University of Göttingen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of Göttingen

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Latin: Universitas Regiæ Georgiæ Augustæ
Motto	In publica commoda (Latin)
Motto in English	For the good of all
Type	Public
Established	1734; 291 years ago (1734)
Budget	€1.438 billion
President	Metin Tolan
Academic staff	4,551 (2021)
Administrative staff	8,825 (2021)
Students	30,200 (2020–2021)
Doctoral students	713 (2021)
Location	Göttingen, Lower Saxony , Germany
Campus	University town
Colours	Dark blue
Affiliations	German Excellence Universities, Coimbra Group, U15, EUA, U4 Network, Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities

The University of Göttingen, also known as the Georg August University of Göttingen, is a well-known public research university. It is located in the city of Göttingen, Germany. King George II of Great Britain founded it in 1734. Classes started in 1737. It is the oldest university in Lower Saxony, a state in Germany.

This university is famous for its long history and traditions. Many important people have studied or taught here. As of 2002, 44 Nobel Prize winners have been connected to the university. The University of Göttingen is part of important groups like the U15 Group and the Coimbra Group. These groups include major research universities in Germany and Europe. The university also works closely with other top research places in Göttingen. These include the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz Association. The Göttingen State and University Library is one of Germany's largest libraries.

History of Göttingen University

How the University Started

King George II, who started the university

In 1734, King George II of Great Britain decided to create a university in Göttingen. He wanted it to spread new ideas from the Enlightenment. This was a time when people focused on reason and science.

The first buildings for the university were simple. They included a riding hall and a fencing house. Lectures were held in the Paulinerkirche, an old monastery, or in professors' homes. A proper university hall for lectures was built much later.

King George II in the Pauliner Church in 1748

The 1700s and 1800s

During the 1700s, Göttingen University was known for its freedom of thought. It also focused on scientific discovery. Georg Christoph Lichtenberg was a famous scholar here. He taught one of Germany's first classes in experimental physics. By 1812, Göttingen was a modern and well-known university. Its library had over 200,000 books.

The university's Law Faculty became very famous. Many important people studied law here. These included Otto von Bismarck, who later became Germany's first Chancellor. The great German poet Heinrich Heine also earned his law degree here in 1825.

The Theology Faculty also became a global center. It focused on studying religion and ancient history.

In 1809, Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher, studied at the university. He learned about metaphysics and psychology.

The university also became known for its work in history. It developed the Göttingen school of history. Later, Max Weber, an important thinker about modern society, also studied history here.

Students marching for the university's anniversary in 1837

The famous Brothers Grimm taught at Göttingen. They are known for collecting fairy tales like "Cinderella" and "Snow White". They also started compiling the first German dictionary.

However, there were some political problems. In 1837, seven professors were expelled. They were called the Göttinger Sieben (Göttingen Seven). They protested against a political change by the King of Hanover. This event affected the university's reputation for a while.

Early 1900s: A Time of Great Science

Alte Aula (Great Hall), built in 1835–1837

Around the late 1800s and early 1900s, Göttingen University reached its peak. It became especially strong in natural sciences, particularly mathematics. This started with Carl Friedrich Gauss, known as "the Prince of Mathematicians." Later, David Hilbert and Felix Klein attracted mathematicians from all over the world. Göttingen became a top center for mathematics.

In 1904, Ludwig Prandtl joined the university. He made it a leader in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics. He developed the idea of the boundary layer. Many of his students also made big discoveries in aerodynamics.

Between 1921 and 1933, Max Born led the physics theory group. He helped discover quantum mechanics. J. Robert Oppenheimer, who later became known as the "father of the atomic bomb," earned his doctorate here with Max Born.

The inside of the university Aula

During this time, German became an important language for academics worldwide. Many students from the US came to study in Germany. The University of Göttingen had a big impact on American education. For example, Edward Everett, a former US Secretary of State, studied here.

Mathematicians celebrating Siegel's Ph.D. graduation, June 1920 at Göttingen.

The "Great Purge" of 1933

In the 1930s, the university faced a difficult time. The Nazi government targeted "Jewish physics" and many brilliant academics. In 1933, many professors, including Max Born and Emmy Noether, were forced to leave or fled Germany. Most of them went to countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

After this "great purge," David Hilbert, a famous mathematician, was asked about mathematics at Göttingen. He sadly replied, "There is no mathematics in Göttingen anymore."

After World War II

After World War II, Göttingen University was the first university in western Germany to reopen in 1945. Many more famous people studied here. These include Jürgen Habermas, a German philosopher, and Richard von Weizsäcker, a former President of Germany. Gerhard Schröder, a former Chancellor of Germany, also graduated from the Law Faculty. Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission, studied economics in Göttingen.

University Campus

The university buildings are spread out in different parts of the city.

The old Göttingen university campus and library building around 1815

The main university area is near the city center. It has the Central Library and student dining halls. Here you'll find faculties for Theology, Social Sciences, Law, Economics, and Languages. The departments for Ancient History, Psychology, and Philosophy are also nearby.

South of the city is the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. North of the city, there is a new science center. Most natural sciences, like chemistry, biology, and physics, are located there.

The University Library

Central Library and "Raumskulptur" sculpture

The Pauliner Church, where the University Library used to be. Famous people like Heinrich Heine and the Brothers Grimm worked here.

The Göttingen State and University Library is very important to the university. It has about 9 million items, including valuable old books and manuscripts. It serves the university, the state of Lower Saxony, and the Göttingen Academy of Sciences.

University Gardens

The university has three botanical gardens. These are special gardens where different types of plants are grown and studied.

How the University is Organized

The old Auditorium Maximum, built between 1826 and 1865

As of 2023, the university has 13 main departments, called faculties. About 22,484 students are enrolled. Over 500 professors and more than 4,000 academic staff work here. They are supported by over 7,000 technical and administrative staff.

The university has expanded a lot since World War II. A new, modern "university quarter" was built in the north of the city. You can still see the older university buildings. These include the Auditorium Maximum and the Great Hall at Wilhelmsplatz.

University Departments and Centers

The University of Göttingen has 13 faculties. It also has 38 other centers and institutes. These include places for studying different subjects.

Faculties

Centers and institutes

Academic Achievements

Historical Reputation and Impact

The University of Göttingen has a very important place in history. A study in 2013 looked at how universities have been ranked over the past ten centuries. This study used information from Wikipedia in many languages. The University of Göttingen was ranked very high. It was 20th in "web page rank" and 8th in "chei rank" (how often it's mentioned). When combining both, it was 6th in the world.

As of 2002, 44 Nobel Prize winners were connected to the University of Göttingen. This number places it among the top 15 universities globally. Recent Nobel winners linked to the university include Klaus Hasselmann (Physics, 2021) and Stefan Hell (Chemistry, 2014).

Many judges in top national and international courts have ties to the Law Faculty. For example, in 2021, four out of sixteen judges in Germany's highest court had studied or taught at Göttingen.

Current University Rankings

Universities are often ranked to see how they compare globally and nationally. Here's how the University of Göttingen ranks:

• In 2023, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) placed it 97th worldwide and 6th in Germany.
• The 2023 ARWU World Rankings put it in the top 151–200 globally and 6th–9th in Germany.
• US News 2022-2023 Best Global Universities Rankings ranked it 163rd globally and 8th in Germany.
• The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2024 placed it 111th globally and 10th in Germany.
• In the QS World University Rankings 2024, it was 232nd internationally and 13th in Germany.

QS Subject Ranking 2024 Subject Global National Arts & Humanities  188  10 Linguistics  201–250  15 Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies  30  6 Archaeology  101–150  9–10 Classics and Ancient History  51–90  7–11 English Language and Literature  201–250  10–11 History  101–150  6–10 Modern Languages  101–150  6–8 Philosophy  151–200  15–18 Engineering and Technology N/A N/A Life Sciences & Medicine  96  4 Agriculture and Forestry  24  1 Biological Sciences  81  3 Medicine  161  10 Pharmacy and Pharmacology  251–300  13–16 Natural Sciences  125  12 Chemistry  139  10 Earth and Marine Sciences  101–150  8–13 Environmental Sciences  116  6 Geography  151–200  7–10 Geology  101–150  7–13 Geophysics  101–150  7–13 Mathematics  201–250  13 Physics & Astronomy  151–200  13–18 Social Sciences & Management  451–500  15–20 Anthropology  101–150  6–8 Business and Management Studies  551–580  13–14 Development Studies  51-100  1-3 Economics and Econometrics  201–250  9–10 Law and Legal Studies  201–250  9–12 Sociology  251–300  13–15 Statistics and Operational Research  101–150  5–6 THE Subject Ranking 2024 Subject Global National Arts & humanities  101–125  10–12 Clinical & health  126–150  8-11 Computer science  251–300  18–23 Law  101–125  8 Life sciences  =51  4 Physical sciences  72  7 Psychology  151–175  15–20 Social sciences  201–250  9–13

ARWU Subject Ranking 2023 Subject Global National Natural Sciences Atmospheric Science  201–300  15–20 Chemistry  151–200  10–12 Earth Sciences  201–300  15–20 Ecology  24  1 Geography  151–200  5-9 Mathematics  101–150  6–9 Physics  201–300  13–23 Engineering Biotechnology  401–500  27–30 Environmental Science & Engineering  201–300  7–12 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology  301–400  18–27 Water Resources  151–200  9–10 Life Sciences Agricultural Sciences  14  1 Biological Sciences  101–150  8–12 Human Biological Sciences  101–150  10–16 Veterinary Sciences  201–300  9–11 Medical Sciences Clinical Medicine  151–200  8–13 Dentistry & Oral Sciences  201–300  21–24 Medical Technology  151–200  21–23 Public Health  401–500  16–22 Social Sciences Economics  76–100  3 Political Sciences  301–400  17–26 Psychology  201–300  20–25 Statistics  101–150  1–3

The university's traditional Observatory

The university has received special funding for its research. This includes money for its "Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences" graduate school. It also funds its "Microscopy at the Nanometer Range" research cluster. In 2018, it received funds for its "Multiscale Bioimaging" research cluster.

Partner Institutions

The University of Göttingen works closely with other research centers in the Göttingen Campus. These include:

• Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience
• European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen (ENI-G)
• Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP)
• German Aerospace Center
• German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
• German Primate Center
• Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
• Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences
• Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
• Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity

Exchange Programs

The Alte Mensa

Since Germany is part of the European Union, students can join the Erasmus Programme. This program allows them to study in other European countries. The university also has exchange programs with universities outside Europe. These include Tsinghua University in China and Kyoto University in Japan. It also partners with Amherst College in the United States.

Summer School Programs

The university offers summer courses for students from around the world. One popular course is in Data Science. This two-week program teaches advanced students about different parts of data science. Students learn theories and practice new methods. The program also includes fun activities like sightseeing and barbecues.

University Traditions

The Marktplatz in the center of Göttingen town

The most famous tradition at the university is for PhD students. After they pass their final oral exam, they ride in a decorated wagon. Friends and family join them. They drive to the Marktplatz, the main square. There, the "new doctor" climbs up to the Gänseliesel statue. They kiss the statue and give her flowers. The Gänseliesel is a statue of a poor princess from an old fairy tale.

Student Life

There's an old saying about life in Göttingen. It's written in Latin on a wall in the old town hall: Extra Gottingam non est vita, si est vita, non est ita. This means: "There is no life outside Göttingen. Even if it is life, it is no life like here." This shows how much people love living and studying in Göttingen.

Sign at Göttingen train station displaying the motto Stadt, die Wissen schafft ("City that creates knowledge").

The university has many snack shops and six dining halls called Mensas. They serve lunch at low prices for students. One Mensa also serves dinner.

Notable People from Göttingen University

Many famous people have studied or taught at the Georg-August University. These include the American banker J. P. Morgan and the seismologist Beno Gutenberg. The inventor of the jet engine, Pabst von Ohain, also studied here. Several Nobel Prize winners, like Max Planck and Werner Heisenberg, were also connected to the university.

Images for kids

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  Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss, "Prince of Mathematicians"

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  Bernhard Riemann, Mathematician

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  Felix Klein, Mathematician

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  David Hilbert, Mathematician

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  Hermann Minkowski, Mathematician, one of Albert Einstein's teachers

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  Max Born, Physicist, 1954 Nobel Prize in Physics

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  Werner Heisenberg, Physicist, 1932 Nobel Prize in Physics

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  Robert Oppenheimer, Physicist, "Father of the atomic bomb"

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  Niels Bohr, Physicist, 1922 Nobel Prize in Physics

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  Max Planck, Physicist, 1918 Nobel Prize in Physics

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  Stefan Hell, Physicist, 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

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  Erwin Neher, Biophysicist, 1991 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

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  Carol W. Greider, Biochemist, 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

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  Thomas Südhof, Molecular biologist, 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

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  Arthur Schopenhauer, Philosopher

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  Max Weber, Sociologist, historian, jurist, and political economist

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  Jürgen Habermas, Philosopher and social theorist

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  Brothers Grimm, writers and storytellers of folktales

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  Heinrich Heine, Poet, writer and literary critic

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  Wilhelm von Humboldt, Founder of the Humboldt University of Berlin

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  Rudolf von Jhering, Jurist

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  Otto von Bismarck, "Iron Chancellor" of the German Empire

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  Richard von Weizsäcker, Former President of Germany

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  Gerhard Schröder, Former Chancellor of Germany

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  Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Gotinga para niños

• Göttinger Digitalisierungszentrum
• List of early modern universities in Europe
• List of universities in Germany
• List of forestry universities and colleges