DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Education
Dutch news & articles
2015 QS index shows Dutch university rankings by subject
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

2015 QS index shows Dutch university rankings by subject

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Student survey reveals high satisfaction with Dutch universitiesStudent survey reveals high satisfaction with Dutch universities
Surge in e-bike popularity means Dutch cycle fartherSurge in e-bike popularity means Dutch cycle farther
Dutch hit record high as world’s second-biggest beer exportersDutch hit record high as world’s second-biggest beer exporters
Many want healthcare coverage limited for smokers, drinkersMany want healthcare coverage limited for smokers, drinkers
Amsterdam among world’s top 20 startup ecosystemsAmsterdam among world’s top 20 startup ecosystems
Online shopping gains popularity in the NetherlandsOnline shopping gains popularity in the Netherlands
Multinational companies key for Dutch economy, job creationMultinational companies key for Dutch economy, job creation
The Netherlands strong and steady in 2015 Global Peace IndexThe Netherlands strong and steady in 2015 Global Peace Index
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
May 8, 2015
Emily McCallum
Emily grew up in a small coastal town in western Canada and moved to Utrecht in 2014, after completing her studies in Vancouver and Germany. So far, she has been loving life as an expat--learning Dutch, meeting new people, and seeing the historical sites.Read more

British publisher QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) has released the 2015 edition of its World University Rankings by Subject.

The main publication brought out by QS, the comprehensive World University Rankings, is the most widely-read university comparison index.

For the rankings by subject, analysts based comparisons on three factors: a university’s academic reputation in a given field, research impact and employer reputation. The results are intended as a guide to help international students choose study destinations.

Dutch top scorers

Though only one Dutch university - the University of Amsterdam - cracked the top 50 in the latest version of the comprehensive index, several institutions in the Netherlands achieved high standings in the subject-specific version.

Dutch excel in economics, business, medicine

Of all the subject categories profiled, Dutch universities fared the best in economics and econometrics. The University of Tilburg placed 37th in this category, with Erasmus University Rotterdam and Amsterdam University not far behind at 40th and 41st place, respectively.

The Universities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam both placed in the top 100 for business and medicine.

TU Delft scores especially well

Due to the strong success of two of its programs, the Delft University of Technology is the highest-rated Dutch university in any subject category.

TU Delft’s architecture program placed third in its category, while its civil and structural engineering program rose from 14th in 2014 to second in the world.

Ranking criteria

The universities ranked in the index are assigned scores in multiple categories, weighted according to discipline, which are then amalgamated to determine an overall score.

For the Academic Reputation category, survey respondents, identified as experts in a particular academic field, are asked to name the regional institutions (aside from their own) they view as leaders in that field.

QS is unique among university rankings for its incorporation of Employer Reputation as a category. This is based on the intersection of two survey questions posed to employers: from which domestic and international universities they prefer to recruit graduates, and from which disciplines.

The final category, Research Impact, is measured by looking at the number of times a faculty member’s paper is cited, using a minimum publication threshold to keep results proportional.

 

By Emily McCallum