Cologne University

University of Cologne

Universität zu Köln
University seal of 1392
Latin: Universitatis Coloniensis
Established	1388/1919 Closed 1798—1919
Rector	Axel Freimuth[]
Academic staff	482
Administrative staff	4,557
Students	48,179 (2014/15)
Postgraduates	3,718
Location	Cologne, NRW, Germany
Website	www.uni-koeln.de

The University of Cologne (German: Universität zu Köln) was the sixth university to be established in Central Europe and, although it closed in 1789 before being re-established in 1919, it is now one of the largest universities in Germany with more than 48,000 students. The university has been part of the German Universities Excellence Initiative since 2012, and as of 2015 it ranks 156th globally according to Times Higher Education, 305th according to QS World University Rankings and between 151 and 200 according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

The University of Cologne was established in 1388 as the fourth university in the Holy Roman Empire, after the 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 abolished by the French, who had invaded Cologne in 1794, because under the new French constitution, universities were abolished all over France.The last rector Ferdinand Franz Wallraf was able to preserve the university’s Great Seal, now once more in use.

In 1919, the Prussian government endorsed a decision by the Cologne City Council to re-establish the university. On May 19, 1919, the Cologne Mayor Konrad Adenauer signed the charter of the modern university.