Utrecht University

Utrecht University, also known as Universiteit Utrecht in the Dutch language and previously known as Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, is a public research university located in Utrecht, the Netherlands. It is one of the oldest institutions in the Netherlands and was founded on March 26th, 1636, making it exactly 386 years old. In 2018, the institution had a total enrolment of 31,801 students and employed 7,191 people throughout its many departments. In 2018, there were a total of 525 Ph.D. degrees bestowed along with 6,948 scholarly publications being published. The institution has a budget of 857 million euros for the year 2018.

Utrecht University has produced several highly regarded academics, including 13 Spinoza Prize laureates and 12 Nobel Prize laureates, who have gone on to eminent careers in their respective fields. Numerous reputable worldwide rating tables have repeatedly positioned Utrecht University inside the top one hundred educational institutions everywhere in the globe. According to the Shanghai Ranking of World Universities 2022, the institution has the title of a top university in the Netherlands. Additionally, it holds the position of 14th in Europe and 54th in the world.

The name of the institution comes from the Latin phrase "May the Sun of Righteousness Enlighten Us," which is also the motto of the university. This motto was gathered from a Latin Bible translation of Malachi 4:1, which was done in its exact form. A modified form of this motto is used by Rutgers University, which has historical ties to Utrecht University and utilizes its version of the motto.

Henk Kummeling, who serves as Rector Magnificus of Utrecht University, Anton Pijpers, who serves as head of the University Board, Margot van der Starre, who serves as Vice Chair, and Anneloes Krul are the members of the University Board (Student Assessor).

Through its participation in organizations such as the Coimbra Group (CG), the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the Utrecht Network, and the European University Association, the university maintains strong relationships with other educational establishments located around the globe (EUA).

On March 26, 1636, the University of Utrecht was established. It may trace its origins back to the Illustrious School of Utrecht, which was established two years earlier, in 1634, and then promoted to the rank of the university the following year, in 1636. Gisbert Voetius, an eminent professor of theology, gave the inauguration address, and Bernardus Schotanus, a professor of law and mathematics, became the university's first rector magnificus. Both men were affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. Anna Maria van Schurman, who was the first female student to enroll at the institution, was asked to compose a Latin poem just for the event's inaugural celebration. At the beginning of the academic year, there were less than a hundred students registered for studies at the institution. Philosophy, which provided all students with an initial education, was one of the four faculties that had seven professors working in it. The other three faculties were higher level (theology, medicine, and law).