Rankings and scientific awards
The scientific quality of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is affirmed by the prominent position we occupy in international rankings and citation indexes. Below we give you an overview of rankings of WUR.
About rankings
University Rankings are used by students to help them in their choice of university. Here we present the position of Wageningen University & Research in a variety of such rankings. We would like to emphasize that these should be interpreted with caution and in the appropriate context.
Each ranking is based on a number of indicators related to research, education and impact. Which indicators are used, and their weighting depends on the ranking. The calculation method used by the ranking organization results in a final score per university. ‘Quality’, however, can hardly be captured in a single score and always encompasses more facets than are represented by any given ranking. For more information, please consult the publication Ranking the university (Universities of the Netherlands, UNL, 2023), and the principles of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment that Wageningen University & Research applies to evaluate the quality of research and education in a broad and responsible way.
Below we briefly explain what some well-known rankings measure, and give the most recent position of Wageningen University & Research in these rankings. These rankings include Global University Rankings, Subject Rankings for topics of particular relevance for Wageningen, and Sustainability rankings since sustainability is one of the core values of our university.
WUR ranks among the world's best in its core areas
The score calculation takes into account the number of publications in leading journals, citation impact, international collaboration and significant scientific prizes. Wageningen University & Research excels in Agricultural Sciences (2nd globally), Ecology (3rd globally), and Food Science & Technology (6th globally).
As with the QS Global University Rankings, surveys play a crucial role in the QS subject rankings. These surveys are sent out to academics and employers. The number of citations to WUR publications and the international research network are also factors. Wageningen University & Research excels in Agriculture & Forestry (1st globally), and in Environmental Sciences (3rd globally).
The NTU Subject Rankings use the same indicators as the NTU World University Rankings. Wageningen University & Research excels in Agricultural Sciences (4th globally), Environment/Ecology (6th globally), and Plant and Animal Science (5th globally).
The Best Global Universities subject rankings are calculated in the same way as the Global Rankings. Wageningen University & Research performs particularly well in Plant and Animal Science (3rd position worldwide), in Agricultural Sciences (4th position worldwide), in Environment/Ecology (4th position worldwide), in Food Science & Technology (11th position worldwide), and in Marine and Freshwater Biology (12th position worldwide)
The THE Subject Rankings employ the same indicators as the THE Global Rankings. Wageningen University & Research scores well in Life Sciences (16th globally) and Social Sciences (35th globally).
WUR performs well in the overall rankings
THE is a Global University Ranking based on indicators related to research and teaching quality. The ranking is partially based on surveys, but also examines staff-to-student ratios, revenue, publication and citation numbers, and numbers of international students, employees and partnerships. Additionally, commercial factors like industrial income are considered, along with patents citing Wageningen research. THE accounts for university size. Worldwide, Wageningen University & Research is positioned 67th.
QS is a Global University Ranking that is nearly half based on surveys sent out to academics and employers. Citations per researcher also count, along with sustainability, staff-to-student ratios, and the share of international staff, students, and partnerships. QS accounts for university size. Worldwide, Wageningen University & Research is positioned 153rd.
ARWU is a Global University Ranking that focuses mainly on publications in certain prestigious journals, including Nature and Science. It also considers winners of major scientific prizes, such as Nobel Prizes and Fields medals, and the number of highly cited researchers. Little account is taken of university size, which disadvantages relatively small universities like Wageningen University & Research. Worldwide, Wageningen University & Research ranks in the 151-200 range.
NTU is a Global Ranking which focuses solely on publication and citation numbers. Factors include highly cited publications and publications in high-impact journals, among others. Most indicators are normalised for university size. Worldwide, Wageningen University & Research is positioned 166th.
This is a Global Ranking based on publication and citation numbers, international partnerships, and for a quarter of the score on surveys which map the research reputation of a university, both worldwide and regionally. Publication figures are not normalised for university size. Worldwide, Wageningen University & Research is positioned 115th.
WUR is popular with students
This is an annual ranking that draws on the National Student Survey and data regarding applications, academic success, and employment prospects. Wageningen University & Research has been ranked 1st on this list for 20 years (sharing the position with the Open University in 2025). In 2024, 15 of its 20 Bachelor programmes were awarded 'Top Programme' status, with three receiving the maximum 5-star rating.
WUR and sustainability
This is a ranking which focuses specifically on different aspects of university sustainability. It considers environment and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste management, water consumption, transport, research and education. Wageningen University & Research holds the top position worldwide, making it the most sustainable campus in the world for 8 consecutive years!
This is a QS ranking which employs indicators related to teaching, research and policy, as well as employer quality and culture, and administrative structures. Wageningen University & Research is positioned 53rd worldwide.
These are THE rankings that specifically look at indicators related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. The three SDGs on which Wageningen University & Research scores best are Zero Hunger, SDG2 (39th position globally), Climate Action, SDG13 (63rd position globally) and Life Below Water, SDG14 (75th position globally).
Alternative rankings
Several alternatives exist to the one-dimensional rankings, such as THE and QS. The CWTS Leiden ranking is such an alternative. Rather than calculating a single total score, this ranking uses different indicators per university. Universities are ranked individually on each indicator.
Users of the CWTS Leiden Ranking can examine indicators related to scientific impact, partnerships, Open Access publishing and the share of male/female publication authors. The website is highly transparent regarding its calculations and also offers guidance on the responsible use of rankings generally.
ERC Grants
ERC Grants were established by the European Union to promote excellence in research in Europe. Excellent researchers can receive grants for their ground-breaking research.
Veni, Vidi, Vici-laureats
The NWO Talent Programme of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research offers grants to talented, creative and excellent researchers. The scheme offers three personal grants that focus on the three phases in the scientific career of researchers: Veni (recently promoted), Vidi (experienced) and Vici (lecturer). This grant boosts innovative research.
Spinoza Prize
The Spinoza Prize, offered by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), is the highest scientific research award for top scientists in the Netherlands. The laureates are internationally renowned and know how to inspire young researchers.
- 2018: prof.dr. J (John) van der Oost - Spinoza prize for discovering how the CRISPR-Cas-system contributes to the bacterial defense against viruses
- 2009: prof.dr. M (Marten) Scheffer - Spinoza prize for his groundbreaking contribution to understanding critical turning points in complex systems, varying from transitions in shallow lakes to climate change and the collapse of ancient cultures
- 2008: prof.dr. WM (Willem) de Vos - Spinoza prize for groundbreaking research into the contribution of microorganisms to our food and health
- 2007: prof.dr. M (Marcel) Dicke - Spinoza prize for his research in the field of ecology, on the interaction between plants and insects