About the University of Göttingen
Basic information and contact details
The University of Göttingen is one of Germany’s most famous and respected universities. It’s located in the historic town of Göttingen, right in the middle of Germany.
The university was founded in 1737 and is sometimes called “Georgia Augusta.” Around 26,000 students study here, and about 11% of them come from different countries around the world.
This university is known for its strong focus on research. In fact, more than 40 Nobel Prize winners have been connected to Göttingen in some way—either as professors, researchers, or alumni. Some of the most famous names include physicists like Max Born, Werner Heisenberg, Max Planck, and Otto Stern. The famous Brothers Grimm, who wrote fairy tales like Snow White and Cinderella, also taught here. Other well-known former students and teachers include the politician Otto von Bismarck, philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, poet Heinrich Heine, and sociologist Max Weber.
A long time ago, even Napoleon said that Göttingen was a university that belonged “to the whole of Europe.” It was started by King George II of England, who was also the ruler of Hanover at the time. The university’s library, built in 1734, was the first big academic library in Europe that covered all kinds of subjects.
In the early 1900s, Göttingen was considered the world’s top place for mathematics. But in 1933, when the Nazis came to power, more than 50 professors and teachers were forced to leave because of their political beliefs or Jewish background. This was a big loss for the university.
After World War II ended, Göttingen was the very first university in Germany to start teaching again. Since then, it has grown into one of the largest and most important universities in the country.
Today, the university offers a wide variety of degree programs, especially in subjects like history, languages, and philosophy. Almost every field of study is available across its 13 different faculties. The university encourages students and teachers to think creatively and come up with new ideas, not just learn facts.
Göttingen also works closely with other research centers in the area, including the Göttingen Academy of Sciences, the German Aerospace Center, and five Max Planck Institutes. These partnerships help make the university even stronger in both teaching and research.
The town of Göttingen itself is full of culture and creativity. It hosts many events and festivals throughout the year, including the international Handel Festival, which celebrates classical music from the Baroque period.
University Ranking
Here’s how the University of Göttingen ranks in different subjects:
- World University Rankings 2025 – 121st
- Arts and Humanities (2025) – 101-125th
- Medical and Health (2025) – 151-175th
- Computer Science (2025) – 301-400th
- Law (2025) – 101-125th
- Life Sciences (2025) – 60th
- Physical Sciences (2025) – 77th
- Psychology (2025) – 176-200th
- Social Sciences (2025) – 176-200th
Detailed World University Rankings (2025):
- Overall Score: 64.8
- Teaching: 49.2
- Research Environment: 54
- Research Quality: 88.2
- Industry Connections: 70.7
- International Outlook: 70.5
Similar Universities
If you’re interested in Göttingen, you might also want to check out these other German universities:
- Heidelberg University (Heidelberg, Germany) – The oldest university in Germany, founded in 1386. It’s known for its strong research programs.
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Jena, Germany) – A historic university that has played a big role in literature and science since 1558.
- Technical University of Munich (Munich, Germany) – One of Germany’s top universities for engineering and technology, started in 1868.
- Paderborn University (Paderborn, Germany) – A modern university in North Rhine-Westphalia, established in 1972.
Student Statistic
Here’s a quick look at the student population at Göttingen:
- Gender Ratio: 54% female, 46% male
- International Students: 14%
- Students per Teacher: 25.2
- Total Students: 21,729
Job Opportunities
If you’re looking for academic jobs, here are some interesting ones:
- Lecturer in Archaeology – University of Southampton (UK) – Salary: £39,355 to £44,128.
- Administrator (Built Environment Futures) – University College of Estate Management (UK) – Part-time, remote work.
- Professor/Associate Professor – Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Competitive salary.
- Assistant Professor in Marketing – Chinese University of Hong Kong.
- Teaching Positions – Wenzhou Business College (China).
Subjects Taught at Göttingen
The university offers courses in many different fields, including:
- Computer Science (Ranked 301–400th globally)
- Medicine & Dentistry (151–175th)
- Languages, Literature, and Linguistics (101–125th)
- Psychology (176–200th)
- Agriculture, Biology, and Veterinary Science (60th)
- Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics (77th)
- Law (101–125th)
- Sociology, Politics, and Geography (176–200th)