University of Amsterdam vs University of Groningen

University of Amsterdam vs University of Groningen

Karia Kiritbhai logo

Karia Kiritbhai Study Abroad Course Expert

Study Abroad Course Expert | Updated On - Sep 17, 2025

The University of Amsterdam, situated in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, is a large public research university with around 40,000 students. Admissions are somewhat selective with an acceptance rate of about 51%. Some of its stronger programs include Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Psychology, and Artificial Intelligence. The graduation rate is relatively high at about 75–80%, and graduates report that they earn early career salaries of about INR 34–38 lakhs per year (EU 38,000–42,000). 

The University of Groningen, located in the city of Groningen in the northern part of the Netherlands, is also a respected public research university, with about 35,000 students. Admissions are likewise somewhat competitive, with an acceptance rate of approximately 50%. Some of its flagship programs involve Business, Life Sciences, International Relations, and Engineering. The graduation rate is around the same level of 75–80%, and post-graduation, students report that they earn early career wages that are around INR 33–37 lakhs per year (EU 37,000–41,000).

Overview Comparison
University of AmsterdamUniversity of Groningen
Collegedunia Score6.3 Out of 105.7 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 53 QS World University 2026
# 62 Times Higher Education 2026
# 55 QS World University 2025
# 82 Times Higher Education 2026
# 147 QS World University 2026
# 80 Times Higher Education 2025
Subject Strength# 173 for Engineering by QS World University 2025
# 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025
# 36 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 126 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 89 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 73 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -11
PG Programs -99
UG Programs -22
PG Programs -66
Acceptance Rate0.0 %50.0 %
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   13200
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  19272
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 925 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   12270.64
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  16588.08
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 900 Per Year
placement (average package)

The University of Amsterdam has a team for career and employability that has won an award for their dedication to supporting the student throughout the process of placement. 

The university hosts fairs and events to provide students with a job. The students in the final year gain more work experience and are also placed in research institutions, museums, or private conservation studios.

Avverage Salaries by Degree:

  • Master (Other) : $101,000 
  • Executive Masters : $89,000 
  • LLM  :  $84,000 
  • Executive MBA  : $79,000 
  • Doctorate : $77,000 
  • Masters in Finance : $75,000 

The programs and their average salary is as follows:

Master in science: $44,000

Doctorate: $67,000

Master (other): $76,000

Master in finance: $120,000


application requirements

Submit official transcripts of all previous education

Submit English language proficiency test scores

Submit resume

Submit official transcripts of all previous education

Submit references

Submit motivation letter

Submit English language proficiency test scores

Campuses and B-SchoolsAmsterdam Business School
NA
CollegeDunia Reviews7.7/10 Read 10 reviews7.7/10 Read 6 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 20 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025
# 31 for Law by QS World University 2025
# 73 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025
# 101 for Law by QS World University 2025
why to opt?

The Public International Law programme allows students to tailor the Master's to their personal interests by enrolling in various elective courses, and through their Master's thesis. The Amsterdam Law School emphasises experiential education, a practice-oriented learning model in which students actively develop their legal skills by applying their knowledge to real-life and simulated real-life situations. All students in the Master's Public International Law take at least one experiential education course as part of their degree.


LLB programme in International and European Law is specifically designed for students who wish to pursue a professional career in an international legal environment; it gives students an academic training in law without merely taking a national legal system as a starting point by offering students a general understanding of what 'law' is and how it functions. 

The focus on European law and public international law is far greater than the focus on national legal contexts. No national law system is being taught as a general rule.

This programme is unique in Europe with regard to the content of the programme. It also holds a compulsory semester of law courses abroad.


exam scoresIELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 100/120IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 90/120
Admission Criteria/Better to Have
  • An academic degree comparable to a Dutch Bachelor of Laws 
  • Proficiency in English

  • A pre-university diploma, including transcript of studies;
  • The transcript of studies should reflect a GPA (Grade Point Average) equivalent to 7/10 (Dutch grading scale);

cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -19272Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -11200
application datesMar 31, 2024 (Application Deadline)
May 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For 2025 Intake)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsUniversity of AmsterdamUniversity of Groningen
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1632
1614
Student:Faculty Ratio:1
24:1
Male:Female0% Male, 0% Female48% Male, 52% Female
Location Facts

The University of Amsterdam has always been housed in old and new buildings scattered throughout the capital. The university lies within the largest megalopolis in the Netherlands, the Randstad. The campuses are scattered across city center, science center, academic medical center and Roeterseiland campus. 


The various faculties are housed around the city. Most of the faculties- including the faculties of Law, Arts and Philosophy are located in and around the city center. The university's original building, which acts as the main administrative building, lies exactly in the center of the city at the Broerstraat. The faculty of medical sciences is located close by at the University Medical Center Groningen(UMCG). The Faculties of Economics and Business, Spatial Sciences, and Science and Engineering are housed in the northern outskirts of the city, at the Zernike Campus. 


Library

The university has libraries across its different campuses. The libraries provide various services to the students like study rooms, journals, e-books, databases etc.

It normally houses around 750,000 items owned by the libraries of all the UVA schools, including Law, Health Sciences, and Darden.


The university has libraries in three locations: the main one at the city center, one in the Duisenberg building in Zernike Campus, and one in the faculty of medicine, that includes a vast array of books and online material for students. The library at the city center also has a Starbucks on its premises.


Campus Life

The University of Amsterdam is a modern university with a rich history, providing a high-quality education in inspiring surroundings. The University is a world-class centre for research and teaching, and is committed to helping students think in an original, independent and academic way. The University is conveniently located in the heart of Amsterdam, overlooking the famous canals. Surrounded by history and culture, and within a short walk of the shops and restaurants in the city centre, the University of Amsterdam is the perfect base to enrich your student experience. The University of Amsterdam has many student associations catering to a variety of student needs including social clubs, career and study societies and cultural and sporting societies. ISN is an organisation run by Dutch students for international students studying in Amsterdam. Their goal is to optimize the social-cultural integration of international students into Dutch society. They organize weekly activities for students, provide information on housing and work, run a coaching and mentoring system and publish a magazine all about (student) life in Amsterdam. 


Student life is about so much more than just preparing you for a lifetime of achievement. During your time in Groningen, you’ll get to experience everything the city has to offer, from a vibrant art and music scene to a unique, student-inspired nightlife.Develop your artistic side or cater to your cultural interests by becoming a member of the USVA, which hosts student film festivals and other cultural events and offers courses in performing arts and musical performances. If staying fit and active is a priority for you, joining ACLO is a must - it’s only Euro 60 a year. With access to 49 sports clubs, offering up to 100 disciplines, ACLO is the biggest student sports association in the Netherlands. As a new student coming to Groningen you should also take part in the KEI- or ESN-weeks. At these student-run introduction weeks, you will get the chance to meet new people and see everything the city has to offer, including the best places to hang out. 


Hostel#Accommodation rent per month - $925
#Housing rent/month - $650
Famous Alumni

Khadija Arib (Dutch politician), Pim Fortuyn (businessman, author), Jesse Klaver (politician), Thierry Baudet (politician)


Annemarie, Duchess of Parma, journalist, consultant, and member of the Dutch royal family
Hans van Abeelen, first Dutch behavior geneticist
Johann Heinrich Alting, theologian
Gerbrand Bakker, early 19th century physician
Bart Becht, former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser
Johan van Benthem, logician


City Life

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is situated in the heart of Europe. It is a real cosmopolitan capital and one of Europe's most beautiful, with an enormous number of attractions. Students have voted Amsterdam the 5th best city in the world to live in. It is also one of the safest capital cities in Europe. The city has around 850,000 inhabitants and is voted as the 11th best city to live in. There are around 50 world famous galleries and 16,000 performances per year. Bicycle is the most popular form of transportation. Amsterdam has more than 30 parks and public gardens. Various festivals are held across the city over the year. 


Groningen is home to a number of world-class festivals? Artists from all over the world regularly visit the city to play at events such as Eurosonic, Noorderzon, Kingsland and Kadepop, amongst others. With over 400 street art installations and a number of internationally renowned museums, Groningen is an artsy city. But as the quintessential Dutch student town, Groningen also offers an unparalleled nightlife, with over 150 bars and entertainment venues attracting people from far and wide. One of the things that make the nightlife so unique is that unlike other Dutch cities, Groningen does not have regulated closing times, which means you can party all night long. Free entrance is standard and student discounts common, making the city the perfect place for those on a student budget. Groningen makes an ideal base from which to launch your travel adventures. For open space and fresh air, you can go and explore the seaside or one of the Dutch islands - located just 40 km from the city centre. Most of the Netherlands and several large German cities such as Hamburg, Bremen and Dortmund are reachable by train, car or bus in just a few hours. With Amsterdam just a 2-hour train ride away, there’s no excuse to miss out on happenings such as Amsterdam Dance Event, Gay Pride or King’s Day. Plan your weekend getaways to Belgium, France or Denmark - all of which are mere hours away by train, car, ferry or bus. Moreover, Groningen-Eelde airport serves as a regional hub for international flights, which means that you can fly all over Europe from Groningen.


Weather
Comparison Notes

University of Amsterdam vs University of Groningen

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is consistently ranked in the world in the top 60-70. It is particularly strong in the areas of Social Sciences, Humanities, Communication, Psychology, and Law. The University of Groningen (RUG) is mostly ranked in the top 100-120 according to global rankings, particularly strong in Life Sciences, Medicine, Natural Sciences and Energy Research. Although UvA leads as a university in terms of social sciences and arts disciplines, RUG has more strength in STEM and medical fields, given the degree programs. 

General Information

The UvA, founded in 1632, is the university located in the capital of the Netherlands - Amsterdam. It has over 40,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the Netherlands. The UvA provides a very international environment and an urban lifestyle. RUG, founded in 1614, is one of the oldest Dutch universities and is in a classic student city (the majority of the city/county population is under 30 with a very student friendly atmosphere) with over 35,000 students. 

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Both universities are selective, although open to international students who have a strong academic background. UvA is usually more competitive in popular programs including Law, Economics and Psychology. RUG is also selective, especially in Medicine, Life Sciences, and Energy Studies but RUG has slightly higher acceptance rates than UvA generally.

Research Impact & Facilities

UvA is a research-focused university with a global reputation in the humanities and social sciences, showcasing leading research facilities in data science, law, and artificial intelligence. Similarly, Groningen is a research-rich institution with a notable reputation for its cutting-edge research in physics, chemistry, life sciences, and renewable energy. Notably, both UvA and Groningen are members of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), assuring a high-level European academic reputation.

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition fees for programs taught in English are typically in the region of €10,000–15,000 per year for international students at both universities, depending on the subject area. Living expenses are higher in Amsterdam, driven by housing demand and the additional expenses associated with being a capital city. Living expenses in Groningen are less costly, benefiting from relatively cheap and available student housing, and lower daily living costs. Scholarships for non-EU students are limited, but competitive, at both universities.

Career Destinations & Graduates' Success

UvA graduates are highly sought after in business and law, as well as in media, research or international organizations. Amsterdam is a European financial and cultural center, making employment opportunities favorable. Conversely, Groningen graduates are successful in medicine and life sciences, engineering, and academia, and have a strong track record in employability in Europe and beyond. UvA graduates benefit from stronger international recognition in professional disciplines, whereas Groningen graduates have a strong reputation for careers in science-related disciplines and research-driven careers.