University of Groningen facts for kids
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Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG)
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| Latin: Academia Groningana | |
| Motto | Verbum Domini Lucerna Pedibus Nostris (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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The word of the Lord is a light for our feet |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1614 |
| President | Jouke de Vries |
| Rector | Jacquelien Scherpen |
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Academic staff
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3,600 employees (in 2020) |
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Administrative staff
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6,250 employees (27 May 2021) |
| Students | 34,000 (in 2020) |
| 4,350 (in 2020) | |
| Location |
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53°13′9″N 6°33′46″E / 53.21917°N 6.56278°E |
| Colours | UG Red, Black & White |
| Affiliations | Coimbra Group Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities |
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The University of Groningen (UG) is a big public university in the city of Groningen, Netherlands. It has over 30,000 students. The university was started in 1614. This makes it the second oldest university in the country. It is also one of the most respected universities in the Netherlands.
The University of Groningen has eleven main departments, called faculties. It also has nine special schools for advanced studies. There are more than 175 different study programs. Many famous people have studied or worked here. These include four Nobel Prize winners and members of the Dutch royal family.
Contents
History of the University
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The university began as a college in 1614. It was started by the local government of Groningen. At first, it had four main study areas: Theology, Law, Medicine, and Philosophy.
The university's coat of arms was approved in 1615. It shows the local area's shield with an open book. The book has a Latin phrase meaning "The word of the Lord is a light for our feet." A golden crown sits on top of the shield.
In its first 75 years, about 100 students joined each year. Many students and teachers came from outside the Netherlands. For example, the first leader, Ubbo Emmius, was from Germany. But the university also had strong ties to the city of Groningen.
The university's growth slowed down in the late 1600s and 1700s. This was due to disagreements and political problems. One big event was a city siege in 1672. During this time, about 200 to 300 students were enrolled.
During the French rule (1775-1814), the university was linked to the Imperial University of Paris. It was renamed the Imperial University of Groningen. It was the only university open in the Kingdom of Holland then. After the wars in 1815, it became a national college.
A new main building, the Academiegebouw, was built in 1850. Local people helped pay for it. Sadly, a fire destroyed this building in 1906.
In 1876, a new law greatly improved the university. It was renamed "Rijksuniversiteit Groningen" (RUG). Teaching was in Dutch and Latin. The university also gained a duty to do research.
The university grew a lot in the early 1900s. More departments and courses were added. The number of students quickly increased. In 1914, there were 611 students. By 1924, there were 1,000. After World War II, student numbers grew fast. They reached 20,000 in 1994. Today, there are about 32,700 students. Many international students, especially from Germany, now study there.
In 2015, the university planned to open a campus in China. This plan was stopped in 2018. It was mainly due to worries about academic freedom.
University Facts and Figures
Here are some interesting facts about the University of Groningen:
- In 2020, the university had 34,000 students. This includes 8,250 students from other countries.
- The university has 3,600 academic staff members. About one-third of them are from other countries.
- There are over 425 full professors.
- The university offers more than 45 bachelor's degree programs. Over 35 of these are taught in English.
- There are more than 120 master's degree programs taught in English.
- About 4,350 students are working on their PhDs. More than half of them are international students.
- The university's budget is 1.0 billion Euros.
- The university's Center for Information Technology (CIT) has a powerful supercomputer. It also has a special center for Virtual Reality and 3D-visualisation.
University Rankings
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 66 (2022) |
| CWUR World | 106 (2023) |
| CWTS World | 112 (2023) |
| QS World | 139 (2024) |
| THE World | 75 (2023) |
| USNWR Global | 88 (2022-23) |
The University of Groningen is known as one of the best universities in the world.
- It is part of the "Excellence Group" of universities in Europe. Only 1.3% of European universities are in this group.
- The university is in the top 100 large research universities globally.
- In 2023, it was ranked 75th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
- In 2022, it was ranked 66th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
- The university was ranked 139th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2024.
- In 2021, the university was ranked 3rd in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking. This ranking looks at how sustainable universities are.
How the University is Organized
The University of Groningen has 6,250 employees. The university library was updated between 2013 and 2017. The university also has a smaller campus in Leeuwarden.
University Faculties
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The University of Groningen has eleven main departments, called faculties. These faculties offer many different programs. They cover subjects like:
- Humanities (like history and languages)
- Social Sciences (like psychology)
- Law
- Economics and Business
- Life Sciences (like biology)
- Natural Sciences and Technology (like physics and engineering)
Each faculty offers bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs. Some also have short courses. Since 2014, the university also has a special college called University College Groningen (UCG).
Here are the faculties:
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society
- Faculty of Philosophy
- Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Faculty of Spatial Sciences
- University College Groningen
- Campus Fryslân
University Partnerships
The University of Groningen works with many other universities. It is part of groups like Enlight and the Coimbra Group. These groups help universities work together on teaching and research.
It also has special partnerships with universities around the world. These include universities in Singapore, Japan, Australia, and South America.
University Campus
The university's buildings are spread out across the city of Groningen. Many faculties, like Law, Arts, and Philosophy, are in the city center. The main administration building is right in the middle of the city. The medical faculty is also nearby.
Other faculties, like Economics and Business, are on the Zernike Campus. This campus is on the northern edge of the city. The Zernike Campus is named after Nobel Prize winner Frits Zernike. Another big university, the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, also shares this campus. This means about 40,000 students study there.
The university has libraries in three places. The main library is in the city center. There are also libraries on the Zernike Campus and at the medical faculty. The main library even has a Starbucks! The university recently opened a new campus in Leeuwarden, called "Campus Fryslân." It offers many different subjects.
Student Life in Groningen
Groningen is known as a student city. About one-third of the people living there are students. They study at either the University of Groningen or the Hanze University of Applied Sciences.
The university offers many sports activities and courses through ACLO. Almost every sport has its own club. Students can use their facilities at a lower price.
The university also has many student groups. Some organize fun social events. Others are for students studying specific subjects.
Riding a bicycle is very popular for getting around. There are special bike paths from the city center to the Zernike Campus. Groningen is often called "The World Cycling City."
Student Housing
The University of Groningen does not have its own dorms. But it helps students find places to live through SSH Student Housing. This group runs student houses in Groningen and other Dutch cities. Many students also rent private rooms or apartments. A new option is The Student Hotel.
The city of Groningen has also tried to help with housing shortages. They have encouraged building short-term places for international students, like "The Village" made of shipping containers. The Dutch government has rules to make sure rent prices are fair for students.
In 2021, there was a big housing shortage in Groningen. Many students, especially international ones, struggled to find a place to live. Some even had to stay in emergency shelters. This led to protests by students.
University Research
In 2019, 708 PhD students started their research programs. About half of these students came from other countries. In the same year, 546 students earned their PhDs.
Research Centers and Institutes
The University of Groningen has many research centers. These centers focus on different areas of study.
Humanities and Social Sciences
- Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG)
- Groningen Institute of Archeology (GIA)
- Heymans Institute
Law
- Centre for Law, Administration and Society (CRBS)
Economics & Business
- SOM research institute
Life Sciences
- Cancer Research Center Groningen (CRCG)
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology (GBB)
Science and Engineering
- Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Kapteyn Astronomical Institute
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM)
Graduate Schools
The university's Graduate Schools help students in two-year master's programs. These are special advanced programs.
- Graduate School of Behavioural and Social Sciences
- Graduate School of Economics and Business
- Graduate School of Humanities
- Graduate School of Law
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Graduate School of Philosophy
- Graduate School of Science
- Graduate School of Spatial Sciences
- Graduate School of Religion, Culture and Society
Famous People from the University
Many notable people have studied or worked at the University of Groningen.
Leaders and Politicians
- Paramanga Ernest Yonli, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso
- John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, former Prime Minister of Great Britain
- Wim Duisenberg, first president of the European Central Bank
- Klaas Knot, current President of the Dutch central bank
- Dirk Stikker, former Secretary General of NATO
- Job Cohen, former mayor of Amsterdam
Business Leaders
- Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever
- Marc Bolland, former CEO of Marks & Spencer
- Dolf van den Brink, CEO of Heineken N.V.
Scientists and Researchers
- Johann Bernoulli, a famous mathematician
- Ben Feringa, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016 for his work on tiny machines.
- Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work with very cold temperatures.
- Frits Zernike, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1953 for inventing a special microscope.
- Aletta Jacobs, the first woman in the Netherlands to become a doctor.
- Wubbo Ockels, the first Dutch astronaut.
- Jan Oort, a famous astronomer.
- Albert Szent-Györgyi, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937.
Other Notable People
- Ubbo Emmius, the university's founder and first leader.
- Prince Maurits van Oranje Nassau, a cousin of the Dutch King.
- Epke Zonderland, a gold medalist in gymnastics at the 2012 Olympics.
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Groninga para niños
- Education in the Netherlands
- List of early modern universities in Europe
