Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (also referred to as MLU) is a public research university located in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg within the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is one of the oldest universities in Germany, founded in 1502 by Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. Today, MLU comprises 14 faculties and over 40 institutes and research units, with a total of more than 27,000 students enrolled.
The university’s history is closely linked to the Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther himself studied and taught at what was then known as the University of Wittenberg from 1512 until his death in 1546. As a result, MLU has been nicknamed “the cradle of the Reformation”. In recent years, MLU has been working to foster closer ties with its sister university in Tübingen, also founded in 1502 – making it one of the oldest universities in continuous operation anywhere in the world.
Research at MLU covers a wide range of topics, with special focus on areas such as life sciences and medicine, nanotechnology, materials science and engineering, energy technology, environmental science, food science and nutrition. The university also has strong links to industry – particularly through its Fraunhofer Institutes – which allow for close cooperation between academia and business.
MLU’s campuses are spread across two cities: Halle (Saale), which is home to most of the faculties; and Wittenberg – where Luther himself taught – which hosts MLU’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences as well as several other institutes. Both cities have a long history dating back centuries; Halle was first mentioned in 959 AD while Wittenberg’s origins can be traced back even further to 1085. They are both situated on rivers (the Saale River runs through Halle while the Elbe flows past Wittenberg) making them ideal locations for water sports enthusiasts.