Foreign students: University of Groningen the best

According to international students, the University of Groningen is the best university in the Netherlands. This can be concluded from the latest International Student Barometer, a worldwide survey of international student satisfaction from which the University of Groningen emerged as the university in the Netherlands they are most likely to recommend.

In late 2011, students from around the world who were registered at a university or university of applied sciences outside their home country received an extensive questionnaire to measure their satisfaction with teaching quality, accommodation, support and facilities, and how they were welcomed by their host institution. Within the Netherlands, twelve institutions – eight universities and four universities of applied sciences – participated in the survey. A total of 8670 foreign students completed the questionnaire, including 1297 students at the University of Groningen. This means the response rate among international students at our University was 40%.

First place

The University of Groningen scored well to very well in all four categories, landing it in first place overall. Groningen is in the Top 3 when it comes to the categories degree programme content, support and arrival services. Within these categories, topics such as the content of course units, study advice, contact with lecturers and the annual University of Groningen Welcoming Ceremony are particularly appreciated. The latter in particular has been assessed as very good by international students for many years.  

Warmly recommended

University of Groningen students answered the question whether they would recommend their current university to friends back home with an enthusiastic ‘yes’. The ‘recommendation score’ of 89 is significantly higher than that of other universities in the Netherlands and puts Groningen in a comfortable first place in the category of ‘most recommended university’ for the third consecutive year.

Incentive for quality improvement

The University of Groningen has participated in the International Student Barometer since 2007. Several components that were evaluated as points for improvement in previous years have since been dealt with and are now valued more highly, for example assistance when opening a bank account, internet access and social activities. Current points for improvement include lecturer feedback, career opportunities (including part-time jobs) and housing.  

More information
Joana Rosenkranz