Reputation and ranking
The high quality of research and education at VU University Amsterdam can be demonstrated by its excellent performance in international rankings. Unlike many other countries, the Netherlands does not have a ranking system for universities. However, a range of studies have shown VU University Amsterdam to be one of the best universities in the country.
The best known international rankings are the Leiden ranking (PP10%), the Times Higher Education World University Ranking and the Shanghai Ranking. These rankings give an impression of the quality of research and education by assigning scores to institutions worldwide. Each ranking uses a different set of indicators. As a result, the position of a particular university may vary depending on the ranking’s methodology.
Below you will find an overview of the best-known international rankings of 2010 and the positions of the Dutch universities.
The Leiden Ranking is based on bibliometric and collaboration indicators. Nationally, VU University Amsterdam is positioned fourth in the bibliometric ranking PP10%; first place was granted to Twente University. Worldwide, VU University Amsterdam is listed in 75th place.
In the Times Higher Education World University (THE) Rankings 2011, VU University Amsterdam is positioned in place 159, internationally. The only Dutch universities ranked higher are Leiden University (124) and Eindhoven University (114).
In the ‘Academic Ranking of World Universities’ (ARWU) 2011, or the Shanghai Ranking, VU University Amsterdam is listed in shared 3rd place, nationally. Worldwide, VU University Amsterdam holds a position in the 101-150 category. Moreover, VU University Amsterdam's disciplines in Life Sciences and Agriculture Sciences, Clinical Medicine and Pharmacy, Social Sciences and Chemistry are in the international top 100.
At VU University Amsterdam, education and research are closely intertwined. High-quality teaching and cutting-edge research have given the university a great deal of recognition, enabling it to attract prominent scientists from both the Netherlands and abroad. In order to keep this reputation and position in the rankings, or of course to improve upon it, VU University Amsterdam constantly reviews the quality of its education and research.
Overview of the ranking of Dutch universities in the Leiden, Shanghai and Times Higher Education rankings
| Leiden 2011 | Shanghai 2011 | THE 2011 | |||
| Position | Institute | Position | Institute | Position | Institute |
| 64 | University of Twente | 48 | Utrecht University | 68 | Utrecht University |
| 69 | Wageningen UR | 56 | Leiden University | 75 | Wageningen UR |
| 74 | Erasmus University Rotterdam | 101-150 | University of Groningen, University of Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Radboud University Nijmegen | 79 | Leiden University |
| 75 | VU University Amsterdam | 151-200 | Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Wageningen UR | 92 | University of Amsterdam |
| 84 | Eindhoven University of Technology | 201-300 | Maastricht University | 104 | Delft University of Technology |
| 92 | Utrecht University | 301-400 | University of Twente, Eindhoven University of Technology | 115 | Eindhoven University of Technology |
| 100 | Leiden University | 401-500 | University of Tilburg | 134 | University of Groningen |
| 104 | University of Amsterdam | 157 | Erasmus University Rotterdam | ||
| 115 | Delft University of Technology | 159 | VU University Amsterdam | ||
| 148 | University of Groningen | 200 | University of Twente | ||
| 183 | Radboud University Nijmegen | ||||
| 206 | Maastricht University |
