Mission & strategy
Earth, sustainability, urbanisation and migration
The Utrecht Faculty of Geosciences has a leading international position in academic research into the Earth, sustainability, urbanisation and migration. It is between these four cornerstones that the key issues facing science and society today come together.
Multidisciplinary innovation
The combination of research into natural sciences and socio-economic research within a single faculty is unique in the Netherlands. Mutual cross-fertilisation between different academic disciplines gives rise to new ideas and ensures ongoing research at the forefront of innovation.
Leading knowledge region in Europe
In cooperation with the city and province of Utrecht the Faculty is seeking to present the Utrecht region as a centre of excellence on environmental, spatial planning and sustainability issues, both within and outside Europe. The Faculty has a long track record in fundamental knowledge of the Earth and urban and regional development on all time and spatial scales, and this means it can make a significant contribution to providing integrated solutions for the challenges currently facing society.
Participation in society
The Faculty aims to link academic research and everyday practice and to provide knowledge to government, industry and social institutions.
Largest academic institute for geosciences in the Netherlands
The Faculty is the largest academic institute for geosciences in the Netherlands, with some 2200 students on five bachelors and 19 masters degree courses. The Faculty offers a comprehensive range of geoscience courses in both the exact and social sciences. This unique combination within a single faculty enables students to look beyond the limits of their own courses and to study scientific and social issues in an integrated context.
Developing talent and entrepreneurial spirit
The Faculty offers students a challenging educational environment focusing on promoting excellence and talent. Our aim is to place ‘the right student in the right place’. Students can be assured of good tuition and supervision. The Faculty offers wide-ranging scope for individual development and allows students to direct the course of their studies and so get the best out of themselves. Highly motivated students, seeking even greater challenges, may attend the Honours College.
Quality
International review committees and professors have assessed the quality of our research as good to excellent.