University of Göttingen

Founded 1737

27.871 Students

212 Study Programmes

Kissing 'Gänseliesel'

Short information

Type of control

under public law

Location

Göttingen

Semester dates

Winter Semester from 1st of October to 31th of March Summer Semester from 1st of April to 30th of September

University

Wilhelmsplatz 1
D-37073 Göttingen
Tel.: (+49) 551 39 0
infoline-studium@uni-goettingen.de

Dates

All dates in overview

University - The Particular

The little big city of Göttingen features a unique encounter between a university with an international reputation and a small student-friendly town. Around one quarter of Göttingen's population are students: cultural activities and the night life are tailored towards students' needs – and their tight budgets.
Those studying in Göttingen benefit from exchange programmes with 530 higher education institutions throughout the world, English-language degree programmes, and a growing number of double degrees. A close-mesh advisory network, from study preparation to the Career Service, provides students with optimal planning support.

Study Programme - Main Focus

As a full university, Göttingen University offers a wide range of programmes covering virtually all subjects, from A for Agricultural Sciences to Z for Zoology. Numerous "exotic subjects" that can only be studied at a handful of universities in Germany are taught in Languages and Cultures. The wide range of course offerings enables students to choose from a whole host of combination options and to gain interdisciplinary training from day one. Great importance is attached to research at all stages of higher education: even at Bachelor level, students are encouraged to initiate their own research projects within special programmes.

Background - The Insight

Perhaps more so than any other university city in Europe, Göttingen is associated with the Nobel Prize: almost 50 laureates of this most prestigious award have lived, taught, studied or conducted research here. Some may say there are too few distractions in the provincial nest, compelling its residents to concentrate on research. And indeed, being home to a university, five Max Planck institutes, the German Primate Center and the German Aerospace Center, Göttingen boasts such a tight, well-connected network of high-calibre research that it is only a matter of time before the next prize is awarded.

What's special here?

The most-kissed girl in the world stands in Göttingen's market place, and is made of bronze: tradition has it that the "Gänseliesel" statue, a fountain in front of the Old City Hall, is kissed by all newly qualified PhD graduates. Accompanied by friends, family members and colleagues, they saunter through the city in imaginatively decorated home-made carts, duly celebrating their graduation. Liesel is given a bouquet of flowers to hold, which is fresh on most days: around 730 students complete their PhD in Göttingen each year.

Hochschulgebäude der Universität Göttingen

Studierender im Labor an der Universität Göttingen

Studierende sitzen beim Lernen an der Universität Göttingen zusammen

Studierende kommen zum Fahrradparkplatz an der Universität Göttingen

Drei Studierende sitzen vor dem historischen Hauptgebäude der Universität Göttingen zusammen

Viele Menschen vor dem historischen Gebäude der Universitätssternwarte Göttingen

Lehrender und Studierende im Gewächshaus der Universität Göttingen

Sounds great! What's next?

Degree programmes of all universities in Lower Saxony can be found in our study programme search. Click here for all study programmes offered by University of Göttingen:

Find study programmes