Radboud University Nijmegen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Radboud University

Radboud Universiteit
Latin: Universitas Radbodiana Noviomagensis
Former name	Catholic University of Nijmegen (1923-2004)
Type	Public research university
Established	17 October 1923; 101 years ago (1923-10-17)
President	Prof. dr. Daniël Wigboldus
Rector	Prof. dr. José Sanders
Academic staff	3,467 (2023)
Administrative staff	2,735 (2021)
Students	24,402 (October 2023)
Location	Nijmegen , Gelderland , Netherlands
Campus	Urban
Colors	Bright red
Affiliations	EUA IFCU Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities VSNU

Radboud University (often called RU) is a public university in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. It is known for its strong focus on research. Many people consider it one of the best traditional universities in the Netherlands. Radboud University has seven main departments, called faculties. More than 24,000 students study there.

The university started in 1923. Since then, it has often been ranked among the top 150 universities in the world. For example, in 2020, it was ranked 105th in a major world university list. Radboud University is famous around the world for its excellent research. In 2020, students earned 391 PhD degrees, and the university published 8,396 scientific articles. To help share knowledge with other countries, Radboud University joined the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities in 2016.

Many famous people have studied at Radboud University. This includes 14 winners of the Spinoza Prize (a top Dutch science award). One person, Sir Konstantin Novoselov, even won a Nobel Prize. Four former students became prime ministers of the Netherlands. Other notable alumni include business leaders, writers, and scientists. Since 2000, students from Radboud University have also won three Olympic medals in rowing.

University Symbols: The Coat of Arms

Coat of arms of Radboud University

Radboud University has its own special symbol, called a coat of arms. It was designed when the university first opened in 1923. The bottom part of the coat of arms shows symbols of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands.

At the top, there is a dove. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. A crown sits above the shield. This crown is the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire. It is there because Nijmegen was once the home of the famous Frankish King Charlemagne.

Below the coat of arms, you can read the university's motto: "In Dei Nomine Feliciter." This Latin phrase means "happily in the name of God." The university uses this coat of arms on important papers, like graduation certificates. In 2023, a special version was made to celebrate Radboud University's 100th birthday!

A Look Back: The History of Radboud University

The idea of having a university in Nijmegen is very old. The first University of Nijmegen started in 1655. It was called the Kwartierlijke Academie van Nijmegen. Students there learned about theology (religion), medicine, and law.

This first university closed around 1680. It struggled because of outbreaks of the plague and the French invasion in 1672.

Starting a New University in Nijmegen

After many years, the current Radboud University Nijmegen was founded in 1923. It was first called the Catholic University of Nijmegen. It was started by the Saint Radboud Foundation. This group of bishops wanted to help Catholic thinkers in the Netherlands. At that time, Dutch Roman Catholics often faced challenges. They held very few high positions in government or science. Starting a university was a way to help them succeed.

The official opening of the Catholic University of Nijmegen in 1923. The academic beadle walks with the new professors to Saint Ignatius' Church.

When the Catholic University of Nijmegen opened, every student automatically joined a student group called N.S.V. Carolus Magnus. This group was named after King Charlemagne. It was created to help students and organize events. It also wanted to be as important as other student groups in famous Dutch cities like Leiden.

Over time, Carolus Magnus changed. In the 1920s, it created smaller groups for male and female students. Students also formed even smaller communities called disputen.

University Life During World War II

The first years after 1923 were good for the university. But during World War II, the university faced big problems. Many important people from the university were lost. For example, professors Robert Regout and Titus Brandsma died in a concentration camp.

As the war continued, the university's freedoms were limited. The German security service removed "anti-German" books from the library. Also, professors could only be hired if the Nazi Department of Education approved them. These rules aimed to get rid of religious universities.

In 1943, the conflict became very serious. The German occupiers demanded that all students in the Netherlands sign a loyalty statement. If they didn't sign, they couldn't continue their studies. They would also be forced to work in Germany. But students in Nijmegen resisted. A law student named Jozef van Hövelleven worked hard to convince many students not to sign.

The university's leader, Rector Bernard Hermesdorf, supported the students. He was the only Dutch rector who refused to give out the loyalty statements. This made the Nazi forces very angry. On May 5, 1943, the Germans ordered all Nijmegen students who didn't sign to report for forced labor. If they didn't go, their families would be punished.

Because of this, Rector Hermesdorf had to close the university on April 11, 1943. He hoped for better times. Only 83 students reported to the Germans. Most students went into hiding across the Netherlands. A university leader named Bernard van Ogtrop helped them. He traveled around the country to visit students in hiding. He wrote letters and sent packages. He kept their spirits up. The university was closed, but thanks to Van Ogtrop, it stayed alive in the students' minds.

From 1945 to 2000: Rebuilding and Growth

When the war ended in 1945, many university buildings were destroyed. But students slowly returned. Classes officially started again in March 1946. Because so many buildings were bombed, the university needed new places.

The university bought the Heyendaal estate. This gave them their own campus in a green area. It was less than a fifteen-minute bike ride from the city center. In 1951, the medical department was the first to move to Heyendaal. Other departments soon followed. By 1988, all departments were on the Heyendaal campus.

Moving to a new campus also meant more students came to the university. Student numbers grew steadily. There were 3,000 students in 1960 and 15,000 in 1980.

The years between 1960 and 1975 were a time of "student unrest." The student population in Nijmegen grew a lot. It also became more diverse and less focused on elite groups. The hippie movement also reached the city. Many students wanted a more democratic student life.

The main student group, Carolus Magnus, became too big. It lost touch with its members. Students criticized having to join Carolus Magnus. So, the group focused more on paperwork than on fun activities. In 1966, Carolus Magnus changed. From then on, students could choose which groups to join. In the 1980s and 1990s, many new student groups started in Nijmegen.

From 2000 to Today: A New Name

In 2004, the university changed its name to Radboud University Nijmegen. This showed its changing relationship with the Bishops' Conference of the Netherlands. The university wanted to seem less focused on one religious group. It was named after Saint Radboud of Utrecht, a bishop from the Middle Ages.

There were still some disagreements between the university and the bishops. In November 2020, the bishops decided to remove the "Catholic" name from the university. This meant the university could no longer get church funding or call itself Roman Catholic. The university appealed this decision. In November 2022, the Pope's office ruled that the bishops could remove the "Catholic" name from the university's leaders, but not from the university as a whole.

What You Can Study: Faculties

Radboud University has seven main departments, called faculties. These faculties offer many different study programs and courses. You can study subjects like:

• Humanities (like history and languages)
• Social Sciences (like psychology and sociology)
• Natural Sciences (like biology and physics)
• Medical Sciences
• Law
• Management
• Philosophy
• Theology and Religious Studies

Each faculty brings together different study programs, schools, and research centers. They work together for education.

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• Nijmegen School of Management
• Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Sciences

Exploring the Campus

Heyendaal castle (now serving as the Faculty Club of the university) is of old the center of Heyendaal estate, where later on most Radboud University buildings have been established.

Radboud University is known for its beautiful, green campus. Many people say it's one of the most attractive campuses in the Netherlands. The campus is in the Heyendaal estate in southern Nijmegen. All seven faculties are located here, doing teaching and research.

The campus is also home to the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. This is a world-class research center that studies human language and communication.

A view of the Radboud University law faculty in the summer.

On the northwest side of the campus, you'll find the Heyendaal castle. It is next to the Radboud University Medical Center. This is a large teaching hospital connected to the university's medical department. Next to the hospital is the Huygens Building, where the Faculty of Natural Sciences is located.

At the south end of the campus, near the Radboud Sports Centre (RSC), is the Erasmus Tower. This tower houses the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Theology and Religion. The Erasmus Tower and the RSC are next to the Elinor Ostrom building. This building is home to the School of Management and also includes political science and economics staff.

Near the Erasmus Tower, there are general lecture halls, a campus pub, and a bookshop. In the southwest part of the campus, you'll find the modern Maria Montessori building. This is home to the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Grotius building, home to the Faculty of Law, is also there. In the very south of the campus, you can see the historic Jesuit Berchmanianum monastery. This building houses the university's general services staff and serves as its auditorium.

In 2017, a small SPAR supermarket opened in the Erasmus building. It provides students with snacks and other items. The university campus is next to the campus of the HAN University of Applied Sciences. This is also next to the Heyendaal train station. Regular shuttle buses connect the university to Nijmegen Central Station and the city center.

Academics: Learning and Research

Education at Radboud University

An aerial view of the Huygens buildings of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, with the Erasmus Tower in the back

Radboud University has over 22,000 students. It offers about one hundred study programs. These include around 50 bachelor's programs and 50 master's programs. As of April 2021, the university offers 34 international master's programs taught in English. Several more are taught in Dutch.

There are nine bachelor's programs taught completely in English:

• American Studies
• Artificial Intelligence
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computing Science
• International Economics & Business
• International Business Administration
• English Language and Culture
• Philosophy, Politics and Society
• Molecular Life Sciences

Some other bachelor's programs, like Communication and Information Studies, History, Psychology, and Arts and Culture Studies, have English-language options. Most other bachelor's programs are in Dutch. However, much of the reading material is in English. Some exams, papers, and even classes might also be in English. All master's programs have been approved by a special organization in the Netherlands and Flanders.

International Master's Programs

All master's programs taught in English are based on research. They are offered within the Faculties of Arts, Law, Social Sciences, Medical Sciences, Sciences, and Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. They are also offered by the Interfaculty Research school and the Nijmegen School of Management.

Research at Radboud University

Radboud University is home to several important research centers. These include the Business & Law Research Centre and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. Many faculty members have won the Spinoza Prize, a very important award for Dutch scientists.

Two visiting professors, Sir Andre Geim and Sir Konstantin Novoselov, won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. They discovered graphene, a super-strong material.

University Rankings

Radboud University has been named the best broad university in the Netherlands for seven years in a row. Its physics department is considered one of the best. A recent achievement was its part in taking the first picture of a black hole.

The Faculty of Law is excellent in business and law research. It works closely with other top universities like Bologna and Oxford. The European Law School and Notarial Law departments are considered the best in the Netherlands. The Political Sciences, Sociology, and Theology programs are also top in their fields.

Radboud Excellence Initiative: Attracting Top Talent

The Radboud Excellence Initiative helps bring talented researchers from all over the world to Radboud University. It also helps build strong connections between universities globally. This initiative is a joint effort between Radboud University and its medical center.

There are two ways for researchers to join. Promising researchers who finished their doctorate a few years ago can apply for a fellowship. More experienced researchers can be nominated for a professorship.

Student Life: Beyond the Classroom

Student Associations

Emblem of the traditional student association Carolus Magnus

Radboud University offers students many ways to get involved. You can join groups based on culture, politics, or special interests. There are also honor societies and social clubs.

Study Associations

Study associations are groups linked to specific degree programs. They are open to international students too. These groups do not have initiation rituals. They meet regularly for fun activities and study-related events.

Some examples include:

• Thalia (for computing science and information sciences students)
• Excalibur (for history students)
• SPIN (for psychology students)
• Synergy (for Business Administration students)

Campus Publications

Radboud University has its own independent media platform called Vox. It publishes news and articles online every day. It also prints free magazines each month for students and staff. Students at Radboud University also create their own magazine, the Algemeen Nijmeegs Studentenblad (ANS). It comes out seven times a year.

Athletics and Sports

The Radboud Sports Centre (RSC) offers many sports facilities. Students can use the center seven days a week. They can try over 80 different sports. Besides the RSC, Radboud University also has more than 35 student sports associations. These include:

• Radboud Rangers (baseball)
• Obelix (rugby)
• Apelliotes (hockey)
• FC Kunde (soccer)
• Phocas (rowing)
• De Loefbijter (sailing)

Famous People Who Studied Here

Frans Timmermans

Ingrid van Engelshoven

Konstantin Novoselov

Here are some of the notable people who studied at Radboud University:

Politics

• Dries van Agt – former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
• Gracita Arrindell – first woman President of Sint Maarten
• Louis Beel – former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
• Jo Cals – former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
• Ingrid van Engelshoven – former Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science
• Thom de Graaf – former mayor of Nijmegen
• Frans Timmermans – Dutch politician and diplomat, former First Vice-President of the European Commission

Academics and Science

• Anna Akhmanova – cell biologist, winner of the Spinoza Prize
• Sir Konstantin Novoselov – discoverer of graphene, won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics
• Frans de Waal – biologist known for his work on animal behavior and intelligence

Business Leaders

• Marijn Emmanuel Dekkers – former CEO of Bayer and Unilever
• Herna Verhagen – CEO of PostNL, named most influential Dutch woman in 2014

Sports Stars

• Karapet Karapetyan – Armenian-Dutch kickboxer
• Björn Kuipers – famous football referee
• Koen Metsemakers – rower, won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics
• Nelleke Penninx – rower, won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics
• Annemarieke van Rumpt – rower, won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Writers and Artists

• Godfried Bomans – popular Dutch author, known for children's fantasy
• Henri Nouwen – Catholic priest and writer
• Mark Retera – popular Dutch cartoonist

Notable Teachers and Researchers

Titus Brandsma

Here are some of the notable teachers and researchers who have worked at Radboud University:

• Titus Brandsma † – co-founder of the university, died in a concentration camp
• Joan Daemen – cryptographer, helped develop important encryption standards
• Heino Falcke – professor of radio astronomy, involved in the first black hole image
• Mihai Netea – physician, awarded the Spinoza Prize in 2016

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Radboud de Nimega para niños

• Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen, another university in Nijmegen
• List of early modern universities in Europe