Universität Leipzig

About

Universität Leipzig, one of Germany's oldest and most prestigious universities, offers a comprehensive range of disciplines, excelling particularly in the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Medicine. It boasts a rich academic tradition, having educated figures like Goethe and Nietzsche. For international students, the university provides a welcoming environment with a dedicated International Centre offering extensive support, from application assistance to integration programs and German language courses. While primarily German-taught, an increasing number of English-taught Master's programs are available. Its distinctive characteristic is its deep historical roots and intellectual legacy, fostering a vibrant academic atmosphere in a dynamic city.

Background

Leipzig University (German: Universität Leipzig), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and Germany's second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence). The university was founded on 2 December 1409 by Frederick I, Elector of Saxony and his brother William II, Margrave of Meissen, and originally comprised the four scholastic faculties. Since its inception, the university has engaged in teaching and research for over 600 years without interruption. The university's alumni include 55 prime ministers and presidents, notably Angela Merkel who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. The university is also associated with 19 Nobel laureates, most recently with Leipzig faculty professor Svante Pääbo who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2022. Other alumni include Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Werner Heisenberg, Friedrich Nietzsche, Robert Schumann, Richard Wagner, Theodor Mommsen, Wilhelm Ostwald, Cai Yuanpei, Edward Teller, Gustav Stresemann, Tycho Brahe, Georgius Agricola.

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