Dare To Excel

Utrecht University is home to a community of leading scientists and ambitious students, active in a wide range of academic disciplines. As a result, we have an outstanding reputation.

Outstanding
Utrecht University ranks 53rd in the prestigious Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, while the German CHE Excellence Ranking places Utrecht University among the top four institutes in Europe. But perhaps most importantly – more than 88% of our international students rate their lecturers in Utrecht very highly as experts in their field, and students are very satisfied with the courses they have taken.

Ambition
As Utrecht University wants you to live up to your – uniquely individual – full potential, it enables you to determine certain aspects of your Master’s programme. Take a moment to review the wide range of discipline-specific and interdisciplinary research and education activities and follow your interests. Feel free to express any ambitions you may have, including working on an intriguing research project or broadening your horizons – and adding weight to your CV – by completing a work placement with a company or governmental body. There are plenty of options to choose from, and we encourage you to make the most of them.

Commitment
Utrecht University’s academic staff is highly committed to their research and teaching activities. They demand the same commitment from their students, who are expected to be self-motivated and work diligently. At the same time, the atmosphere at Utrecht University is open and informal. It is fairly common for students to call professors and lecturers by their given name. The combination of this commitment and the open, informal character foster a feeling of a tight-knit community among both students and staff.

Collaboration
Social issues often require you to move outside of the confines of your specific discipline and connect with other experts. Multidisciplinary collaboration is a well-developed approach at Utrecht University. Utrecht Life Sciences, for example, is home to research ranging from the molecule to man: Chemistry, Biology, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicine. At the knowledge centre ‘Institutions of the Open Society’, economists, political scientists, sociologists, legal specialists and historians join forces to better understand the socio-economic interactions that determine qualitative aspects of society. Collaborative partnerships are also a way to extend our own academic community.

Independence
At Utrecht University, you are not only expected to work diligently, but also to develop a mindset of independent and original thinking characteristic of an academic. You will be asked to be critical and state your own views. Some international students are not used to disagreeing with their professor, but they come to appreciate and value this approach. Developing an academic mindset gives you a head start in any career you pursue after earning your Master’s.

Dare to excel!
As a member of Utrecht University’s academic community, you will have first-hand experience with a demanding, yet rewarding academic and research environment, which offers every opportunity to pursue your personal interests and develop your talents to the full. We are committed to your success. Dare to
excel!