The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has published its annual report Facts & Figures 2024. The document provides a clear overview of the university’s key developments in education, research and societal engagement. The figures show that the university continues to grow on all fronts: student numbers are rising, international appeal is increasing, and research funding has reached a historic high.
VUB Rector Jan Danckaert: “We live in a time of geopolitical instability and societal uncertainty. In that light, these figures are more than mere statistics: they reflect trust in the role of universities as engines of knowledge, innovation and progress. The growth of our student population and the international recognition of our research show that VUB offers a solid academic foundation for those who want to actively contribute to the future of science and society.”
Student population continues to grow
In the academic year 2024–2025, 24,199 students are enrolled at VUB, an increase of 3.57% compared to the previous year. The largest faculty is Social Sciences & Solvay Business School with 6,543 students, followed by Psychology & Educational Sciences (2,929 students) and Medicine & Pharmacy (2,367 students). The faculties of Science & Bioengineering Sciences (2,216 students) and Engineering (1,626 students) also saw strong growth. The faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy grew by nearly 17%, and the teacher training programme (MILO) saw a notable increase of 16.8%.
International students from 151 countries
The internationalisation of the student population continues strongly. In total, VUB now has 5,950 international students from 151 countries, accounting for 24.38% of the total. The international presence is especially impressive in master’s and doctoral programmes: 24.7% of master’s students and 54% of doctoral students come from abroad. The largest groups of international students come from the Netherlands (608), China (324), Spain (302), Iran (238) and Turkey (202). Of these students, 57% come from countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) and 43% from non-EEA countries.
Record amount for research
VUB is also achieving historic results in research. In 2024, a record amount of €156.5 million was invested in research. The university is the most successful Brussels institution in securing European research funding. Under the Horizon Europe programme, 158 projects were approved, amounting to €102.1 million in EU contributions. In addition, VUB received five prestigious ERC grants and nine Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships. The university is also investing heavily in infrastructure, including the Brubotics Rehabilitation Research Center, the Brussels Digital Text Lab and the Visual and Spatial Tissue Analysis platform.
Scientists awarded
Scientific impact is also reflected in recognition for individual researchers. Mathematician Sam Mattheus solved an 85-year-old problem and won both the EOS Pipet Prize and the international Frontiers of Science Award. Ann Van Griensven received an AXA Research Chair for her work on water quality and climate adaptation. The Brubotics team was honoured by the Royal Flemish Academy of Sciences for their science communication, and climate scientist Wim Thiery received the Laureate of the Academy award for his research on climate extremes.
Medical breakthroughs at UZ Brussel
UZ Brussel, VUB’s university hospital, confirmed its pioneering role with several medical firsts. It was the first hospital in the world to perform a dual robot-assisted lymph node transplant. It also successfully implanted Belgium’s first wireless atrial pacemaker. Other groundbreaking studies show that in-vitro maturation (IVM) is as effective as IVF in women with PCOS, but with fewer side effects. Thanks to a new imaging technique, doctors can immediately check whether all tumour cells have been removed after breast-conserving surgery.
VUB Rector Jan Danckaert is highly satisfied with the scientific work at VUB. “Many of our researchers are among the international top in fields such as biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence, robotics, photonics, sustainable energy and e-mobility. They lead international consortia, develop new therapies, build technological innovations and publish in the highest ranks of science. That expertise flows directly into the lecture halls of VUB. Our students are taught by researchers who are leaders in their field. This makes VUB students not only academically strong, but also prepares them for roles as scientific, medical and societal pioneers in the world of tomorrow.”
VUB continues to focus on societal engagement, sustainability and inclusion. Through outreach initiatives such as the Children’s University, investments in sustainable campus development and a growing range of micro-credentials and lifelong learning, the university is building a future-oriented learning environment. Collaboration within the EUTOPIA network further strengthens the European dimension of education and research.
