Radboud University: Rankings, Courses & Admissions

The Radboud University’s ranking is remarkable. It ranked 301-400 (31.4 percentile) in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking 2021. QS World University Rankings has ranked it 220th in its list of universities for 2021. The university’s QS WUR Ranking by Subject is #47. 

According to the Dutch university information book – Keuzegids Universiteiten 2020, Radboud is the best traditional, general university in the Netherlands and has received this title eight times in nine years.  

Furthermore, two Radboud University professors were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010. Radboud University is a public research institution. 

Infrastructure of Radboud University

Radboud University has a vibrant campus with a variety of student-friendly amenities. The campus is peppered with various facilities and clusters designed to help students feel at ease. 

The university library, research labs, the university hospital, the guest house, student organization housing, offices, a bookstore, and a supermarket are among these resources.  

Vending machines, restaurants, and cafeterias serve various indigenous and western cuisines, catering to students’ preferences. Last but not least, the university campus is home to Europe’s largest university sports center. 

Research Facilities at Radboud University

The university comprises 15 research centers, each with exceptional potential for students and researchers. 

• Radboud Institute for Culture and History (including Center for Parliamentary History) 
• Research Center for State and Law 
• Radboud Social Cultural Research 
• Behavioral Science Institute 
• Institute for Molecular Life Sciences 
• Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences 
• Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics, and Particle Physics 
• Research Institute for Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies 
• Business and Law Research Center 
• Institute for Management Research 
• Center for Language Studies 
• Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior 
• Institute for Health Sciences  
• Institute for Molecules and Materials 
• Institute for Computing and Information Sciences 

All undergraduate and postgraduate courses at Radboud University are taught entirely in English. 

Academics at Radboud University

At Radboud University, the first week of September marks the start of all Bachelor’s programs. You must adhere to the deadlines while submitting your application to ensure prompt enrolment as a student.  

15th January is the deadline for all students interested in applying to the English-taught Artificial Intelligence, Biology, or Psychology programs. These programs have a predetermined capacity and a selection and placement mechanism to regulate admission and enrolment. 

For all other Bachelor’s programs, the deadline is 1st April for non-EU students and 1st May for EU applicants. In most circumstances, the maximum deadline is 1st July. 

Admission Process of Radboud University

The Radboud University admission process is straightforward and consists of the following steps:  

• Go to the university’s official website, fill out the online application form, pay the application cost, and submit all of your documents, including your English language proficiency scores and educational transcripts.  
• After you’ve submitted your application, you can start looking for housing and taking care of things like scholarships/funding and student visa procedures.  
• Offer letters may take up to 4-6 weeks to arrive. After accepting the offer and paying the semester expenses, you can apply for your visa. It will then be time to purchase your flight tickets. 

Admission Requirements of Radboud University

The following are the Radboud University admission requirements: 

• Your diploma must be comparable to a VWO diploma or a higher-level diploma in the Netherlands. Additional qualifications may apply, such as a degree from a particular academic stream, a specified level/course, or a mathematics certificate. 
• For Bachelor’s programs, applicants must have an IELTS score of at least 6.0, with many programs requiring a score of 7.0. IELTS 6.0 with a maximum score of 7.0 may be required for postgraduate studies.  
• Other acceptable qualifications include TOEFL, with a minimum of TOEFL 80 and a maximum of TOEFL 90 required for Bachelor’s degree programs. Furthermore, Master’s courses demand a least TOEFL 90 and a maximum of TOEFL 100. 
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), or Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 proficiency with a grade of C or better are also accepted by the university. 
• Your international Bachelor’s degree (BSc or BA) must be equal to a Bachelor’s degree earned at a Dutch research university for Master’s programs. Your Bachelor’s degree must be in the same field as the Master’s degree you are applying for. 

The Radboud University acceptance rate is 53%. Radboud University is one of the universities that does not publish information on acceptance rates. The acceptance rate listed above was calculated using admission statistics from adjacent colleges with similar research areas that publish such information. 

Courses Offered at Radboud University

Radboud University provides a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and several research programs. Radboud University offers 14 English-taught Bachelor’s courses in the following fields: 

• Art, Culture and History 
• Arts and Culture Studies 
• Comparative European History 
• Behavioral and Social Sciences 
• Artificial Intelligence   
• Psychology  
• Business and Economics 
• Business Administration 
• Economics and Business Economics 
• Language and Communication 
• American Studies  
• English Language and Culture 
• International Business Communication 
• Philosophy 
• Philosophy, Politics and Society 
• Science 
• Biology  
• Chemistry 
• Computing Science 
• Molecular Life Sciences 

Radboud University offers varied English-taught Master’s degrees in the succeeding disciplines: 

• Behavioral and Social Sciences 
• Business and Economics 
• Geography, Planning and Environment 
• Humanities 
• ICT 
• Language and Communication 
• Law 
• Medical Sciences 
• Political Science 
• Philosophy, Theology and Religion 
• Science 

Grades & Credit System at Radboud University

As far as the credits are concerned, the ECTS is used at Radboud University. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is a credit system focused on student workload. The time spent attending classes, conducting practical work, and completing independent study is student workload. 

60 credits per year of study, 30 credits per semester, or 20 credits every trimester or term are the primary ECTS credit allocations. In this system, one ECTS-credit represents 28 hours of Dutch study time. Bachelor students receive a ‘Binding Study Advice’ after their first year of studies.  

This will define whether or not they are permitted to continue to the next year of their studies. Only if students earn 39 or 45 ECTS credits out of 60 ECTS credits during their first year will they receive a positive BSA. The course of study determines the actual minimal number.  

A negative BSA will follow if you do not meet the minimal ECTS score in your first year. This means you’ll have to stop studying and won’t be able to continue. 

Two of Radboud University’s academic fields, Linguistics and Dentistry, are ranked in the top 50 of their respective fields worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Radboud University’s Theology and Psychology departments are ranked among the top 100 globally. 

For Bachelor’s programs, the semester timetable for instruction and examinations is as follows: 

First semester: First week of September to last week of January 

Second semester: Last week of January to Mid-July 

Academic Calendar of Radboud University

If you enroll at Radboud University, you must follow the academic calendar listed below throughout the year. 

A few of the prominent inclusions in the academic year are as follows: 

• Opening of the Academic Year: First week of September  
• Dies Natalis Celebration: October  
• Radboud Education Days: 21-25 March 
• Master’s Fair: Mid November  
• Radboud Rocks: May last week  
• Christmas holiday: 24th December up through 7th January 
• Good Friday: 15th April 2022 
• Easter Monday: 18th April 2022 
• King’s Day: 27th April 2022 
• Ascension Day: Thursday, 26th May 2022 
• Friday after Ascension Day: 27th May 2022 
• Whit Monday/Pentecost: 6th June 2022 

Extracurriculars and Diversity at Radboud University

International students from more than 100 countries attend the university, which offers a variety of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Educators and researchers from more than 50 nations explore all aspects of science across the university’s seven faculties.  

Radboud University aspires for excellence in all its services, not only in education. Its extracurricular activities allow pupils to participate in sports or have a scrumptious meal outside of the classroom. Additionally, each international student is entitled to a free Dutch course. 

At the university, students can seek support from various organizations. ICT support and Service Desk, Occupational accidents and incidents Service, Confidential advisers, Complaints Facilities & Services Department, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Services, Department of Property Management, and Service Interruptions and Maintenance are some of these departments.  

Career/Professional at Radboud University

The students are trained as specialists in their field to gain skills that are in demand in the job market at Radboud University. When you first start your studies, you are unlikely to have a specific dream job in mind. As a result, the university assists you in determining what it is.  

You have free access to Radboud University’s Career+ service as a student in their faculty. Career+ is a comprehensive package of workshops, courses, and individual career counseling that allows you to identify the alternatives opened up by your course and demonstrates where your abilities and interests lie. 

During your studies, you will be permitted to work as an entrepreneur. It is possible to work as a volunteer without a work visa. If you want to do an internship in the Netherlands as part of your studies, you can do so on the grounds of your student visa.   

This is true for students from all around the world. The student must fill out an application form. A company representative, a Career Service Arts official, and the student will then sign a formal internship agreement issued by the Dutch administration. 

The university provides targeted career support to its students, including personalized advice, career counseling, CV writing assistance, and other services. Work placement coordinators are also available to assist students.  

The university conducts various career programs and events throughout the year, including a prestigious lineup of industry guest speakers and several seminars. 

The university has a long history of producing outstanding alumni in diverse professions. Here are a few of the most well-known names: 

• Frand Timmermans: Dutch politician who has served as the Vice President of the EU  
• Marijn Dekkers: Former CEO of Bayer 
• Konstantin Novoselov: Nobel Laureate and Physicist  
• Björn Kuipers: Football referee for UEFA and FIFA
• Stephanie Hottenhuis: CEO of KPMG Netherland 

Financials at Radboud University

Before getting admission to your selected university, you must first create a budget. For ease of understanding, the Radboud University fees are separated and listed as follows:

Undergraduate Tuition Costs for International Students

Postgraduate Tuition Costs for International Students

International students’ postgraduate tuition charges range from EUR 11, 416 to EUR 16,500, depending on the course.