Fotoğraf: Christian Wolf (www.c-w-design.de) · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 DE)
Humboldt University of Berlin
A research university with international recognition in the humanities and social sciences.
Highlights
- The institution where the modern research university concept was born
- International recognition in the humanities and social sciences
- Historical ties to figures like Einstein and Planck
- A historic campus in central Berlin, on Unter den Linden
Pros
- A central Berlin location close to cultural and career opportunities
- A strong academic reputation in the humanities and social sciences
- A historic, internationally recognized name
Things to Consider
- Berlin's fast-rising rents put pressure on student budgets
- High admission competition for popular subjects
- A large, bureaucratic university structure can feel impersonal at first
History
Founded in 1810 by the linguist and statesman Wilhelm von Humboldt, Humboldt University is Berlin's oldest university. Its founding gave rise to the "Humboldtian model," which champions the unity of teaching and research under the principle of academic freedom — a model that became the foundation of the modern research university worldwide.
Throughout its history, figures such as Albert Einstein, Max Planck, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and Karl Marx have been associated with the university, and numerous Nobel laureates have taught or studied there.
Located on Unter den Linden boulevard in the very center of Berlin, the university suffered heavy damage during World War II and stood within East Berlin during the country's division; its rebuilt historic main building remains the heart of the university today.
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