Heidelberg University

Heidelberg University, officially known as Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg), is a prestigious public research university located in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386 by Pope Urban VI, it is Germany's oldest university and one of the oldest surviving universities in the world. It was the third university established in the Holy Roman Empire, after Prague (1347) and Vienna (1365). The university became coeducational in 1899, reflecting its progressive approach to education.

Heidelberg University is renowned for its academic excellence and is recognized as a German Excellence University. It is a founding member of both the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the Coimbra Group, prestigious networks of top European universities. The university offers a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral programs across twelve faculties, covering about 100 disciplines. While most instruction is in German, a significant number of graduate programs are offered in English, with some also available in French.

The university has a distinguished history of academic achievement, with 33 Nobel laureates directly associated with it as of 2021. Its contributions to scientific disciplines are particularly notable in fields like modern psychiatry, psychopharmacology, experimental psychology, psychiatric genetics, and environmental physics. Heidelberg has also made significant strides in the development of mathematical statistics and sociology.

Each year, Heidelberg University awards about 1,000 doctoral degrees, with a large proportion of these students—over one third—coming from abroad. International students represent more than 20 percent of the university's student population, drawn from around 130 different countries. This global presence further strengthens Heidelberg's reputation as a leading institution for research and higher education.

Programs Offered