Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a research university located in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1825 as the Polytechnische Schule Karlsruhe and became a technical university in 1967. KIT is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Germany, with over 31,000 students enrolled in more than 190 degree programs.
KIT is organized into 14 departments: Architecture; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering and Information Technology; Energy Systems Engineering and Environment; Geosciences; Industrial Engineering and Management; Materials Science and Engineering; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Physics; Process Sciences. The university has a strong focus on research and education in engineering sciences, natural sciences, and economics.
KIT’s main campus is located in the north-west of Karlsruhe, about 10 minutes by tram from the city center. The campus covers an area of 1.2 square kilometers and includes several historic buildings as well as modern architecture. The campus is home to numerous research institutes and facilities, including the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Research Center Karlsruhe), which is one of the largest research centers in Europe. KIT also operates several off-campus locations, including laboratories, production facilities, and offices across Germany and abroad.
KIT is ranked among the top universities worldwide in several disciplines such as engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry, materials science, environmental sciences, geosciences, industrial engineering & management ,and mathematics . In 2019/20 , it was ranked 4th overall among German universities for employability . KIT offers a wide range of undergraduate , graduate ,and postgraduate programs . It also provides continuing education opportunities for working professionals through its various institutes . Some notable alumni include Nobel laureate Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen , discoverer of X-rays ; Carl Bosch , chemist & engineer who developed the Haber–Bosch process ; Leo Baekeland , inventor of Bakelite ; Rudolf Diesel , inventor of diesel engine ; Ferdinand Porsche , automotive engineer & designer ; Wernher von Braun , aerospace engineer & rocket scientist ; Klaus von Klitzing , Nobel laureate in physics