Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg facts for kids
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Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
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| Latin: Universitas Hallensis | |
| Motto | Zukunft mit Tradition |
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Motto in English
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Future with Tradition |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1502 |
| Budget | €182.9 million |
| Rector | Claudia Becker |
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Academic staff
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663 |
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Administrative staff
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710 |
| Students | 19,319 |
| Location |
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Germany
51°29′11″N 11°58′08″E / 51.48639°N 11.96889°E |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Emerald green |
| Affiliations | Global Compact |
| Mascot | Lions |
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Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (German: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg), also known as MLU, is a large public university in Germany. It focuses on research and is located in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg. MLU is the biggest and oldest university in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Students at MLU can study many subjects. They can earn different degrees like Bachelor's (BA, BSc) and Master's (MA, MSc). They can also get advanced degrees like doctorates. The university offers courses in both German and English.
MLU was formed in 1817. This happened when two older universities joined together. These were the University of Wittenberg, founded in 1502, and the University of Halle, founded in 1694. The university is named after Martin Luther. He was a famous Protestant reformer and a professor in Wittenberg. Today, the main campus is in Halle. A special center in Wittenberg, called the Leucorea Foundation, is used for events.
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University History and Development
The University of Wittenberg (Universität Wittenberg) started in 1502. It was founded by Frederick the Wise, who was a powerful ruler. He wanted the university to spread ideas of Renaissance humanism. This was a new way of thinking that focused on human values and achievements.
When Martin Luther shared his Ninety-five Theses, many people were upset. The Archbishop of Mainz, Albert of Brandenburg, criticized Frederick the Wise. He thought the new university was teaching ideas that went against the church. However, with the help of Philipp Melanchthon, the university became a key place for the Protestant Reformation. Luther's own house, the Lutherhaus, even became part of the campus for a while. Famous people like George Müller and Georg Joachim Rheticus studied here. Even fictional characters like Prince Hamlet and Doctor Faustus are said to have attended.
The University of Halle (Universität Halle) was founded later, in 1694. It was started by Frederick III, who later became King Frederick I of Prussia. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, Halle became a center for Pietism. This was a religious movement that focused on personal faith.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, both universities were important for the German Age of Enlightenment. This was a time when people focused on reason and science. Christian Wolff, a philosopher, was a big supporter of rationalism, which means using reason to understand the world. He influenced many thinkers, including Immanuel Kant.
Another important person was Christian Thomasius. He was the first philosopher in Germany to give his lectures in German, not Latin. He wanted to use reason in philosophy. He also promoted common sense and challenged old ideas about noble families and religious leaders.
The University of Halle made many new changes. It started teaching in German and focused on reason over strict religious rules. Professors were given more freedom in their work. Because of these changes, Halle is sometimes called the first "modern" university. Its open-minded approach was later copied by other universities in Germany and North America.
The University of Wittenberg closed in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1815, Wittenberg became part of Prussia. In 1817, the University of Wittenberg joined with the University of Halle. The combined university got its current name, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, on November 10, 1933.
Challenges During the Nazi Period
During the Nazi period, the university faced difficulties. More than a dozen professors were forced to leave. Other professors were moved to Halle-Wittenberg from universities that were considered "better" at the time. This situation was very challenging for the university.
University Faculties
MLU has 9 main divisions called faculties. These faculties group together teachers and students who study similar subjects. This is different from some universities that have colleges.
- Faculty of Theology (studies of religion)
- Faculty of Law and Economics (studies of laws and money)
- Faculty of Medicine (studies of health and healing)
- Faculty of Philosophy I (studies of social life, culture, history, old buildings, and art)
- Faculty of Philosophy II (studies of old and new languages, how people communicate, and music)
- Faculty of Philosophy III (studies of teaching and education)
- Faculty of Natural Sciences I (studies of how living things work, like biochemistry, biology, and making medicines)
- Faculty of Natural Sciences II (studies of how the world works, like physics, chemistry, and math)
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III (studies of farming, rocks, and computer science)
Interesting Places at MLU
- The MLU's botanical garden was started in 1698. It's a place where many different plants are grown and studied.
- MLU has a historical observatory. This building was built in 1788 by Carl Gotthard Langhans to study stars and planets.
Research Partners
MLU works closely with many research groups. These groups often have strong connections with the university. They also work together on different study areas. Some of these partners include:
- The German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
- The Halle Institute for Economic Research
- The Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry
- The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
- The Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
Collegium Musicum
Even though MLU is a university focused on academics and research, it also has a strong music program. It has an orchestra, started in 1779, and a well-known choir, started in 1950. Together, these are called the Collegium musicum.
Most members are talented students from all parts of the university. Teachers and former students also join. The university choir often performs at the international Handel Festival in Halle. This festival celebrates the music of George Frideric Handel, who was born in Halle.
Global University Partners
MLU works with many universities around the world. These partnerships help students and teachers learn from each other. Some of their international partners include universities in:
- Argentina: National University of La Plata
- Australia: University of Queensland
- Canada: University of Ottawa
- China: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
- France: Charles de Gaulle University – Lille III
- India: Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Japan: Sophia University
- Poland: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
- South Africa: University of Pretoria
- United States: University of South Carolina
University Rankings
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Universities are often ranked to show how they compare globally. In 2024, the QS World University Rankings placed MLU among the top 611–620 universities worldwide. It was ranked 36th in Germany. Another ranking, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), put MLU between 601st and 700th globally in 2023. Nationally, it was ranked between 37th and 40th.
Famous People from MLU
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Many important people have studied or taught at MLU. These include Nobel Prize winners like Emil Adolf von Behring and Hermann Staudinger.
Other notable people include:
- Georg Cantor: A mathematician famous for his work on set theory and understanding infinity.
- Hermann Ebbinghaus: A psychologist who was one of the first to study memory using experiments.
- Anton Wilhelm Amo: The first known person of African descent from sub-Saharan Africa to attend a European university.
- Dorothea Erxleben: The first woman to become a medical doctor in Germany.
- Henry Melchior Muhlenberg: An important leader of the Lutheran Church in America.
- Frederick Muhlenberg: His son, who became the first Speaker of the House of Representatives in the United States.
- Hans Dietrich Genscher: Germany's longest-serving Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Martín Lutero de Halle-Wittenberg para niños
- List of early modern universities in Europe
