Heidelberg University facts for kids
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Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
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Seal of the Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis
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| Motto | Semper apertus (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Always open |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 18 October 1386 |
| Budget | €764.9 million (2018) |
| Chancellor | Holger Schroeter |
| President | Frauke Melchior |
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Administrative staff
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8,397 |
| Students | 28,653 (WS2019/20) |
| Undergraduates | 15,289 |
| Postgraduates | 11,871 |
| 3,024 | |
| Location |
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Germany
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| Campus | Urban/University town and suburban |
| Colors | Sandstone red and gold |
| Affiliations | German Universities Excellence Initiative, LERU, Coimbra Group, U15, EUA |
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| Data as of 2013[update] | |
Heidelberg University, also known as the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, is a public research university in Heidelberg, Germany. It was founded in 1386. This makes it Germany's oldest university. It is also one of the world's oldest universities that is still running.
Heidelberg University is one of the most respected universities in Germany. It is known for its strong research and teaching. Many famous scientists and thinkers have studied or taught here. The university offers programs in about 100 different subjects. Most classes are taught in German. However, many advanced degrees are available in English.
As of 2021, 57 Nobel Prize winners have connections to Heidelberg. 33 of these were directly linked to the university. Important fields like modern psychiatry and experimental psychology were developed here. About 1,000 students earn their doctoral degrees each year. More than a third of these students come from other countries. Students from about 130 countries make up over 20% of all students.
Contents
History of Heidelberg University
How the University Started
In 1378, there was a big split in the Christian church. Two popes were elected at the same time. One lived in Avignon, France, and the other in Rome, Italy. German leaders supported the pope in Rome. This meant German students and teachers in Paris lost their support. They had to leave Paris.
Rupert I, a local ruler, saw this as a chance. He asked Pope Urban VI for permission to start a new university. On October 23, 1385, the Pope agreed. The final decision to open the university was made on June 26, 1386.
The university was designed like the University of Paris. It had four main areas of study:
- Philosophy
- Theology (study of religion)
- Law
- Medicine
On October 18, 1386, a special church service officially opened the university. The very first lecture was held the next day. This made Heidelberg the oldest university in Germany. By March 1390, 185 students had joined. The university's motto was semper apertus, which means "the book of learning is always open."
Later Middle Ages
From 1414 to 1418, professors from Heidelberg took part in the Council of Constance. They advised Louis III, a powerful German prince. This helped the university and its professors gain a good reputation.
In the late 1400s, the university began to focus on humanism. This was a new way of thinking that valued human potential. Famous humanists like Rudolph Agricola and Johann Reuchlin taught there. Popes also supported the university. For example, Pope Sixtus IV allowed non-clergy to become professors in medicine.
Changes During the Reformation
Martin Luther visited Heidelberg in April 1518. His ideas about the Protestant Reformation had a big impact. Many students and teachers became supporters of the Reformation. The Electorate of the Palatinate region became Protestant. So, the university also became a Protestant institution. In 1563, the Heidelberg Catechism, an important religious text, was created with help from the university's theology school.
In the 16th century, the university became a major cultural and academic center. Scholars from all over Europe came to study. However, the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) caused problems. In 1622, the famous university library, the Bibliotheca Palatina, was stolen. Later, in 1693, French troops destroyed much of Heidelberg.
After the war, the university lost its Protestant focus. It was influenced by Jesuits. In the 1700s, the Old University building was constructed. However, the university's reputation declined. This changed under Charles Theodore, Elector Palatine. He added new subjects and scientific institutes. He also improved the university's finances.
The French Revolution also caused problems. The university lost some of its land and property. People thought it might close completely.
19th and Early 20th Century
The university was saved in 1803 by Karl Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden. He made it a state-owned institution. The university was renamed after him and Rupert I. During this time, Romanticism became popular in Heidelberg. This was a movement that valued emotion and nature.
Heidelberg became a center for Liberalism. This was a movement that supported individual rights and freedom. Many professors supported the Vormärz revolution. They were also part of the first German parliament in 1848. The university became a model for new research universities in America.
In 1900, women were finally allowed to study at universities in Baden. Heidelberg was one of the first to welcome them.
During the Weimar Republic, Heidelberg was known for its democratic ideas. However, some dark forces were also at work. The Nazi party gained power in Germany.
Nazi Germany and After
When the Nazis took over in 1933, the university supported them. Like other German universities, it fired many staff and students. This was because of their political views or their background. Many professors had to leave Germany. Some who stayed were sent away. On May 17, 1933, university staff and students took part in book burnings. The words above the main entrance were changed from "The Living Spirit" to "The German Spirit."
After World War II, the university worked to remove Nazi influences. Heidelberg was not destroyed during the war. So, it was rebuilt quickly. New rules were put in place. They said the university must follow "The Living Spirit of Truth, Justice and Humanity."
In the 1960s and 1970s, the university grew a lot. It became a place for student protests. Today, about 28,000 students attend Heidelberg University. In 2007 and 2012, it was named a "University of Excellence." This means it gets special funding to be a top international university.
In 2022, there was a shooting at the university. One person died and three were hurt.
University Campuses
Heidelberg is a city of about 140,000 people. It is in a larger area called the Rhine Neckar Triangle. This area has about 2.4 million people. Heidelberg is famous for its beautiful old town and castle. These are popular places for tourists.
Heidelberg University has facilities in two main areas:
- The Old Town Campus
- The New Campus (Neuenheimer Feld)
Old Town Campus
The New University building is the heart of the Old Town Campus. It is located in the main square, near the University Library. This building opened in 1931. Money for its construction came mostly from rich American families. It has large lecture halls and seminar rooms. These are mostly used by students studying humanities and social sciences. Other buildings for these subjects are also in the old town. Most are a short walk from University Square.
Neuenheimer Feld – New Campus
In the 1960s, the university started building a new campus. This is called the Neuenheimer Feld. It is now the largest part of the university. It is the biggest campus in Germany for natural sciences and medicine. Most science departments and the medical school are here. This includes three large university hospitals. Many student dorms and sports facilities are also on this campus.
Several research centers are located here. These include the German Cancer Research Center. The old town is about a 10-minute bus or tram ride away. The Physics and Astronomy faculty is on the Philosophers' Walk. This is across the Neckar river from the Old Town. It also has observatories on Königstuhl Mountain.
The university also has a botanical garden at Neuenheimer Feld.
Bergheim Campus
The Bergheim Campus is in the Bergheim area of Heidelberg. Since 2009, it has housed the economics, political science, and sociology departments. These used to be in the Old Town. The Bergheim campus has a lecture hall, seminar rooms, a modern library, and a cafe. Since 2019, it also hosts the Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies.
University Libraries
The University Library is the main library. With its branch libraries, it holds about 6.2 million printed books. The main library alone has about 3.2 million books. It also has 500,000 other items like microfilms. There are 6,000 printed science magazines. It also has old manuscripts, maps, and photos. The 38 branch libraries add another 3.0 million books. In 2022, 43,600 users borrowed 746,000 books. The library also offers 152,000 online science journals.
The library started in 1386, when the university was founded. In the 16th century, the Bibliotheca Palatina was created. This was a famous collection of books. However, most of it was stolen during the Thirty Years' War. It was taken to Rome. In the 19th century, the library started rebuilding its collection. In 1816, some German manuscripts returned to Heidelberg. The Codex Manesse, an important German song manuscript, returned in 1888. A new library building was built from 1901 to 1905.
Since 2021, all manuscripts from the Bibliotheca Palatina can be viewed online. This was done with the Vatican Library. The university library also has an online platform for publications by university members. It also runs a publishing house called Heidelberg University Publishing (heiUP).
International Facilities
Heidelberg University has a center in Santiago, Chile. It helps manage study programs in Latin America. It also helps with scientific cooperation. The university's South Asia Institute has offices in New Delhi (India), Islamabad (Pakistan), Kathmandu (Nepal), and Colombo (Sri Lanka).
The university also has an office in New York. This office helps with partnerships and study programs with American universities.
University Museum
The university has its own museum. It is in the main building of the old campus. Visitors can see the Great Hall and the old "student jail."
University Structure
Leadership
The Rectorate is the main leadership group of the university. It is led by the Rector, Bernhard Eitel. The Rectorate also includes the Chancellor, Holger Schroeter. He manages the university's money. There are also three pro-rectors. They handle international relations, teaching, and research.
The Senate is the university's law-making body. The Rector and other leaders are part of it. The heads of the different study areas (faculties) are also members. Other members are elected. These include professors, staff, students, and university administration employees.
The University Council advises these groups. It includes important people like former ambassadors and company leaders.
Study Areas (Faculties)
Since 2003, the university has 13 main study areas, called faculties. Each faculty has several departments. Most faculties now offer Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees. This follows a new European standard. However, some programs like law, medicine, and pharmacy still use a state exam.
- Behavioural Sciences and Empirical Cultural Sciences
- Biosciences
- Chemistry and Earth Sciences
- Engineering
- Law
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Medicine
- Medicine in Mannheim
- Modern Languages
- Philosophy and History
- Physics and Astronomy
- Theology
- Economics and Social Sciences
Partner Institutions
The university works closely with many other research centers. These include:
- Network for Research on Ageing
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim
- Heidelberg Center for American Studies
- Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research
- Heidelberg State Observatory
- University Hospital Heidelberg
- University Hospital Mannheim
Collaborations
Heidelberg is a founding member of several important European university groups. These include the League of European Research Universities and the Coimbra Group. It also works with universities in Japan. The university takes part in many student exchange programs, like ERASMUS. It also helps run a German law school in Poland.
Heidelberg has strong ties with universities in Cambridge, England, and Montpellier, France. It also has agreements with 236 universities worldwide. Some of its notable partners include Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and Yale University.
Academic Strengths
Student and Staff Numbers
The university has over 15,000 academic staff. Most of them are doctors working at the University Hospital. In 2008, there were 4,196 full-time staff. Heidelberg University also welcomes over 500 international visiting professors each year.
The university has 26,741 students in total. This includes 5,118 international students. Another 1,467 are international exchange students. About 3,105 students are working on their doctoral degree. Over 1,000 of these are international students. In 2007, the university awarded 994 PhD degrees.
University Rankings
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47Heidelberg University is highly ranked around the world. In 2025, it was ranked 84th globally by QS World University Rankings. It was the 3rd best in Germany. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed it 47th globally in 2024. It was the 3rd best in Germany. The ARWU World Rankings put Heidelberg at 55th globally in 2023. It was the 1st best in Germany.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) ranks universities by research funding. In 2018, Heidelberg University was 2nd among German universities overall. It was 1st in Germany for the number of Nobel Laureates linked to the university.
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151–200Study Programs and Length
The school year has two semesters. The winter semester runs from October to March. The summer semester runs from April to September. Classes are held from mid-October to mid-February and mid-April to mid-July. Students can usually start in either semester.
A Bachelor's degree usually takes six semesters (three years). A Master's degree takes another four semesters (two years). A PhD program for full-time students usually takes six semesters.
How to Get In
In 2006/2007, the university had 3,926 spots for undergraduate programs. Only 16.3% of applicants were accepted. The hardest programs to get into were clinical medicine, molecular biotechnology, political science, and law. These had acceptance rates between 3.6% and 9.1%. Getting in depends on your chosen subject and your grades. For some humanities subjects, it's easier to get in if you meet certain language requirements.
International students need to pass a German language test. For Master's programs, you need a good undergraduate degree. For PhD programs, you usually need a strong Master's degree. International students make up over 20% of applicants. Their applications are looked at individually.
Finances
The German government helps pay for university studies. This makes higher education affordable for everyone. From 2007 to 2012, Heidelberg charged about €1,200 per year for most programs. This was for both German and international students. However, tuition fees were removed in 2012. Housing in dorms usually costs €2,200 to €3,000 per year.
In 2005, the university's budget was about €856 million. Most of this came from government funds. The university also gets research money from the German Universities Excellence Initiative.
Research at Heidelberg
Heidelberg researchers have made many important discoveries. They invented spectroscopy and the Bunsen burner. They found the chemical elements Caesium and Rubidium. They also identified nicotine as the main active part of tobacco. Modern psychiatry and environmental physics were also started here.
Astronomers at Heidelberg have discovered almost 800 dwarf planets. They also found the North America Nebula. Heidelberg researchers invented plastination to preserve body tissue. They also did the first successful stem cell transplantation. Recently, they developed a new way to vaccinate against some cancers. This earned Harald zur Hausen a Nobel Prize in 2008.
Today, the university focuses on natural sciences and medicine. But it also has strong humanities and social sciences programs. The Marsilius Kolleg helps different fields work together. Other centers like the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing also connect different study areas.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds many research projects at Heidelberg. These include long-term research centers. The university also gets special funding for two "Clusters of Excellence." These are "Cellular Networks" and "Asia and Europe in a Global Context."
Student Life
Sports and Activities
The university offers many sports. These include:
- Team sports like American football and volleyball.
- Martial arts.
- Fitness classes like yoga.
- Dance styles.
- Outdoor sports like sailing and skiing.
Most sports are free. Heidelberg's teams are very good in sports like soccer, volleyball, and basketball. The men's basketball team, USC Heidelberg, has won 13 national championships. It is the only university team that plays professionally in Germany's second division.
Student Groups
The university supports many student groups. These include:
- Drama clubs.
- The university orchestra.
- Choirs.
- Student media groups.
- Groups for international students.
- Political and environmental groups.
- Clubs for international relations.
- A chess club and literature club.
- Debate societies.
- A student consulting group.
- Religious student groups.
Student Media
Heidelberg's student newspaper, "ruprecht", is one of Germany's largest. It prints over 10,000 copies. It was named Germany's best student newspaper. The newspaper is paid for by ads, so it is independent.
Heidelberg also has Germany's oldest student law review, the Heidelberg Law Review. It is published four times a year.
Student Corporations
Heidelberg has 34 student corporations. These were mostly started in the 1800s. They are similar to fraternities in the US. Members wear colored caps and ribbons for special events. Some still practice traditional academic fencing. This is a type of duel. Corporations aim to keep old academic traditions alive. They also help students make lifelong friendships. Today, only a small number of students join these groups.
Nightlife
Heidelberg is also known for its student nightlife. Students organize many parties. There are also university parties and dorm parties. The city has many places to go out at night.
Notable Alumni
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Many famous people have studied or taught at Heidelberg University. These include founders of new study areas. There are also many well-known philosophers, poets, lawyers, and scientists. 33 Nobel Laureates have been connected to the university. Nine of them won the award while working there.
Five Chancellors of Germany have attended the university. The most recent was Helmut Kohl, who helped reunite Germany. Leaders from other countries, like Belgium and Greece, also studied here. Two Nobel Peace laureates were educated at Heidelberg.
Important religious figures like Pope Pius II and leaders of the Protestant Reformation were also connected to the university. Many top legal figures, including judges from international courts, studied here. In business, alumni founded or led major companies like BASF, Daimler AG, and Siemens.
In the arts, famous alumni include composer Robert Schumann and writers Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff and W. Somerset Maugham. Literature Nobel laureate Carl Spitteler also studied here. Other notable alumni include:
- Wilhelm Wundt, the "Father of Psychology."
- J. Willard Gibbs, the "Father of Physical Chemistry."
- Franz Boas, the "Father of American Anthropology."
- Dmitri Mendeleev, who created the periodic table.
- Karl Drais, who invented the two-wheeler.
- Alfred Wegener, who discovered continental drift.
- Political thinker Hannah Arendt.
Famous professors at Heidelberg include philosophers Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Karl Jaspers. Pioneering scientists like Hermann von Helmholtz and Robert Wilhelm Bunsen also taught here. Max Weber, a founder of modern sociology, was also a professor.
Current faculty members include Nobel Laureates Bert Sakmann (1991), Harald zur Hausen (2008), and Stefan Hell (2014).
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Heidelberg para niños
- List of medieval universities
- Mannheim University of Applied Sciences for jointly run programs
- Rhine Neckar Metropolitan Area
