Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a research university in Brussels, Belgium, that is both Dutch and English-speaking. Brussels Humanities, Science and Engineering Campus (in Elsene), Brussels Health Campus (in Jette), Brussels Technology Campus (in Anderlecht), and Brussels Photonics Campus (in Anderlecht) are the four campuses (in Gooik).
The Free University of Brussels, founded in 1834 by Flemish-Brussels jurist Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, was divided in 1970, resulting in the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He aspired to build a university free of the influence of the state and the church, where academic independence would be the norm. This is still represented in the university's motto, Scientia vincere tenebras, or Science conquering darkness, and its more contemporary tagline, Redelijk eigenzinnig, or Reasonably opinionated (in Dutch). As a result, the university is pluralistic — it is diverse.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is divided into eight faculties that carry out the university's three main missions: education, research, and community service. Natural sciences, classics, life sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering are among the branches of expertise covered by the faculties. Around 8,000 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students attend the university, which offers bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. It is also a research-intensive institution, earning it a ranking of 189th among universities worldwide. Its research papers are on average more cited than articles by any other Flemish university.
- QS Ranking 2022: 221
- THE Ranking 2022: 251
- ARWU Ranking 2021: 201
Established: 1834
Address: Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
Website:www.vub.ac.be/en
