JMU: A history of Success
The history of Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg reaches back as far as 1402. At that time, it was the sixth institution of higher education to be founded in the German-speaking regions of Europe, after the universities in Prague, Vienna, Heidelberg, Cologne, and Erfurt.
A forward-thinking and open-minded institution
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is an internationally acclaimed university offering a wide range of subjects. Our university has strong roots in Würzburg and the region of Main Franconia, and our research and teaching activities have led to achievements of global significance.
We are committed to continuing excellence in research and teaching across all branches of science. Established for the first time in 1402, the University of Würzburg now offers more than 100 subjects in the humanities, social and natural sciences, life sciences, medicine and selected areas of engineering. We prepare our students for careers in a wide range of fields and we aim to closely coordinate our teaching with our current research activities. Our students work with renowned scientists from all over the world and, with the completion of their Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral degrees, make their own contributions to science.
The university is committed to strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation and investigating emerging disciplines at the interface between different branches of science. Working towards sustainable development across all subjects, JMU has initiated ongoing quality improvement processes. JMU’s main objective is to gain insights into all scientific disciplines and to share these insights with students, research professionals, and the general public.
In addition to delivering research and teaching of international standing, we must never forget our ethics and responsibility towards society. Our motto – ‘Veritati’, meaning devoted to the truth – also reflects this attitude. We fulfil our social responsibility by advocating the basic rights of democracy, supporting humanitarian activities, and promoting the sustainable use of resources.
Renowned Scientists
Many eminent scholars and scientists, 14 Nobel Laureates among them, have conducted research and taught in Würzburg. Notable scientists include Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, who discovered X-rays in Würzburg in 1895, and Klaus von Klitzing, who discovered the Quantum-Hall Effect.
An Extensive Choice of Subjects
In addition to the four classic subjects – medicine, theology, philosophy, and law – the university also offers many new degree programs. The most recent additions include Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, Computer Science & Sustainability, German-french Studies, Functional Materials, Games Engineering, Modern China, Human Factors in Computing Systems, and Museology, just to name a few.
Main Research
JMU remains strongly committed to six pillars:
- Molecules, Cells and Organisms
- Molecular Chemistry, New Materials and Quantum Effects
- Digitality, Data Science and Algorithms
- Global Challenges
- Cultural Spheres
- Institutions, Norms and Behavior
A Policy of Expansion
As the number of degree programs offered has grown, so too has the university. To accommodate the growth of the student population, the Hubland Campus was built on a hill at the eastern edge of the city. Newly-designed degree programs and a steady influx of students continue to drive the institution’s growth. In 2011, the university expanded to include the newly established Campus Nord, a 39-hectare area in the immediate vicinity of Hubland Campus.
JMU is one of the leading institutions of higher education in Germany, according to the rankings of domestic and international research organizations and international expert committees. On an international level, the University of Würzburg ranks in the top bracket of academic institutions in many scientific disciplines including biology, medicine, physics, and psychology.
Quelle „Foto: Universität Würzburg“
Research Centres as a Trademark
In the 1990s, the university began founding cross-faculty research centers, which opened up new research areas and possibilities for innovative degree programs. These interdisciplinary centers, such as the Research Center for Infectious Diseases, have become an internationally prominent trademark of the University of Würzburg.
The creation of research centers has pushed the university into the top tier of German academic institutions and has had numerous positive effects. For example, it has rapidly boosted the amount of public funding, private donations, and research funds from industrial companies. The number of academically prestigious publications has also grown significantly since the mid-1990s, even though the number of positions for professors and assistants at the university remained almost constant during that period.
Science and Success
The University of Würzburg’s numerous Collaborative Research Centers, Research Training Groups, and Research Units, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) have greatly contributed to the university’s high standing in the scientific community. In 2002, the University of Würzburg launched one of three DFG-funded Centers of Excellence across Germany – the Rudolf Virchow Center/DFG Research Center for Experimental Biomedicine.
2019 JMU has succeeded in the contest for the most innovative research concepts in Germany with its joint proposal for the Cluster of Excellence “Complexity and Topology in Quantum Materials – ctd.qmat” (Würzburg – Dresden). Furthermore, a new Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science CAIDAS is emerging.
Academic Advancement of the Next Generation
The University of Würzburg is strongly committed to the advancement of junior academics. In 2004, the university established its Graduate Schools to provide doctoral candidates with the appropriate resources and facilities to continue and enhance their education.
