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Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Quick facts

City
Rotterdam
Country
Netherlands
Type
Public
Founded
1913
Students
31,473
International ranking
#148
Tuition (local students)
€2,694
Tuition (international)
€13,500
Guide score
7.8/10

Official website: www.eur.nl

Overview

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is a leading Dutch research university named after Desiderius Erasmus, the Renaissance humanist born in Rotterdam. Founded in 1913 as the Netherlands School of Commerce, EUR has grown into a comprehensive university with particular strength in economics, business, medicine, and social sciences. The Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) is one of Europe's top business schools, with AACSB and EQUIS accreditation. EUR is ranked 148th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and has around 31,000 students.

EUR's Woudestein campus is located in the east of Rotterdam, a dynamic, modern city known for its bold architecture, multicultural atmosphere, and Europe's largest port. Rotterdam offers a grittier, more affordable alternative to Amsterdam, with a vibrant arts scene, innovative food culture, and a rapidly growing tech and startup ecosystem. The city's post-war reconstruction has made it a living showcase of modern architecture, from the Markthal to the Erasmus Bridge.

Academic programs

EUR offers programmes through its schools and faculties, with particular distinction in Economics (Erasmus School of Economics — ESE), Business (RSM), Medicine (Erasmus MC), Law, and Social Sciences. The International Bachelor in Economics & Business Economics (IBEB) is highly popular with international students. RSM offers a range of English-taught Master's programmes in Finance, Management, Strategic Entrepreneurship, and Global Business. The Erasmus MC is one of Europe's leading academic medical centres. Teaching quality is strong, with a mix of lectures, tutorials, and group projects. The problem-based learning approach in some faculties encourages active student engagement.

Campus life

Student life at EUR benefits from Rotterdam's dynamic and diverse atmosphere. The campus has recently undergone major renovations, with modern study spaces, sports facilities, and social areas. Student associations (studieverenigingen) organise academic and social events, and the Study Association Network is active. Rotterdam's cultural scene includes the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Kunsthal, and the North Sea Jazz Festival. The Witte de Withstraat area is the nightlife hub, with bars, clubs, and restaurants. The city's multicultural character means excellent international cuisine at affordable prices. Cycling is the primary transport mode, and the extensive metro/tram system connects all areas.

Exchange programs

Fittingly for a university named after Erasmus, EUR is highly active in international exchange. According to its 2025 annual report, EUR has around 400 active Erasmus+ inter-institutional agreements (almost all in Europe) plus more than 200 student exchange agreements with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, and it welcomed about 1,000 incoming exchange students in 2025. RSM alone has a network of more than 170 partner business schools and receives around 400 exchange students a year; for its bachelor exchange, student applications are due around 15 May for the fall and 15 October for the spring, after nomination by the home university. Erasmus School of Economics and other faculties maintain their own exchange networks. Exchange students can choose from a wide catalogue of English-taught courses across all faculties. The International Office organises orientation weeks, buddy programmes, and social events for incoming exchange students. Rotterdam's central European location makes travel to other cities easy and affordable.

Admissions

Bachelor applicants register in Studielink and, with a non-Dutch diploma, also complete the EUR Application Portal (with a €100 application fee). Popular programmes with limited places (numerus fixus), such as the International Bachelor in Economics and Business Economics (IBEB), International Business Administration (IBA) and Psychology, have a 15 January deadline and a selection procedure. For other bachelor's programmes, the deadline for the 2027–2028 intake is 1 April 2027 for non-EU/EEA applicants (who need a residence permit) and 1 May 2027 for EU/EEA applicants. Master's admission at RSM and ESE is competitive, requiring strong academic records and, for some RSM programmes, a GMAT/GRE score. English requirements vary by programme — commonly IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90, while IBEB asks for IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80. In 2026–2027, EU/EEA students pay the statutory fee of €2,694; new non-EEA bachelor students pay €13,500 at most schools (€14,000 for IBA at RSM). Scholarships include the NL Scholarship (formerly Holland Scholarship) and programme-specific awards.

Student housing

Like most Dutch cities, finding housing in Rotterdam can be challenging. EUR reserves a limited number of rooms for international students with providers such as SSH, Xior and The Social Hub, allocated first come, first served, so book as soon as booking opens. According to EUR, room rates in Rotterdam start at about €700 and range up to €1,000 per month, usually including gas and electricity, and EUR advises students not to travel without housing secured. Popular student areas include Kralingen (close to campus), Delfshaven, Noord and the city centre, while neighbouring towns such as Schiedam and Capelle aan den IJssel can be cheaper. Rotterdam is generally more affordable than Amsterdam, Utrecht, or Leiden. The Dutch government's housing benefit (huurtoeslag) may be available to eligible students to reduce costs.

Career services

EUR's Career Centre provides coaching, workshops, and employer networking events. RSM has its own dedicated Career Centre with corporate partners and on-campus recruitment. Major employers in the Rotterdam region include the Port of Rotterdam and a large cluster of logistics, maritime, energy, finance and consulting companies. Career events organised by EUR, RSM and the study associations bring employers to campus throughout the year. EUR's strong alumni network in the Netherlands and internationally supports graduates. Rotterdam's position as a major European economic hub, with strength in trade, logistics, and finance, provides diverse career opportunities. Dutch language skills are an advantage for long-term employment, though many international companies in Rotterdam operate in English.

Academic programs

Application deadlines

Exchange

Erasmus+ university with 400+ inter-institutional agreements in Europe and 200+ student exchange agreements worldwide; about 1,000 incoming exchange students in 2025 (around 400 at RSM, which has 170+ partner business schools). Courses in English.

Next steps

Sources