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[[Image:Heidelberg 20030918.jpg|thumb|right|180px|The '''New Bridge''', '''old town''', and '''castle''']]
[[Image:Heidelberg 20030918.jpg|thumb|right|180px|The '''New Bridge''', '''old town''', and '''castle''']]


Heidelberg is a city with approx. 140,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the [[Rhein-Neckar]] area, an official European Metropolitan Area with approx. 2,6 Million people living there, comprising the cities of [[Heidelberg]], [[Mannheim]], [[Ludwigshafen]], and a number of smaller towns surrounding them. Heidelberg is known as the capital of romanticism, and its old town and castle are among the most frequented tourist destinations in Germany. Its pedestrian zone is a shopping and night life magnet for the surrounding area.
Heidelberg is a city with approx. 140,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the [[Rhein-Neckar]] area, an official European Metropolitan Area with approx. 2,4 million people living there, comprising the cities of [[Heidelberg]], [[Mannheim]], [[Ludwigshafen]], and a number of smaller towns surrounding them. Heidelberg is known as the capital of romanticism, and its old town and castle are among the most frequented tourist destinations in Germany. Its pedestrian zone is a shopping and night life magnet for the surrounding area.


Heidelberg University’s facilities are, generally speaking, separated in two parts. The faculties and institutes of humanities and social sciences are embedded in the old town. The sciences faculties and the medical school, including three large university hospitals, are located on the New Campus on the outskirts of Heidelberg.
Heidelberg University’s facilities are, generally speaking, separated in two parts. The faculties and institutes of humanities and social sciences are embedded in the old town. The sciences faculties and the medical school, including three large university hospitals, are located on the New Campus on the outskirts of Heidelberg.

Revision as of 09:24, 26 November 2007

Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
File:Uni-Heidelberg-siegel.png
Latin: Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis
MottoSemper apertus, Latin for "The book of learning is always open"
TypePublic university
Established1386
RectorProf. Dr. Bernhard Eitel
Students25,562 (2007)
Location
Heidelberg
,
Germany
Campusurban
Colorssandstonered-gold-sandstonered
AffiliationsCoimbra Group<br\> LERU<br\> EUA
Websitehttp://www.uni-heidelberg.de/
Data as of 2007

The Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg is a public, comprehensive research university located in Heidelberg, Germany. Commonly referred to as University of Heidelberg, Ruperto Carola, and as simply Heidelberg, it is the oldest German university, and it is considered a flagship institution of the German higher education system. The university consists of twelve faculties, and offers a broad range of degree programs at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral level in a wide array of disciplines.[1]

It was established in the town of Heidelberg, then the seat of Prince-Electors of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1386.[2][3] More than 600 years of innovation and independence have made the University of Heidelberg one of Europe's leading comprehensive universities. It acted initially as a center for theologians and law experts from throughout the Holy Roman Empire. Heidelberg quickly became a hub for independent thinkers, and developed into a stronghold of humanism. Its refusal to submit to a set doctrine from the Catholic or Evangelical churches, and its ability to balance religion and science ensured a lasting reputation as a haven for open-mindedness.

Heidelberg's modern roots are firmly in the sciences, but it retains its humanistic traditions with renowned theology, philosophy, and law faculties. Having some of the best science institutes in Europe on its doorstep, it is particularly research oriented. With approximately 1,000 doctorates successfully completed every year, the University of Heidelberg ranks among the internationally leading education venues for doctoral students.[4] International Students from about 130 countries usually account for more than 20 percent of the entire student body, thus making it a truly cosmopolitan place.[5] Heidelberg University is a member of the League of European Research Universities, the Coimbra Group, and the European University Association

History

Founding

File:Ub1.jpg
University Library

The university was founded at the behest of Rupert I, Count Palatine of the Rhine, in order to provide faculties for the study of philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, and medicine.

The Great Schism in 1378, which split European Christendom into two hostile groups, was initiated by the election of two popes after the death of Pope Gregory XI in the same year. One successor was in Avignon (elected by the French) and the other in Rome (elected by the Italian cardinals). The German secular and spiritual leaders voiced their support for the successor in Rome, which had far reaching consequences for the German students and teachers in Paris: they lost their stipends and had to leave. Palatine Elector Ruprecht I recognized the opportunity and initiated talks with the Curia, which ultimately lead to the creation of the Papal Bull of Foundation which can be considered the establishment of the university.

On October 18, 1386 a ceremonial fair commemorated the opening of the doors of the university. As a motto for the seal, Marsilius von Inghen, the first rector of the university chose "Semper apertus" - the book of learning is always open. At this point in time, the city of Heidelberg could not have had more than 3500 inhabitants and in the first year of existence the university had almost 600 enrolled. On October 19 1386 the first lecture was held. Thus, the University of Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany (the first university in German-speaking world was established in Vienna in1365).

File:Carolinum11.jpg
Carolinum (main administration building)

Early development

During the second half of the 16th century the university underwent a flowering time and was converted into a calvinistic institution in the reign of Elector Louis VI. It attracted scholars from all over the continent and developed to a cultural and academic centre of Europe. However, with the beginning of the Thirty Years' War in 1618, the intellectual and fiscal wealth of the university declined. In 1622 the then world-famous Bibliotheca Palatina, the library of the university, was stolen from the Heiliggeistkirche (the University Cathedral) and brought to Rome.[6]

It was not until 1803 that this decline stopped. In this year, the university was reestablished as a state-owned institution by Karl Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden and since then bears his name together with the one of Ruprecht I. The most influential student at that time was Karl Drais, inventor of the two-wheeler principle that started mechanized and later motorized personal transport. During the late 19th century, the Ruperto Carola housed a very liberal and open-minded spirit which was deliberately fostered by Max Weber, Ernst Troeltsch and a circle colleagues around them. In the Weimar Republic, the University was widely recognized as a centre of democratic thinking, coined by professors like Karl Jaspers, Gustav Radbruch, Martin Dibelius and Alfred Weber. Unfortunately, there were also dark forces working within the university: Nazi physicist Philipp Lenard was head of the physical institute during that time. Following the assassination of Walther Rathenau he refused to half mast the national flag on the institute, thereby provoking its storming by communist students.[7]

Old Assembly Hall in the Old University

Nazi reign of terror and reconstruction

With the advent of the Third Reich the university, just like all other German universities, supported the Nazis and lost many of its dissident professors and went into decline. But since Heidelberg was for the most part spared from destruction during the war, the reconstruction of the University was realised rather quickly. With the foundation of the Collegium Academicum, Heidelberg became the home of Germany's first and, until today, only self-governed student hall. Newly laid statutes obliged the university to "the living spirit of truth, justice and humanity".[8]

1960s and 1970s

During the sixties and seventies, the university grew dramatically in size. In this time, the university developed into one of the main scenes of the left-wing student protests in Germany. In 1975, a massive police force arrested the entire student parliament "AStA". Shortly thereafter, the "Collegium Academicum", a progressive college in immediate vicinity to the universities main grounds, was stormed by over 700 police officers and closed once and for all. On the outskirts of the city, in the Neuenheimer Feld Area, a large campus for medicine and natural sciences was constructed.[9]

Structure

Today, about 25,000 students are enrolled for studies at the Ruperto Carola. More than 15,000 academic staff and over 400 University Professors[10] make it one of Germany's larger universities.

Faculties

A study in the library of the Faculty of Philosophy

After a structural reformation, the university consists of twelve faculties which in turn comprise several disciplines. As a consequence of the Bologna process, most faculties offer now Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees in order to comply with the new European degree standard.

International Graduate Schools

Besides the various graduate programs of its faculties, institutes, and research centers, the university has recently set up interdisciplinary international graduate schools offering PhD programs for outstanding graduates in relevant disciplines. The lectures, seminars, and tutorials will be held in English.

Research Institutes

Accessorily to the faculties and their respective institutes, a number of independent, semi-independent, and inter-faculty research institutes take part in the educational tasks, including those listed below:

The Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy Heidelberg

As one can see from the aforementioned lists, the Ruperto Carola is strongly dedicated towards fundamental research in humanities, natural sciences, and medicine. Although there are some links to commercial sponsors, the University depends mostly on financial support by the state.

Campuses

The New Bridge, old town, and castle

Heidelberg is a city with approx. 140,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the Rhein-Neckar area, an official European Metropolitan Area with approx. 2,4 million people living there, comprising the cities of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, and a number of smaller towns surrounding them. Heidelberg is known as the capital of romanticism, and its old town and castle are among the most frequented tourist destinations in Germany. Its pedestrian zone is a shopping and night life magnet for the surrounding area.

Heidelberg University’s facilities are, generally speaking, separated in two parts. The faculties and institutes of humanities and social sciences are embedded in the old town. The sciences faculties and the medical school, including three large university hospitals, are located on the New Campus on the outskirts of Heidelberg.

Old Town Campus

File:Olduni11.jpg
The Old University (seat of the Rector and of the University Senate)

The so-called New University can be regarded as the center of the Old Town Campus. It is situated in the pedestrian zone at University Square in direct neighbourhood to the University Library and to the main administration buildings. The New University was officially opened in 1931. Its erection was financed to a good portion by donations of American tycoon families, such as Goldman, Sachs, Morgan, Chrysler, Ford, and many others, in line with a fundraising campaign of Jacob Gould Schurman, an alumnus of Heidelberg University and former US Ambassador to Germany.[47] It houses the new assembly hall, the largest lecture halls, and a number of smaller seminar rooms, mostly used by faculties of humanities and social sciences. The University Library, the largest library of the university, was opened in 1905 and has about 3.2 million books in stock[48], including the returned parts of the Bibliotheca Palatina. It is a popular working place for students and also houses two large internet lounges, a number of special collections, and changing exhibitions. Education in humanities and social sciences takes place to a great extent in the respective faculty buildings which are spread all over the ancient part of town, though, they are mostly a maximum of ten minutes walk away from University Square. The faculties maintain own extensive libraries, and working places for their students. Seminars and tutorials are usually held in the faculty buildings.

New Campus

File:Newcamp11.jpg
River Neckar and New Campus

The New Campus is located in the newest district of the town called Neuenheimer Feld. It is today the larger part of the university. Almost all science faculties and institutes, the medical school, the university hospitals, and the science branch of the University Library are situated at the New Campus. Most of the dormitories and the athletic facilities of the university can be found there as well. Lots of independent research institutes, such as the German Cancer Research Center, Max-Planck-Institutes, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have settled there. The New Campus is also seat of several biomedical spinn-off companies. The ancient part of the town can be reached by streetcar in about ten minutes. The Faculty of Physics and Astronomy is in an exceptional position since its faculty buildings are located in Heidelberg's exclusive residential area, overlooking the River Neckar, the ancient town, and the castle.

Facilities abroad

Heidelberg University has founded a Center for Latin America in Santiago de Chile in 2001.[49] It has the task of organising, managing, and marketing the courses of study maintained either independently by Heidelberg University or in cooperation with the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the University of Chile. Heidelberg University has arranged cooperation agreements with both of these universities, the two most important universities in Chile. The center has responsibility for programs of postgraduate education. It also coordinates the activities of Heidelberg University in Latin America, and provides a platform for scientific cooperation.

In addition, the university is currently about to set up a Heidelberg Center for North America, with similar tasks, in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Academics

Reputation

The THES - QS World University Rankings[50][51][52][53] ranked Heidelberg University overall between 12th and 15th in Europe, between 45th and 60th in the world, and consistently as the foremost German university. Based on the overall academic peer review score of 2005, Heidelberg ranked 6th in Europe and 28th in the world. THES ranked Heidelberg world-wide between 17th and 43rd in life science and biomedicine, between 22nd and 45th in science, and between 41st and 61st in arts and humanities. The Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities[54] ranked Heidelberg between 12th and 18th in Europe, and between 58th and 66th in the world. With these placings Heidelberg outranks many world-renowned institutions of higher education, such as, most often, two or more Ivy League universities and, apart from usually two exceptions, all the University of London colleges. (Note that the THES - QS and Jiao Tong tables are the only annual comprehensive world university rankings, and that their methodologies are subject to very controversy.)

According to the Ranking of Scientific Impact of Leading European Research Universities[55][56] compiled by the European Commission, which is commonly regarded as a highly reliable source, Heidelberg ranks 9th in Europe. Ranked by the number of Nobel Laureates affiliated with the university at the time of Nobel Prize announcement, Heidelberg is placed 4th in Europe and 13th in the world by 2007.[57] A study based on a survey of scientific journal referees created by Braun et al. in 2007 ranks the University of Heidelberg at the top of German universities in academic reputation.[58] The Times referred to Heidelberg University as "the oldest and most eminent in the country of Luther and Einstein" and as "the jewel of German learning".[59] In October 2007 Heidelberg was officially appointed "elite university" in line with an initiative started by the federal government, thus securing nine-digit additional funds.[60]

Organisation and length of courses

The academic year is divided into two semesters. The winter semester runs from 1st of October - 31st of March and the summer semester from 1st of April - 30th of September. Classes are held from mid-October to mid-February and mid-April to mid-July. Students can generally begin their studies either in the winter or the summer semester. However, there are several subjects students can begin only in the winter semester. The standard time required to finish a Bachelor's degree is principally 6 semesters, and a further 4 semesters for consecutive Master's degrees. The normal duration of PhD programs for full-time students is 6 semesters. The overall period of study for an undergraduate degree is divided into two parts: a period of basic study, lasting at least 4 semesters, at the end of which students must sit a formal examination, and a period of advanced study, lasting at least 2 semesters, after which students take their final examinations.

Tuition fees

Studying at German public universities is heavily subsidized by the state in order to keep higher education affordable regardless of socio-economic background.[61] Therefore, Heidelberg charges tuition fees of approximately € 1,200 p.a., including student union fees, for undergraduate, consecutive Master's, and doctoral programs, for both EU and non-EU citizens, and for any subject area. Hence, Heidelberg ranks presumably among the world leaders in view of cost-benefit ratio.

Admission

Admission to Heidelberg University is strictly merit-based, and is known to be highly competitive. Since in Germany the universities are basically obliged to grant permission to study as an undergraduate by having acquired the German equivalent of the high school degree, the numerus clausus is applied to select among competing applicants. The selection depends primarily on the field of study and the grade point average of the higher education entrance qualification. On a scale from 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (worst) with an usual class average around 2.5, the Faculties of Medicine, Biosciences, and Law, where it is extraordinarily difficult to be accepted, demand a minimum grade point average that usually ranges from 1.0 to 1.3. Therefore, even graduating from high school at the top of one's class does not guaranty undergraduate admission to these faculties. Acceptance rates are not published, and may vary significantly from faculty to faculty. Foreign applicants usually make up more than 20 percent of the applicant pool, and are considered individually by the merits achieved in their respective state of origin.

People associated with the university

Since 1386, a vast number of internationally renowned scholars have been affiliated with Heidelberg University, and it has produced an even greater number of notable alumni. A very incomplete list of them may include the following:

Thinkers

Scientists

Literates

Politicians

References

  1. ^ http://www.zuv.uni-heidelberg.de/AAA/english/info_hd_fach.htm
  2. ^ http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9039821/University-of-Heidelberg
  3. ^ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07196a.htm
  4. ^ http://graduateacademy.uni-heidelberg.de/graduate_academy.html
  5. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/press/news/press321_e.html
  6. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/university/welcome/history.html
  7. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/university/welcome/history.html
  8. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/university/welcome/history.html
  9. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/university/welcome/history.html
  10. ^ http://www.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de/groups/agbock/CONFERENCES/2007/CFG/heidelberg.php?l=en
  11. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/university/welcome/theology.html
  12. ^ http://www.jura-hd.de/
  13. ^ http://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php?id=8200
  14. ^ http://www.ma.uni-heidelberg.de/
  15. ^ http://www.philosophische-fakultaet.uni-hd.de/index-en.htm
  16. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/institute/fak9/
  17. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/institute/fak18/index.html
  18. ^ http://www.verkult.uni-hd.de/
  19. ^ http://www.mathematik.uni-heidelberg.de/
  20. ^ http://www.chemgeo.uni-hd.de/indexengl.html
  21. ^ http://www.physik.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php?lang=en
  22. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/institute/fak14/
  23. ^ http://www.hbigs-heidelberg.de
  24. ^ http://www.dkfz.de/en/phd-program/index.html
  25. ^ http://www.griph.de
  26. ^ http://www.mathcomp.uni-heidelberg.de
  27. ^ http://www.systemearth.uni-hd.de/
  28. ^ http://www.mpia-hd.mpg.de/imprs-hd/]
  29. ^ http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/imprs-qd/
  30. ^ http://www.dkfz.de/en/index.html
  31. ^ http://www.embl-heidelberg.de/
  32. ^ http://www.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de/english/instUeberInstitut/instForschungsthemen/index.html
  33. ^ http://www.mpia.de/Public/menu_q2e.php
  34. ^ http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/english/index.html
  35. ^ http://www.mpil.de/ww/en/pub/news.cfm
  36. ^ http://www.lsw.uni-heidelberg.de/?lang=en
  37. ^ http://www.ari.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php.en
  38. ^ http://www.kip.uni-heidelberg.de/?lang=en
  39. ^ http://www.gsi.de/
  40. ^ http://hca.uni-hd.de/
  41. ^ http://www.hiik.de/start/index.html.en
  42. ^ http://www.zi-mannheim.de/start_en.html
  43. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/university/welcome/sai.html
  44. ^ http://www.bioquant.uni-hd.de/
  45. ^ http://www.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de/
  46. ^ http://www.haw.baden-wuerttemberg.de/index_eng.php
  47. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/presse/news/2005schurman2.html
  48. ^ http://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/Englisch/allg/profil/geschichte.html
  49. ^ http://www.heidelberg-center.uni-hd.de/english/center.html
  50. ^ http://www.fc.ethz.ch/facts/ir/rankings/thes_ranking/THES_World_University_Rankings_2004.pdf
  51. ^ http://www.fc.ethz.ch/facts/ir/rankings/thes_ranking/THES_World_University_Rankings_2005.pdf
  52. ^ http://www.fc.ethz.ch/facts/ir/rankings/thes_ranking/THES_World_University_Rankings_2006.pdf
  53. ^ http://www.fc.ethz.ch/facts/ir/rankings/thes_ranking/THES_World_University_Rankings_2007.pdf
  54. ^ http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ranking.htm
  55. ^ ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/indicators/docs/3rd_report_snaps10.pdf
  56. ^ http://cordis.europa.eu/indicators/third_report.htm
  57. ^ http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/universities.html
  58. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/presse/news07/2707budap.html
  59. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/press/news/press380_e.html
  60. ^ http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/press/news/538e.html
  61. ^ As a benchmark: The effective costs which the state must pay for every single medical student account for approximately €33,000 (=$48,500) per year. See http://www.unifr.ch/ztd/ems/berichte/b2/testergebnisse.htm

See also

External links

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