Chemistry, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Requirements unclear

3 of 4, 1 open

Met: Diploma
Not yet clear: Subjects
Met: Language
Met: Age

Next deadline in 7 months

1 May 2027: Submit the first-year application in Studielink

The programme

An English-taught chemistry programme combining organic, inorganic and physical chemistry with laboratory research. It explores molecules and materials across medicine, energy and sustainability, with links to physics, biology and materials science. Students choose Smart Materials, Chemistry of Life, or Sustainable Chemistry and Energy, and can switch to Chemical Engineering during year 1.

Rank in chemistry
Where Rijksuniversiteit Groningen ranks in world subject rankings. Lower is better. A subject ranking rates the university’s work in a subject across all its faculties, not one department or this programme, so every programme there in the subject shares it. Under each list, what it mostly rests on. The colour shows where the university stands among the other universities on this site, not among all universities in the world: green ahead of most, red behind most. The combined score averages those standings over the lists: 10 is ahead of all of them in every list, 1 behind all. So it compares only the universities on this site, and can change as more are added. Rankings mostly measure research, not teaching.
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Sources
topuniversities.com · chemistry
=91 … University of Groningen
timeshighereducation.com · physical sciences
=80 … University of Groningen
shanghairanking.com
51-75 … University of Groningen

Combinedamong those here

91QS 2026, Chemistryreputation

80THE 2026, Physical Sciencesresearch and teaching

51-75ARWU 2026, Chemistryresearch papers

Can you get in?

School diploma required
VWO (Dutch pre-university diploma)
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Sources
rug.nl · bachelor dutch qualification
You will be admitted to university with a Dutch VWO diploma, but certain programmes may apply additional requirements.
rug.nl · chemistry
Admissible Dutch diploma profiles | VWO Natuur & Techniek | VWO Natuur & Gezondheid | VWO Economie & Maatschappij | VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij
Admissible Dutch diploma profiles ... VWO Natuur & Techniek ... VWO Natuur & Gezondheid ... VWO Economie & Maatschappij ... VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij
For you, Met: Your VWO diploma counts.
Required school subjects
Wiskunde B and natuurkunde and scheikunde as a VWO exam subject. The profile NT qualifies as it is
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Sources
rug.nl · bachelor dutch qualification
Chemistry and Chemical Enginering | N+T direct entry; N+G supplemented with mathematics B and physics; other profiles supplemented with mathematics B, chemistry and physics
rug.nl · chemistry
VWO Natuur & Techniek ... VWO Natuur & Gezondheid wiskunde B + natuurkunde ... VWO Economie & Maatschappij wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde ... VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde
For you, Not yet clear: Enter your subjects to check.
Minimum subject grades
None
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information for 2027.
Sources
rug.nl · fixus dutch qualification
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 | Dentistry | International Business | Medicine | Psychology (Dutch track) | Psychology (English track)
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 ... Dentistry (69 places) ... International Business (550 places) ... Medicine (400 places) ... Psychology (Dutch track) (365 places) ... Psychology (English track) (250 places)
rijksoverheid.nl · studiekeuze en toelating
Iedereen die over het juiste diploma beschikt, heeft toelatingsrecht tot het hoger onderwijs. Maar in sommige gevallen vindt er een selectie plaats.
rug.nl · chemistry
VWO Natuur & Techniek ... VWO Natuur & Gezondheid wiskunde B + natuurkunde ... VWO Economie & Maatschappij wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde ... VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde
Minimum overall grade
None
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information for 2027.
Sources
rug.nl · fixus dutch qualification
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 | Dentistry | International Business | Medicine | Psychology (Dutch track) | Psychology (English track)
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 ... Dentistry (69 places) ... International Business (550 places) ... Medicine (400 places) ... Psychology (Dutch track) (365 places) ... Psychology (English track) (250 places)
rijksoverheid.nl · studiekeuze en toelating
Iedereen die over het juiste diploma beschikt, heeft toelatingsrecht tot het hoger onderwijs. Maar in sommige gevallen vindt er een selectie plaats.
rug.nl · chemistry
VWO Natuur & Techniek ... VWO Natuur & Gezondheid wiskunde B + natuurkunde ... VWO Economie & Maatschappij wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde ... VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde
Language level required
English: covered by a VWO diploma
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Source
rug.nl · chemistry
Language proficiency certificate for English (except for applicants with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) as well as the exemptions listed on the language exemptions webpage).
For you, Met: English: your VWO diploma covers it.
Minimum age
No minimum age
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Sources
rug.nl · bachelor dutch qualification
You will be admitted to university with a Dutch VWO diploma, but certain programmes may apply additional requirements.
The colloquium doctum procedure is a special entrance examination for prospective students who do not have a qualification that grants direct access ... you must be 21 year or older.
rug.nl · chemistry
Admissible Dutch diploma profiles ... VWO Natuur & Techniek ... VWO Natuur & Gezondheid ... VWO Economie & Maatschappij ... VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij
For you, Met: There is no minimum-age condition to meet.
Extra steps
Faculty of Science and Engineering matching activity
A check of whether the programme suits you. Optional. The result is advice only: it cannot stop you from starting.

Sure — Stated in the university’s official information for 2027.
Sources
rug.nl · matching
If you want to start a bachelor's programme at the Faculty of Science and Engineering in September and you apply before the May 1 deadline, you are not required to participate in matching. As a prospective student, you can still exercise your right to participate in a matching event.
rug.nl · matching
Through matching you can find out whether your chosen Bachelor's degree programme matches with what you want.
Other requirements
None
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Source
rug.nl · chemistry
Admissible Dutch diploma profiles ... VWO Natuur & Techniek ... VWO Natuur & Gezondheid ... wiskunde B + natuurkunde ... VWO Economie & Maatschappij ... wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde ... VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij ... wiskunde B + natuurkunde + scheikunde
Language proficiency certificate for English (except for applicants with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO)).
1 more from this page
Language proficiency certificate for English (except for applicants with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) ...). ... When you cannot fulfil the vwo requirement, due to deficient profile ... you need to submit an additional admission request via the Admission Board Bachelor programmes.

Applying

Where you apply

Through Studielink.

Dates

1 May 2027Submit the first-year application in Studielink
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information for 2027.
Sources
rug.nl · chemistry
Dutch students | 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 ... EU/EEA students | 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 ... non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027
rug.nl · bachelor dutch qualification
1 May 2027 | Application deadline | If you are applying to the first year, you will need to submit your application in Studielink before 1 May.
in 7 months
31 Jul 2027Last date to apply in Studielink after 1 May, only when an exceptional late-application reason is accepted
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information for 2027.
Source
rug.nl · matching
Make sure that you apply in Studielink no later than July 31, 2027. Applications after this date will not be accepted.
Please note: when you apply with a non-Dutch diploma you cannot be admitted to the programme anymore, and you can neither participate in the Matching procedure.
in 10 months
31 Aug 2027Payment of tuition fees received by the UG to start on 1 September
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information for 2027.
Source
rug.nl · bachelor dutch qualification
31 August 2027 | Payment of tuition fees | If you want to start your degree programme on 1 September, the UG must have received your payment nog later than 31 August.
in 11 months

More about the programme

What students say
Scores out of 5 from the NSE 2026, the national student survey, for this programme. The notch on each bar is the national average for the same study, over 4 programmes.
Green: 0.2 or more above that average. Red: 0.2 or more below. Grey: closer than that, which a few dozen answers cannot tell apart. The small ticks under a bar are the other programmes in Netherlands on this site.
Data from Landelijk Centrum Studiekeuze (NSE 2026).
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Source
studiekeuze123.nl
NSE 2026 … 3.9 … Landelijk gemiddelde … 3.9

OverallOverall: 3.9 out of 5; national average 3.9
TeachersTeachers: 3.9 out of 5; national average 3.8
Content and set-upContent and set-up: 4.0 out of 5; national average 3.9
Study guidanceStudy guidance: 4.0 out of 5; national average 3.9
Exams and gradingExams and grading: 3.8 out of 5; national average 3.8
Preparation for workPreparation for work: 3.6 out of 5; national average 3.5
Would choose it againWould choose it again: 4.3 out of 5; national average 4.2

71 students answered.

How places are given

Cap on places (numerus fixus)
No cap on places
Fairly sure — The university does not say this in so many words, but it follows from its pages. Worth a look at the source before you rely on it.
Source
rug.nl · fixus dutch qualification
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 | Dentistry (69 places) | International Business (550 places) | Medicine (400 places) | Psychology (Dutch track) (365 places) | Psychology (English track) (250 places)
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 ... Dentistry (69 places) ... International Business (550 places) ... Medicine (400 places) ... Psychology (Dutch track) (365 places) ... Psychology (English track) (250 places)
How applicants are picked
Nobody is picked: everyone who meets the requirements gets a place
Fairly sure — The university does not say this in so many words, but it follows from its pages. Worth a look at the source before you rely on it.
Sources
rug.nl · fixus dutch qualification
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 | Dentistry | International Business | Medicine | Psychology (Dutch track) | Psychology (English track)
Overview fixed-quota programmes 2027-2028 ... Dentistry (69 places) ... International Business (550 places) ... Medicine (400 places) ... Psychology (Dutch track) (365 places) ... Psychology (English track) (250 places)
rijksoverheid.nl · studiekeuze en toelating
Iedereen met het juiste diploma heeft toelatingsrecht tot het hoger onderwijs. In sommige gevallen vindt er een selectie plaats, of zijn er extra toelatingseisen.
Iedereen die over het juiste diploma beschikt, heeft toelatingsrecht tot het hoger onderwijs. Maar in sommige gevallen vindt er een selectie plaats.
rug.nl · matching
If you want to start a bachelor's programme at the Faculty of Science and Engineering in September and you apply before the May 1 deadline, you are not required to participate in matching.
Past admission numbers
74 students started in 2025.

Fairly sure — This is the 2025 information. The 2027 details are not out yet and may change. Worth a look at the source before you rely on it.
Source
studiekeuze123.nl · voltijd
Aantal eerstejaars | Septemberinstroom 2025 - 2026 | deze opleiding | Groningen | 74
Aantal eerstejaars ... Septemberinstroom 2025 - 2026 ... deze opleiding Groningen 74

Once you have started

First-year minimum to continue
Pass at least 45 of 60 credits in the first year, or you must leave the programme
Every course is worth a number of credits, which you earn by passing it; a full year is 60.
In the university’s words: Binding study advice: fewer than 45 ECTS at the end of year 1 can result in a negative advice, after which the student may not continue in the programme.
Sure — Stated in the university’s official information.
Sources
rug.nl · chemistry
A minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months (binding)
You can expect a positive study advice if you have earned at least 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS ...). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative study advice, you will not be allowed to continue your degree programme.
rug.nl
Bachelor students at the University of Groningen will receive a Binding Study Advice (BSA; always negative) if they earn fewer than 45 ECTS credit points ... by the end of their first year of study. Students who do not meet this requirement will have to leave their degree programme.
At least 45 ECTS by the end of the first year ... a negative BSA is valid for a period of 2 years ... Faculties of Economics and Business, Science and Engineering, and Law have clustered certain degree programmes

After you graduate

Where graduates go
Graduates can continue to master's programmes in Chemistry, Biomolecular Sciences, Environmental Sciences or Nanoscience. The university lists research in universities or industry, medical and biochemical research, food and synthetics, and roles such as industrial or scientific researcher, manager, commercial professional, adviser, inspector or teacher.
What Rijksuniversiteit Groningen says its graduates go on to do; not measured.

Fairly sure — Worth a look at the source before you rely on it.
Source
rug.nl · chemistry
After the Bachelor's programme you can move on to one of the Master's programmes in Chemistry, Biomolecular Sciences or Environmental Sciences, or the Top Master's degree programme in Nanoscience.
you could work in medical and biochemical research, and there are plenty of opportunities in the food and the synthetics industries.
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Job examples | Industrial researcher | Scientific researcher | Management function | Commercial positions | Teacher
Where graduates went (measured)
72% of this programme's graduates start another higher-education programme in the Netherlands within two years (national average for similar programmes: 83%). Across all 4 Dutch chemistry bachelor's, the most-chosen master's is Chemische Wetenschappen (22%). No job or salary figures are published for Dutch university bachelor's graduates.
Measured from graduates of this programme (2024). Past graduates, not a promise.

Fairly sure — The university does not say this in so many words, but it follows from its pages. Worth a look at the source before you rely on it.
Sources
studiekeuze123.nl · voltijd
Doorstuderen … Afgestudeerden die na het diploma verder studeren in het Nederlandse hoger onderwijs … deze opleiding … Groningen … 72% … Landelijk gemiddelde (4 opleidingen) … 83%
studiekeuze123.nl
Doorstuderen … 72% … studeert door na afronden van deze opleiding
Meest gekozen masters … Chemische Wetenschappen … 35 studenten … 22% … Chemistry … 24 studenten … 15% … Chemistry … 23 studenten … 14% … Molecular Life Sciences … 21 studenten … 13%
1 more from this page
Voor het wo geldt dat de gegevens betrekking hebben op de arbeidsmarktpositie van wo-masterstudenten, omdat zij worden bevraagd in de Nationale Alumni Enquête. Bij wo-bacheloropleidingen worden geen cijfers getoond, omdat hier geen gegevens van bekend zijn.
lcsk.nl
Dit cijfer geeft weer welk percentage van de afgestudeerden van deze opleiding binnen twee jaar begint met een nieuwe opleiding in het hoger onderwijs.
Bepaal wie twee jaar voor het meest recente jaar in 1 cijfer HO een associate degree-diploma of voltijd bachelor-diploma heeft behaald.
1 more from this page
In het meest recente geval: 2016 t/m 2025.

Click an for the details and sources behind a fact. Its colour says how sure we are: sure, fairly sure, unsure.