Research
  • Wageningen Livestock Research
  • Wageningen Marine Research
  • Wageningen Plant Research

 

Facilities

 

WUR’s campus is home to all of the educational and extracurricular facilities a student might need during their studies. If a student wants to get some food between classes, they’ll find lots of available cafés and restaurants on campus. Forum Grand Café has sandwiches, snacks, smoothies and more for hungry and thirsty students. There’s also Restaurant Aeres. These are more than places to eat, they are student life centres where students can rest, refuel and build social connections.

 

For anyone who wants to get active outside of class, a student recreation centre filled with equipment and facilities is available. It’s called the Sports Centre de Bongerd (or the SCB for short), and it’s a large building that includes everything from fitness suites to squash courts.

 

Academically, the classrooms and lecture theatres at WUR are modern and comfortable, so students can stay focused and interested even in longer sessions. The Forum and Orion buildings are just some of the great learning spaces available.

 

There’s also WUR’s Forum Library, a popular student life centre for independent study and group projects. The library has all the study materials and IT resources that anybody could need for their learning. It’s a hub of hard copies and digital materials, and the library staff are available to answer academic/resource queries.

 

There’s nothing a student can’t access at WUR. This includes teaching rooms and study spaces, but it also includes research centres and specialised spaces for certain courses of study. The facilities on campus, from the sports centre to the student accommodation options, are well-designed and created to give students everything they need in one place.

 

Accommodation

 

WUR gives students all the information and support they need during the search for student accommodation in Wageningen/on the WUR campus. The university understands that finding accommodation can be stressful and confusing, especially for international applicants who will be moving across the world to attend WUR.

 

Students can find on-campus university accommodation or off-campus accommodation, the choice is theirs, and support will be offered to them whichever accommodation route they take. If they’re planning to apply for on-campus accommodation, they should pay their tuition fees on time (only then will they be able to apply for a room with priority based on their home address). There are nine recommended residence options on the WUR campus and around Wageningen:

 

  • Asserpark
  • Bornsesteeg
  • Campus Plaza
  • Dijkgraaf
  • Droevendaal
  • Haarweg
  • Hoevestein
  • Marijkeweg
  • Rijnveste

 

Students can look for an off-campus student house or apartment on the website ROOM.nl. IDEALIS, the main private student accommodation company in Wageningen, offers their rooms and options through this website. Other student accommodation companies like DUWO and Socius also advertise on the site, so there are lots of options for students to choose between.

 

Students could also look for private rentals in the villages surrounding Wageningen, like Bennekom, Ede and Rhenen. Though finding accommodation off campus can take longer and require some extra research, it will offer international students a chance to enjoy the culture of the Netherlands fully.

 

Student Support

 

WUR cares about the wellbeing and success of every student on campus. Protecting students’ mental and physical health is very important, as happy and healthy students will of course be much more focused on their education and academic achievement than struggling students. To help with any query or issue that might come up during a student’s time at WUR, there is a full student support programme in place.

 

Student support services on the academic side of things include access to a study advisor. This is a student guide who can give advice, help to set goals, help to improve study skills and communicate with lecturers for students. There’s also a range of online study skills resources available.

 

Student services also include access to student psychologists and confidential counsellors. These counsellors can talk with a student about whatever is upsetting them, whether it’s a problem in their personal life or a problem in the classroom that’s affecting their work/their WUR experience. These counselling sessions are also strictly confidential, so students can be sure they’re in a safe space.

 

International students can access targeted student support, especially during the orientation phase (when they’re settling into a new country) and before they arrive (when they’re handling paperwork and hoping for approval to study in the Netherlands). Disabled students and students with accessibility needs also have dedicated places to go to make their learning needs heard.

 

For even more student support, the Student Service Centre (SSC) is available to help with whatever questions or problems a student might have about admission, tuition fees, registration or any other administrative issues.

 

Graduate Outcomes

 

WUR is a university that guides its students very well. It puts them on the path to success and develops them as people as it delivers knowledge. This, combined with a range of great career services, is why the job prospects of WUR graduates are so exciting. There are thousands of WUR alumni all across the world who left the university qualified and confident and went on to become very successful.

 

Employment services offered at WUR include CV and resume writing workshops, interview preparation workshops, networking events/career fairs with alumni and employers, personal career advice and one-to-one appointments with a career guide to explore career options and plan for the future.

 

The Student Career Services department runs a wide range of training programmes, workshops and presentations each academic year. They also regularly get students in touch with local, national and international employers.

 

WUR understands that preparation is important, and these services, along with an interactive and practical teaching style, give students their best chance at achieving their professional goals. Life beyond university is always in mind. Students have all the information they need about the working world before they reach graduation.

 

For international students who would love to enrol at a university that encourages their growth, prepares them for a career in their chosen field and gives them as much information as possible about the industry/the job market/their career options, it has to be WUR.

Subjects you can study at Wageningen University and Research Centre

  • Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
  • Applied and Pure Sciences Applied and Pure Sciences
  • Architecture and Construction Architecture and Construction
  • Business and Management Business and Management
  • Computer Science and IT Computer Science and IT
  • Creative Arts and Design Creative Arts and Design
  • Engineering Engineering
  • Health and Medicine Health and Medicine
  • Social Studies and Media Social Studies and Media
  • Travel and Hospitality Travel and Hospitality
ADD TO MY FAVOURITES

See what you can study

Search for a course

Choose study level*

Key facts and figures at Wageningen University and Research Centre

Rankings

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Source: THE

64

OVERALL SCORE

73%

TEACHING

56.4%

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

92.4%

INDUSTRY INCOME

98.8%

RESEARCH

59.8%

CITATIONS

93.8%
QS World University Rankings 2024
Source: QS

151

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
Source: ARWU

151

Student life in numbers

COSTS PER YEAR
LIVING COSTS

€10,902

CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION

€4,800

AVERAGE TUITION FEE PER YEAR

UNDERGRADUATE

€15,700

POSTGRADUATE

€18,700

Student reviews

There are no reviews for this university.

Be the first to write a review.

Get in touch