Best Business and Management Universities in Netherlands 2026

Institutional positions in the ranking are determined by the aggregate D-indexes (Discipline H-index) of all ranked scholars whose main area of publication is Business and Management and who are affiliated with a given institution. The D-index quantifies both the volume and impact of scholarly output but restricts the calculation strictly to works and citations within the examined discipline.

Scope of Research

The ranking methodology encompasses an expansive scope, examining 279,971 scientist profiles identified from various bibliometric data sources. Of these, 9,829 scientists specializing in Business and Management were subjected to in-depth analysis. To ensure only highly impactful scholars are included, a qualifying D-index threshold of 30 was established, with the majority of each scientist’s key publications required to be in Business and Management. Further, scientists’ awards and achievements within the discipline contributed to their qualification and assessment.

For the identification of top researchers, the D-index threshold is adaptively incremented by 10, depending on the estimated total number of scholars in each discipline. This ensures the recognition of the top 1% of leading scholars. Moreover, a proximity of 30% or less is required between a scientist’s overall H-index and their D-index, which guarantees that their contributions are primarily discipline-specific. In addition to bibliometric indicators, significant recognition in the form of awards and achievements in Business and Management is also taken into account.

Verification Practices and Data Integrity

Recognizing the limitations inherent in raw data, the Research.com team implemented rigorous additional verification procedures. All scientist profiles were manually reviewed and cross-verified against a breadth of reputable sources to ensure data accuracy and to substantiate scholarly outputs. While the quantity of publications in leading journals and conference proceedings does not directly impact ranking position, it is recognized as a valuable supplementary indicator of a scientist’s disciplinary influence.

A scholar’s ranking is determined by their H-index as recorded in OpenAlex and CrossRef — two of the most respected bibliometric resources available to the global research community. These practices, alongside thorough manual validation, affirm the reliability and fairness of our approach. For a comprehensive overview of the methodologies employed, we invite readers to visit our methodology page.

Research.com’s Mission

The core aim of Research.com in producing these rankings is to inspire scientists, business leaders, and policymakers worldwide to track the trajectories of top experts in their fields. Moreover, the ranking is designed to facilitate the research community’s ability to identify and connect with leading professionals within specific disciplines, across countries, and within research institutions. By bringing transparency to scholarly impact, we strive to foster excellence, collaboration, and informed decision-making throughout the academic and research ecosystem.

Summary of Key Results

• Top 3 Dutch institutions in Business and Management:
  • Erasmus University Rotterdam — 13 leading scientists
  • University of Groningen — 9 leading scientists
  • Tilburg University — 8 leading scientists
• Global representation of most prominent scholars:
  • Imperial College London
  • Indiana University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • University of Manchester
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
  • University of Canterbury
  • Northwestern University
  • Florida State University
• Top individual worldwide:
  • Professor Mike Wright (Imperial College London) — D-index: 155
  • David B. Audretsch (Indiana University) — D-index: 150
  • Michael A. Hitt (Texas A&M University) — D-index: 141
• Statistical insights:
  • Average total D-index for the top 5% universities: 726
  • Average total D-index across all 680 ranked institutions: 153
  • Average number of published Business and Management articles per top 5% institution: 2,307
  • Average number of published articles across all ranked universities: 518
  • Average number of citations for top 1% university researchers: 279,971
  • Average number of citations across all universities: 60,550

Through diligent methodology, large-scale data integration, and multi-layered verification, the Research.com ranking serves as a trusted resource for identifying excellence in the field of Business and Management, both nationally and globally.