Professors

Numbers of Professors, December 2025

FunctionAmount

Rector magnificus

1

Dean of Education

1

Dean of Research

1

Chairholders

88

Personal professors

92

Professors other University

1

Professors International Education

2

Distinguished professors

0

Other

4

Special professors

39

  1. Function

    Rector magnificus

    Amount

    1

  2. Function

    Dean of Education

    Amount

    1

  3. Function

    Dean of Research

    Amount

    1

  4. Function

    Chairholders

    Amount

    88

  5. Function

    Personal professors

    Amount

    92

  6. Function

    Professors other University

    Amount

    1

  7. Function

    Professors International Education

    Amount

    2

  8. Function

    Distinguished professors

    Amount

    0

  9. Function

    Other

    Amount

    4

  10. Function

    Special professors

    Amount

    39

Funding special professors

FunctionAmount

Research institutes

14

Wageningen Research

11

Non-profit

6

Business

5

Philosophical

2

Unremunerated professor

1

Total

228

Funding special professors

  1. Function

    Research institutes

    Amount

    14

  2. Function

    Wageningen Research

    Amount

    11

  3. Function

    Non-profit

    Amount

    6

  4. Function

    Business

    Amount

    5

  5. Function

    Philosophical

    Amount

    2

  6. Function

    Unremunerated professor

    Amount

    1

  7. Function

    Total

    Amount

    228

This table lists the funding sources for all chairs at Wageningen University. The term ‘Chair plan’ refers to the chairs that are governed by the structural chair plan of the university. These chairs are funded directly by the resources that Wageningen University receives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ).

Personal professorships are also paid from these resources, but these chairs are linked personally to an outstanding researcher. Consequently, these are not included in the structural chair plan.

WUR has no regular professors (chairholders, nor Personal professors) who are funded by external parties.

The special professorships are usually limited-term appointments (often for a period of 5 years). Moreover, these are always part time, usually for 1 day per week. In contrast, the ‘regular’ professorships governed by the chair plan are almost always full time. These special professorships are usually funded by external parties (companies, consortia, foundations, affiliated institutions, etc.). The disciplines that are represented by the special professorships complement the chairs in the chair plan; they are also assessed on their scientific relevance. Wageningen chair holders, and sometimes external scientists, are involved in this assessment. Furthermore, the scientific qualities of the candidates are carefully evaluated. These chairs – in addition to broadening the scientific scope – also ensure that Wageningen science is linked with society. Partly as a result, Wageningen UR is solidly anchored in society, which contributes to the realisation of its motto ‘For Quality of Life’.

The special professorships on behalf of international education are chairs at the international institute IHE Delft. This collaboration with Wageningen University makes it possible for this institute to train international PhD students.

The Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity applies to all professors, and to all scientists. All ancillary activities and positions held by our professors are made transparent by publishing them in the Downloads section of this page.

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