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University of Cologne
Universität zu Köln
Established	1388
Rector:	Axel Freimuth
Faculty:	508
Students:	44,228 (WS 2006/07)
Postgraduates:	3,718
Location	Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Website:	www.uni-koeln.de

The University of Cologne (German Universität zu Köln) is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, the largest university in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities. Furthermore, it is the German representative in the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS).

The University of Cologne was established in 1388 as the fourth university in the Holy Roman Empire after Charles University of Prague (1348), the University of Vienna (1365) and the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg (1386). The charter was signed by Pope Urban VI. The university began teaching on January 6, 1389. In 1798, the university was closed by the French, who invaded in 1794.

Contents 1 The modern university 2 Organization 2.1 Rector 3 Students and Faculty 4 Notable Alumni and Professors 5 Literature 5.1 University History 6 External links

In the course of the 19th century, attempts by the city and citizens to reopen the university failed. Finally in 1919, the Prussian government was convinced. Through a decision by the Cologne City Council, the university was reestablished. On May 19, 1919, then Mayor Konrad Adenauer signed the charter of the modern university.

At that point, the university was composed of the School of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (successor to the College of Trade and College of Community and Social Administration) and the School of Medicine (successor to the Academy of Medicine). In 1920, the School of Law and the School of Philosophy were added, from which the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences split in 1955. In 1980, both Cologne departments of the Rhineland School of Education were joined to the university as the College of Pedagogy and College of Special Education.

It is a leader in the area of economics and regularly placed in the top three for law and management.

The University of Cologne is operated by the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The university is divided into seven colleges (Fakultäten), which together offer 200 fields of study. The colleges are the School of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Medicine, with the affiliated university clinic, the School of Philosophy (Humanities), the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the School of Pedagogy and the School of Special Education and Rehabilitation.

On November 24, 2004, Axel Freimuth was elected as the Rector of the University. His four-year term began on April 1, 2005. He succeeded Tassilo Küpper and is the 49th Rector since 1919. Before this, he was the dean of the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

In 2005, the University enrolled 47,203 students, including 3,718 graduate students. In 2003, the number of post-doctoral students was 670.

The number of international students was 6,157 in the Summer Semester of 2005. This amounts to approximately 13% of the total students. Those from developing countries made up about 60%, representing a total of 123 nations. The largest contingents came from Bulgaria (10.5%), Russia (8.8%), Poland (7.4%), China (6.2%) and Ukraine (5.7%).

There are 508 professors at the university, including 70 women. In addition, the university employs 1,549 research assistants, with an additional 765 at the clinic, and 1,462 other assistants (3,736 at the clinic).

Amongst others, Kurt Alder (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1950), Peter Grünberg (Nobel Prize in Physics 2007), Karl Carstens (president of the Federal Republic of Germany 1979 - 1984), Gustav Heinemann (president of the Federal Republic of Germany 1969 to 1974) and Karolos Papoulias (current president of the Hellenic Republic) were students or professors at the University of Cologne.

• Erich Meuthen: Kölner Universitätsgeschichte, Band I: Die alte Universität, 1988, ISBN 3-412-06287-1
• Bernd Heimbüchel und Klaus Pabst: Kölner Universitätsgeschichte, Band II: Das 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, 1988, ISBN 3-412-01588-1
• Erich Meuthen (Hrsg.): Kölner Universitätsgeschichte, Band III: Die neue Universität - Daten und Fakten, 1988, ISBN 3-412-01688-8

• Website of the Universität zu Köln (German)
• Website of the University of Cologne (English)
• Erich Meuthen: Kleine Kölner Universitätsgeschichte (German)
• Absolventennetzwerk der Universität zu Köln (German)
• Website of the University of Cologne's International Master of Environmental Sciences (IMES): Masters of Science programme (English)
• University of Cologne for foreign students on iAgora - Reviews by former Erasmus and other international students in Cologne
• Press Group of the Campaign against Tuition Fees at the University of Cologne

Coordinates: 50°55′41″N, 6°55′43″E