Ghent University at a glance
Introducing...
Learn more about Ghent University or UGent through this three-minute video presentation.
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History
Founded in 1817 as a Latin-speaking State University by William I, King of the Netherlands, Ghent University is a relatively young university. After its independence in 1830, the Belgian State was in charge of the administration of Ghent University; French was the new official academic language. In 1930 Ghent University became the first Dutch-speaking university in Belgium. The Decree of 1991 assigned great autonomy to the university.
Over the years eminent scientists such as Joseph Plateau (physicist, considered as a pioneer in the development of motion pictures), Leo Baekeland (inventor of Bakelite) and Corneel Heymans (Nobel Prize winner in Medicine) studied and worked at Ghent University.
With a view to cooperation in research and scientific service, numerous research groups, centres and institutes have been founded over the years. Several of them are renowned worldwide, in various scientific disciplines such as biotechnology, aquaculture, microelectronics, history,...
Today, after decades of uninterrupted growth, Ghent University is one of the leading institutions of higher education and research in the Low Countries. Ghent University is an open, committed and pluralistic university with a broad international perspective.
Located in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium and the cultural and economical heart of Europe, Ghent University is an active partner in national and international educational, scientific and industrial cooperation.
Because it plays a leading role in the academic and scientific world, Ghent University attaches great interest to a transparent organization structure, a dynamic human resources policy, an active environmental policy, its support to spin-offs and other new initiatives,...
Facts and figures
32.000 students - 11 faculties
| Arts and Philosophy Law Sciences Medicine and Health Sciences Engineering and Architecture Economics and Business Administration Veterinary Medicine Psychology and Educational Sciences Bio-science Engineering Pharmaceutical Sciences Political and Social Sciences |
4.550 students 3.800 students 2.450 students 4.400 students 2.800 students 2.150 students 1.650 students 4.500 students 1.800 students 800 students 2.550 students |
7.100 staff members
- 962 professors (Autonomous Academic Staff)
- 1068 assistants (Academic Assisting Staff)
- 747 other scientific staff members
- 2.307 administrative and technical staff members
- 2.010 externally financed researchers
excl. personeel UZ Gent 
Also, Ghent University's international image is reflected in the basic facts and figures. Further reading on the international facts and figures and UGent's attitude towards and position in the major rankings.
Finances
- annual revenue: 410 million euro; the direct funding from the Flemish Community makes up 49% of the total revenue
- 58% of the revenue is used for the personnel costs, 35% for operations and equipment, the remaining 7% goes to the depreciation of the university investments
More information in our Summary annual report.
