Facts and Figures

The Department of Earth Sciences is the largest academic Earth Sciences institute in the Netherlands, and among the larger ones in Europe. With over 175 researchers and PhD students we have established an international centre of excellence in scientific research and research training that actively contributes to addressing the challenges we face in developing a modern, sustainable society.

Below we present some key data on staff composition and student numbers. Note that the teaching programmes are jointly offered with our sister-Department of Physical Geography.

Follow the links in the left hand menu for more data and information about our department.

Composition of academic research staff per December 31 (in persons).
This excludes honorary & adjunct staff and approx.50 external PhD candidates.

 202420232022
academic faculty (full prof / associate prof / assistant prof)605557
research associates (postdocs)333431
internal PhD candidates (incl. out of contract)

85

91100
Total178180188
of non-Dutch origin56%55%52%

A number of larger projects ended in 2024, including the Gravity programme NESSC. In the meantime, academic faculty increased with new impulses from the Sectorplan AMW.

Input in research, distributed by funding source
(in percentage of total normative research time (fte) over Jan - Dec)

 202420232022
Direct funding (main, excluding Sectorplan)17%14%15%
Direct funding (Sectorplan AMW)4%1%-
Direct funding (additional and/or competitive)5%2%2%
Total 1st & 6th funding source ("direct funding")26%17%17%
NWO Talent programmes13%14%15%
NWO/NWA/NSO/etc. Science programmes21%23%20%
NWO/TTW Technology programmes a.o.3%4%5%
Special NWO programmes (e.g. Gravity, Summit)3%11%8%
Total 2nd & 5th funding source  ("research grants")40%52%48%
ERC Talent programmes11%14%16%
EU/EC Science & Technology programmes7%5%5%
Companies; Non-academic knowledge institutes;
Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy/RVO
11%7%6%
Other, e.g. fellowships & scholarships5%6%8%
Total 3rd & 4th funding source ("contract research")34%31%35%

In 2024, the effect of the Sectorplan AMW shows, with many young staff joining the department and therefore direct funding takes a larger share. Only in later years, we're expecting to see that these new staff will attract new externally funded projects themselves. The table also shows that the Gravity programme NESSC is coming to an end in 2024. In 2025, the new Summit programme EMBRACER starts.

Registered students in BSc and MSc programmes per October 1.

 20242023
BSc Earth Sciences437457
MSc Earth, Life & Climate108105
MSc Earth Structure & Dynamics112111
MSc Earth Surface & Water159156
MSc Marine Sciences130111
Total946940
International students (% in MSc only)23%24%