About the university
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) traces its roots to an agricultural college that the Dutch state took over in 1876. Today the university and the Wageningen Research institutes work together, with about 12,400 students and around 7,000 staff.
WUR specialises in food, agriculture, life sciences and the environment. It is ranked 154 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and =66 in the THE World University Rankings 2027, and it offers more than 40 English-taught master's programmes.
For Indian students the best-known options are two-year MSc degrees such as Food Technology, Food Safety, Biotechnology, Nutrition and Health, Plant Sciences and Data Science for Food and Health. The non-EU fee for 2027-28 is €22,560 a year. Indian nationals are eligible for the NL Scholarship and the Anne van den Ban Fund.
Wageningen Campus hosted 240 organisations in 2025, including start-ups, companies, NGOs and research institutes, which helps with thesis and internship links.
- History
- The Dutch state took over Wageningen's Agricultural College in 1876; today it is Wageningen University & Research
- Type
- Public university focused on food, agriculture, life sciences and the environment, working with the Wageningen Research institutes
- Total students
- 12,407 in June 2026: 5,175 bachelor's and 6,754 master's (WUR facts and figures)
- International students
- 3,376 non-Dutch students in June 2026; 31% international in THE World University Rankings 2027 data
- Student–staff ratio
- 15.9 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Intakes
- September for all MSc programmes; February also for Animal Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Biotechnology, Biology, Environmental Sciences and Forest and Nature Conservation
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
154 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=66 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (Studielink by 15 April, documents by 1 May)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (Studielink by 15 April, documents by 1 May)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (apply by 15 April) or February 2028 (apply by 15 September)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
- Postgraduate
MSc Data Science for Food and Health
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (Studielink by 15 April, documents by 1 May)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (Studielink by 15 April, documents by 1 May)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (60 ECTS courses, then thesis and internship)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (Studielink by 15 April, documents by 1 May)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
- Postgraduate
MSc Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (Studielink by 15 April, documents by 1 May)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €22,560
- Duration
- 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (apply by 15 April) or February 2028 (apply by 15 September)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 (speaking 22), PTE Academic 62 (speaking 59) or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Food Technology | 2 years (full time) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Food Safety | 2 years (full time) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Biotechnology | 2 years (full time) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Data Science for Food and Health | 2 years (full time) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Nutrition and Health | 2 years (full time) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Food Quality Management | 2 years (60 ECTS courses, then thesis and internship) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Bioinformatics and Systems Biology | 2 years (full time) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Biosystems Engineering | 2 years (full time) | €22,560 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Wageningen University & Research with similar universities in the Netherlands.
Scholarships
- MSc (not online or double-degree programmes)
NL Scholarship
Value: €5,000, once; does not cover WUR's payment requirements
Eligibility: Nationals of listed non-EEA countries, India included, with a GPA of 80% or higher and an offer, and no earlier Dutch degree. Invitations from 1 February 2027; apply before 1 May 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - MSc
Anne van den Ban Fund (ABF)
Value: Tuition, living allowance, travel, visa and health insurance for 24 months
Eligibility: Nationals of listed developing countries, India included, with unconditional admission. By invitation only; complete your application before 1 December 2026.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- WUR's bachelor's programmes are mostly aimed at students with a Dutch or equivalent school diploma; check the bachelor's study expenses and admission pages for your programme.
Postgraduate
- You need a bachelor's in a field of science relevant to your chosen MSc, with an average mark that meets the minimum set in WUR's International Credential Evaluation Guide (2027-2028 edition).
- Some programmes add their own prior-knowledge requirements; check the programme page.
- For September: apply in Studielink by 15 April and upload documents by 1 May. If you want a WUR scholarship, upload documents before 1 December 2026.
- You can apply for up to two programmes per intake.
Documents
- Bachelor's degree (with a certified English translation if needed)
- Complete transcript with your university's logo and official stamp (latest transcript if you are in your final year)
- English test result, unless exempt
- CV in English (maximum two pages)
- Optional personal statement
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall with 6.0 in speaking. IELTS online and One Skill Retake are not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 overall with 22 in speaking (or 4.5 overall, 4.0 speaking on the new scale). Home Edition and MyBest scores not accepted. |
| PTE Academic | 62 overall with 59 in speaking |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 176–210 (or grade C) / 180–230 (or grade C) |
| Exemption | Higher education taught entirely in English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the UK or the USA. India is not on the list, and Duolingo is not accepted. |
Accommodation and living costs
Most students rent through Idealis (via ROOM.nl, which charges a one-time registration fee) or platforms such as Hospi Housing. Idealis has priority periods in July–August and January–February for students with unconditional admission, paid tuition and a home address more than 130 km away. Many rooms are unfurnished. WUR's study-cost overview for non-EU master's students includes these amounts.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Living expenses in WUR's study-cost overviewAmount set by the IND, as listed by WUR; confirm the period it covers | €27,600per year | ≈ ₹29.3 lakh |
| Health insurance in WUR's study-cost overviewAs listed; WUR does not say whether this is yearly or for the whole stay | €2,268per year | ≈ ₹2.4 lakh |
| Residence permit fee | €254one-off | ≈ ₹26,924 |
Campus and location
Teaching and research take place on Wageningen Campus, shared with the Wageningen Research institutes and 240 other organisations (2025).
- Around 7,000 staff across Wageningen University and Wageningen Research.
- Second-year MSc students in several programmes do a thesis and an internship (for example 36 ECTS and 24 ECTS in Food Technology and Food Quality Management).
- About 2,450 PhD candidates (2025), so master's students work alongside active research groups.
- All master's programmes are taught in English.
Careers and graduate outcomes
The internship built into several two-year MSc programmes, such as Food Technology and Food Quality Management, gives work experience in the Netherlands or abroad. Non-EU graduates can apply for the Dutch orientation year (zoekjaar); see our Netherlands guide for the rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Organisations based on Wageningen Campus | 240 (2025) | WUR facts and figures |
| International students as a share of all students | 31% | THE World University Rankings 2027 |
Studying in the Netherlands
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the Netherlands. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in the Netherlands
Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicDelft University of Technology (official website, opens in a new tab)
Delft, NetherlandsOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Arts, Design & Media
Photo: Fons Heijnsbroek, CC0 PublicUniversity of Amsterdam (official website, opens in a new tab)
Amsterdam, NetherlandsOften chosen for Business & Management, Data Science & AI, Law
Photo: RSM erasmus, CC BY-SA 2.0 PublicErasmus University Rotterdam (official website, opens in a new tab)
Rotterdam, NetherlandsOften chosen for Business & Management, Finance & Accounting, Medicine & Health Sciences
Photo: Kleon3, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicMaastricht University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Maastricht, NetherlandsOften chosen for Business & Management, Life Sciences, Law
Photo: Marvin Raaijmakers, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicEindhoven University of Technology (official website, opens in a new tab)
Eindhoven, NetherlandsOften chosen for Engineering, Data Science & AI, Computer Science & IT
Photo: Rudolphous, CC BY 3.0 PublicLeiden University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Leiden, NetherlandsOften chosen for Law, Life Sciences, Computer Science & IT
FAQs
What does an MSc at Wageningen cost for an Indian student?
The non-EU tuition fee is €22,560 a year for 2027-28 on WUR's tuition page (€21,900 in 2026-27). Most MSc programmes take two years, so budget for two years of fees plus living costs.
When can I start?
All MSc programmes start in September. Animal Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Biotechnology, Biology, Environmental Sciences and Forest and Nature Conservation also start in February. Apply by 15 April for September and by 15 September for February.
Do Indian students need IELTS?
Yes, in most cases. India is not on WUR's exemption list. You need IELTS 6.5 (speaking 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90, PTE 62 or Cambridge C1 Advanced 176.
Which scholarships can Indian students apply for?
Indian nationals are eligible for the NL Scholarship (€5,000) and the Anne van den Ban Fund (by invitation). For WUR scholarships, have your documents uploaded before 1 December 2026.
Can I work after graduating?
Non-EU graduates can apply for the Dutch orientation year to look for work. See our Netherlands country guide for the current rules.
Sources
- WUR: study expenses master's (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: tuition fees and study finances (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: apply for a master's programme (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: English language proficiency MSc (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: MSc scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: Master's in Food Technology (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: student housing (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: facts and figures (opens in a new tab)
- WUR: history (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings: Wageningen University & Research (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Wageningen University & Research (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.wur.nl (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details