University of Bonn

The University of Bonn was ranked among the eleven best universities in Germany in 2019 and has produced more Nobel Laureates and Fields Medal winners than any other German university. Another factor that makes the University of Bonn one of the best and largest research universities in Germany is its presence, with approximately 35,000 students, 6,000 doctoral students, 550 professors, and 6,000 faculty members. The university builds partnerships with industry to promote this research and disseminate knowledge and science in society. These collaborations range from sponsorship projects and the joint establishment of endowed professorships to scholarships and joint projects.
The University of Bonn’s high-quality education has been recognized among global research universities by a host of prestigious awards: two Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals, numerous Gottfried Wilhelm-Leibniz Prizes, and numerous other academic distinctions. The university receives approximately €180 million in third-party funding annually under competitive conditions.

More about the university

The university is located in the heart of Bonn on the banks of the Rhine. The baroque palace, donated to the university by the Prussian king in 1818, remains its headquarters to this day. In addition, there are approximately 250 buildings in Bonn and another 100 outside the city. The University of Bonn works closely with the University Hospital Bonn on the Venusberg, a group of non-university research institutions, non-research academic institutions of state and administrative bodies, and a group of other foundations and organizations.
The University of Bonn has a strong global network with 70 partners on six continents, with whom over 20,000 joint research projects have already been conducted. The University of Bonn maintains close ties with the United Nations and its various organizations, making it part of a global network that builds bridges between international organizations, businesses, and academic research institutions.

Faculties and degree programs at the University of Bonn

The University of Bonn comprises seven faculties, in which all research and teaching activities are organized. These faculties are, in turn, divided into several institutes, departments, and clinics, all of which are subordinate to the University’s Board of Trustees. Each faculty is headed by a dean and a faculty council composed of members of the dean’s office and academic groups. Below is a list of these faculties:

Support for international students

The University of Bonn has 4,375 international students, including 1,760 doctoral students, from 135 countries worldwide. The university supports its international students through:

Welcome Center for International Researchers

The Welcome Center is the central contact point at the University of Bonn for international postdocs, visiting researchers, and professors. The center offers advice and practical support to help international researchers get off to a good start in Bonn. The center’s staff answer questions about working and living in Bonn and encourage international researchers to participate in the center’s events.

Scholarships from the University of Bonn for international students

The University of Bonn supports numerous projects, particularly talented students and young researchers with proven outstanding academic achievements.

Germany Scholarship

The University of Bonn Foundation awards and administers the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship. Its goal is to provide long-term support to talented and responsible students. Funding is provided for one academic year, beginning on October 1 of each year. Each scholarship recipient receives €300 per month (€3,600 per year). Applications are accepted for the spring semester.

Scholarships from the University of Bonn for international students

Ließem Scholarship

The Bonn University Foundation also awards the Ließem Scholarship. This scholarship supports talented, needy students who are under 27 years old at the time of application and have lived in the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg area for at least five years. Each scholarship recipient receives €300 per month (€3,600 per year). Funding begins on January 1 and lasts for one year. Applications are accepted year-round until October 31.

Diversity and equal opportunities

The university administration considers it its primary and central task to promote equal opportunities in teaching, learning, and research, and to create non-discriminatory educational and working conditions that promote the diversity of university members. This is achieved through various measures:

Office for Equality between Women and Men

The position promotes gender equality at the University of Bonn and provides advice and support in cases of discrimination and gender discrimination.

Support for students with special needs

The University welcomes students with special needs before and during their studies and they can Contact a representative for students with special needs For advice on possible accommodation options for long-term health problems.

For further information, please visit enaCom

The Transfer Center works to disseminate knowledge and research results within the community. It provides a central communication channel for technology and knowledge transfer issues with stakeholders and those interested in research results. enaCom is a partner in several knowledge transfer networks to promote scientific exchange with all external stakeholders.
The center supports startups in selecting and submitting funding applications. It supports the implementation of ideas in startups and organizes various events for developing personal and professional skills and networking with transformation partners. enaCom also supports the protection, commercialization, and accountability of these innovations by selecting and evaluating applications for public funding programs for various startup or transformation projects.

Sustainability at the University of Bonn

Sustainability is a key focus of the University of Bonn’s organizational development and overall strategy. The university has launched several sustainability initiatives, including the establishment of a steering group to develop a central sustainability strategy.
The importance the University of Bonn attaches to this topic is also reflected in the establishment of a new agency for sustainability management, which began its work in the first half of 2021. Since November 1, 2019, all electrical outlets have been powered by renewable and environmentally friendly sources, which has contributed to reducing the university’s carbon footprint.
The University of Bonn has allocated €200,000 to fund projects aimed at increasing sustainability. This budget will support projects that aim to achieve sustainable savings in energy, material, and water consumption, as well as reduce wastewater, exhaust air, and waste from the university’s activities.
Funding is also available for proposals aimed at environmental protection and intended to influence the behavior of university members (e.g., awareness campaigns and media campaigns). Furthermore, sustainability is becoming increasingly important in research at the University of Bonn, whether in the areas of building materials and fuels, sustainable plant breeding, or development policy.

English-language degree programs at the University of Bonn