Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is a life-sciences university in Wageningen with 12,407 students in June 2026, 3,376 of them non-Dutch.[1] It is ranked 154th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2]
For 2026/27 the statutory fee is €2,694 for students with EU/EEA, Swiss or Surinamese nationality and no Dutch degree of the same level. Students of other nationalities pay an institutional fee of €18,300 for a bachelor’s and €21,900 for a master’s.[3] English-taught master’s programmes need IELTS Academic 6.5 overall unless you are exempt.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Wageningen University & Research (WUR)[5] |
| Location | Wageningen, Netherlands (Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen)[6] |
| Type | Public research university and research institute, specialising in life sciences[5] |
| Founded | 1876 as a national agricultural college; recognised as a university in 1918 (foundation date 9 March 1918)[5] |
| Students (June 2026) | 12,407, of which 9,031 Dutch and 3,376 non-Dutch[1] |
| Students by phase | 5,175 bachelor’s, 6,754 master’s and 99 pre-master’s (adds up to 12,028; the page does not explain the difference)[1] |
| PhD candidates | 2,447 active in a PhD programme, listed separately[1] |
| Employees (2025) | 6,936 FTE: 3,369 at Wageningen Research and 3,567 at Wageningen University[1] |
| Study programmes (2025/26) | 21 bachelor’s and 32 master’s programmes[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 154th[2] |
| Tuition 2026/27, statutory fee | €2,694 (bachelor’s and master’s)[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-EU/EEA bachelor’s | €18,300 per year (institutional fee 3)[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-EU/EEA master’s | €21,900 per year for programmes starting in 2026/27 (Water Technology joint degree: €21,700)[3] |
| Official website | wur.nl |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Wageningen University & Research
The national agricultural college (Rijkslandbouwschool) was founded in Wageningen in 1876. It gained academic status by law in 1918, and the university celebrates 9 March 1918 as its foundation date.[5] Since 2016 the university and the agricultural research institutes have used one joint brand, Wageningen University & Research.[5]
WUR consists of two organisations: Wageningen University and the Wageningen Research Foundation.[5] Its facts page counts 6,936 FTE employees for 2025, 3,567 at Wageningen University and 3,369 at Wageningen Research.[1] The university is in a region of the Netherlands known as Food Valley.[5]
How is Wageningen University & Research ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, WUR is 154th in the world.[2] In IamExpat’s list of 13 Dutch universities it comes seventh.[7]
Wikipedia shows =153 for the previous QS edition (2026), so the 2027 result is one place lower.[5] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Wageningen University & Research?
WUR lists 21 bachelor’s and 32 master’s programmes for 2025/26.[1] For international bachelor’s applicants, WUR’s admission page names these English-taught programmes and the secondary-school subjects each requires:[8]
- Animal Sciences: mathematics, chemistry and biology
- Data Science for Global Challenges: mathematics plus biology, chemistry or physics
- Earth Systems Sciences: mathematics, physics and chemistry
- Environmental Sciences: mathematics, physics and chemistry
- Food Technology: mathematics and chemistry, plus biology or physics
- International Land and Water Management: mathematics and physics
- Marine Sciences: mathematics, chemistry and biology
- Tourism: mathematics
The page does not cover selection or numerus fixus rules.[8]
How much does Wageningen University & Research cost in 2026/27?
| Programme | Statutory fee | Institutional fee 2 (EU/EEA, Swiss, Surinamese; second Dutch degree) | Institutional fee 3 (other nationalities) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | €2,694 | €14,600 | €18,300 |
| Master’s, full-time | €2,694 | €15,495 | €21,900 |
| Master’s Water Technology (joint degree) | €2,694 | to be determined | €21,700 |
WUR’s fee summary for 2026/27 applies the statutory fee to students who are from the Netherlands, an EU state, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Suriname and do not already hold a Dutch degree at the same level obtained after 1 September 1991.[3] DUO, the Dutch education agency, also gives €2,694 as the national statutory fee.[9] The master’s fee of €21,900 applies to non-EEA students who enrol for a master’s for the first time in 2026/27.[3]
WUR’s master’s page lists estimates for 2027/28: €2,775 for EU/EFTA students and €22,500 for non-EU/EFTA students. It says the definite amounts will be set at the end of 2026.[10] Online part-time master’s programmes, pre-master’s programmes and some joint degrees have their own fees in the same summary.[3]
For living costs and more, see our Netherlands guide and the Study in the Netherlands guide.
How do you apply to Wageningen University & Research?
Both bachelor’s and master’s applications start in Studielink, the national application system.
- Bachelor’s: you apply in Studielink, and your secondary-school diploma must be at least equivalent to Dutch pre-university (VWO) level. Each programme requires specific school subjects, and you receive a result letter that says whether you meet them and what extra requirements apply.[8]
- Master’s: you choose programmes in Studielink (no documents there), then within one day receive login details for the Osiris portal, where you upload documents and submit. You can apply for two different programmes per intake.[11] Documents include your bachelor’s degree, a transcript, proof of English unless exempt and a CV of at most two pages.[11] Applicants need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, a sufficient unweighted average mark, English proficiency and any programme-specific prior knowledge, and the Admissions Board may admit you conditionally.[11]
Deadlines exist and differ by intake, by student group (EU/EFTA or non-EU/EFTA) and by scholarship eligibility.[11] We give no dates here because they change every year. Check the page of your programme.
Which language level do you need?
English-taught programmes require proof of English. Dutch-taught bachelor’s programmes require both English and Dutch.[8] WUR accepts these tests:
| Test | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall, 6.0 speaking | 6.5 overall, 6.0 speaking |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 overall, 20 speaking; or 4.5 overall, 4.0 speaking | 90 overall, 22 speaking; or 4.5 overall, 4.0 speaking |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, 56 speaking | 62 overall, 59 speaking |
WUR lists two TOEFL score sets on each page without labelling the score scales, so check which one applies to your test date.[12][4] The scores must come from one test sitting, and IELTS, TOEFL and PTE results must not be older than 24 months. The online IELTS (home edition), IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL Home Edition and TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted.[12][4]
Who is exempt?
For the master’s, WUR exempts holders of a Dutch university (WO) degree and, among others, applicants with a degree taught entirely in English on campus in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the UK or the USA.[4] For the bachelor’s, exemptions include secondary diplomas from Australia, Ireland, Canada (except Quebec schools), New Zealand, the UK and the USA, a European Baccalaureate with English Language 1 or 2, and an IB diploma meeting WUR’s English criteria.[12]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Wageningen University & Research cost for international students?
For 2026/27, students of nationalities outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname pay €18,300 for a bachelor’s and €21,900 for a master’s (€21,700 for the Water Technology joint degree).[3]
What is the statutory fee at WUR?
€2,694 in 2026/27, for students from the Netherlands, an EU state, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Suriname who do not already have a Dutch degree at the same level.[3]
How is Wageningen University & Research ranked?
154th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026.[2]
What IELTS score do I need for a Wageningen master’s?
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in speaking, from a single test taken less than 24 months before you apply, unless you are exempt.[4]
How many programmes can I apply for at WUR?
For a master’s you can apply for two different programmes per intake. You choose them in Studielink and then upload your documents in Osiris.[11]
More about studying in Netherlands
- Netherlands: best universities
- Study in Netherlands: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Netherlands
- Amsterdam Business School (University of Amsterdam)
- Amsterdam University College
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Leiden University College The Hague
- Leiden University
- Maastricht University
- Nyenrode Business University
- Open Universiteit (Open University of the Netherlands)
- Radboud University
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)
- Tilburg University
- University College Utrecht
- University of Amsterdam (UvA)
- University of Groningen
- University of Twente
- Utrecht University
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Sources
[1] WUR: Facts and figures (page without a date; student figures headed June 2026, employees 2025, programmes 2025/26)
[2] NL Times: TU Delft continues as the Netherlands’ top university in the QS World Rankings (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026)
[3] WUR: Summary of tuition fees 2026-2027 (PDF) (document without a date, stored under a 2026-05 path; footer cites WU pricing policy 2025 for 2026/27)
[4] WUR: English language proficiency MSc (page without a date)
[5] Wikipedia: Wageningen University and Research (history, structure and the previous QS position; page last edited 2 Nov 2026)
[6] WUR: Contact (page without a date)
[7] IamExpat: TU Delft retains title of best Dutch university in QS rankings (article of 19 Jun 2026)
[8] WUR: Bachelor admission with international prior education (page without a date)
[9] DUO: Tuition fees (page without a date; Dutch government education agency)
[10] WUR: Study expenses master’s (page without a date; gives 2026/27 fees and 2027/28 estimates)
[11] WUR: Apply for a master’s programme (page without a date)
[12] WUR: Language requirements for bachelor’s applicants (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.