Heidelberg University (German: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; Latin: Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386 on instruction of Pope Urban VI, Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university and one of the world’s oldest surviving universities. It was the third university established in the Holy Roman Empire.
Heidelberg has been a coeducational institution since 1899. The university consists of twelve faculties and offers degree programmes at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels in some 100 disciplines. Its academic body comprises some 2,300 full professors and about 40,000 students (including approximately 5,000 doctoral students). Among its notable alumni and faculty are 29 Nobel laureates (as of 2019), four Fields Medalists (as of 2018), 12 Leibniz Prize winners as well as Augustine of Hippo (alumnus), Heinrich Schliemann (alumnus), Karl Jaspers (faculty) Max Weber (faculty), Hannah Arendt(faculty), Joseph Goebbels(alumnus).
The main campus is located on Philosophenweg (“Philosophers’ Walk”), opposite the New Palace () in central Heidelberg. Additional facilities are located at campuses throughout the city including Internationales Wissenschaftsforum Heilbronn (“International Science Forum”) which was opened in March 2017. The university also maintains facilities outside Germany known as “Heidelberg Castle” which serves as an event venue and houses the German Wine Academy for wine education courses among other things.
Heidelberg University
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