Colleges/International/Germany/Universität Köln

Universität Köln

Germany

uni-koeln.de

About

Located in Cologne, Germany, the University of Cologne is one of Europe's oldest and largest universities, renowned particularly for its excellence in economics, business administration, law, and the humanities. As a major public research institution, it offers a wide range of degree programs taught in German alongside a growing selection of English-taught master's programs designed to attract a global cohort. International students benefit significantly from the International Office, which provides comprehensive support ranging from pre-arrival guidance and orientation weeks to administrative assistance and integration programs. The campus experience is deeply enriched by the city's vibrant cultural scene and the university's active student associations, offering a dynamic environment for academic and personal growth. A distinctive characteristic of the university is its prestigious membership in the German U15 network of research-intensive universities and its leading role in international academic alliances like the CEMS global management network.

Background

The University of Cologne (German: Universität zu Köln) is a public research university in Cologne, Germany. It was established in 1388. It closed in 1798 before being re-established in 1919. It is now one of the largest universities in Germany with around 43,594 students. The University of Cologne is a member of the German U15 association of major research-intensive universities and was a university of excellence as part of the German Universities Excellence Initiative from 2012 to 2019. It is consistently ranked among the top 20 German universities in the world rankings. The University of Cologne has 5 Clusters of Excellence: CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research, Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy, CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences, ML4Q Cluster of Excellence Matter and Light for Quantum Information and DYNAVERSE Cluster of Excellence. As of 2025, among its notable alumni, faculty and researchers are 5 Nobel Laureates, 11 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize winners, 8 Humboldt Professorship winners, and 2 Humboldt Research Awards winners.

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Location

Quick facts

Country
Germany
City
Cologne
Founded
1388
Source: Wikidata
Type
Public
Bachelor's & master's students
48,514
Source: ETER (CC BY 4.0)
From abroad
7.6%
Source: ETER (CC BY 4.0)
Website
uni-koeln.de
Source: Wikidata

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