University of Bremen

The University of Bremen (German: Universität Bremen) is a public university in Bremen, Germany, with approximately 18,720 students from 126 countries. Its 12 faculties offer more than 100 degree programs.

The University of Bremen has been among the top 50 European research universities for more than 50 years and focuses its research on 5 high-profile areas. It is one of 11 institutions which were successful in the category "Institutional Strategies" of the Excellence Initiative launched by the Federal Government and the Federal States in 2012. The university was also successful in the categories "Graduate Schools" and "Clusters of Excellence" of the initiative.

Some of the paths that were taken in the early days of the university, also referred to as the "Bremen model", have since become characteristics of modern universities, such as interdisciplinary, explorative learning, social relevance to practice-oriented project studies which enjoy a high reputation in the academic world as well as in business and industry.

History

Though Bremen became a university city only recently, higher education in Bremen has a long tradition. The Bremen Latin School was upgraded to "Gymnasium Academicum" in 1584. In 1610 it was transformed into "Gymnasium Illustre". Under Napoleonic rule, in 1811 the institution of a "French-Bremen University" was considered. In 1971 the University of Bremen opened its doors.

The development of the University of Bremen can be divided up into steps of 10 to 12 years – first foundation, then restructuring, consolidation and profile building. At the beginning of the 1970s, the university was set up as a "science complex" in a city oriented towards trade and seafaring that had no experience with academia, particularly not with leftist professors. University, business and the public in the region did not move closer together until the 1980s, through the foundation of the natural science and engineering departments, co-operation with the newly founded Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven (1980), as well as the development of the co-located technology park (from 1988). Other important factors were the initial success in setting up collaborative research centres and in the acquisition of considerable of external funds. The mathematics professor Jürgen Timm, elected university rector in 1982, was largely responsible for this turnaround.

As a consequence, the University of Bremen improved in research rankings, gained national recognition, and established a number of endowment professorships. Research excellence and its interdisciplinary profile is reflected in the establishment of numerous research centers and programs funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). These currently include eight collaborative research centers and the Research Center of Ocean Margins, one of only six national research centers of the DFG.

From 1996 until 2001 the University of Bremen (along with six other universities in Germany) participated in a pilot scheme for structural reform of university administration, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. This project improved the co-operation and communication between the university's administration, teaching and research units. With the realization of the "Laptop University" project, the university became a leading university in the field of digital media education in Germany.

By 2000, after an organisational development process of three years in which the university set goals for the development of its profile, this trend was continued with the promotion of junior scientists in structured graduate programs, and staff development programs for the great number of early-stage researchers entering the university as junior professors. In teaching, there are comprehensive evaluations, more specific admission requirements, and improved completion rates for Bachelors and master's degrees.

Faculties

These are the twelve faculties into which the university is divided:

• Faculty 1: Physics/Electrical Engineering
• Faculty 2: Biology/Chemistry
• Faculty 3: Mathematics/Computer Science
• Faculty 4: Production Engineering – Mechanical Engineering & Process Engineering
• Faculty 5: Geosciences
• Faculty 6: Law
• Faculty 7: Business Studies and Economics
• Faculty 8: Social Sciences
• Faculty 9: Cultural Studies
• Faculty 10: Languages and Literary Studies
• Faculty 11: Human and Health Sciences
• Faculty 12: Pedagogy and Educational Sciences

Academics

Admission

Admission to University of Bremen is highly competitive with big differences in the admission rates between programs.

Teaching and learning

The University of Bremen is a campus university which offers more than 100 different programs. In 2025 it granted 1,624 baccalaureate degrees, 1,161 master's degrees, 89 State Examination in Law and 255 doctoral degrees. Each year the University of Bremen awards the Berninghausen Prize for excellent teaching. The prize was started in 1992 and is considered to be the oldest teaching award at any German university. Tuition is free for national and international students at the University of Bremen. There is, however, a semester contribution of approx. €450, which includes the Germany semester ticket (D-SeTi) valid nationwide on all local public transport.

Research

The University of Bremen is a research university. It has 12 faculties, but focuses its research on 5 interdisciplinary high-profile areas. They are (1) marine, polar and climate research, (2) social change, social policy, and the state, (3) materials science and production engineering, (4) minds media machines and (5) health sciences.

Scientific focus

• Marine, polar and climate research
• Social change, social policy and the state
• Materials science and its technologies
• Minds, media, machines
• Health sciences

With interdisciplinary scientific focal points, the University of Bremen has two ongoing DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centers ("Sonderforschungsbereiche" (SFB)) and is involved in four other SFBs.

The Oceans in the Earth System (MARUM) Cluster of Excellence developed in 2007 from the DFG Research Center Ocean Margins, which was founded in 2001.

Collaborative research centers

The university has as of November 2024 the following SFBs:

SFB 1342: The Global Dynamics of Social Policy (2018–)

SFB 1320: Everyday Activity Science and Engineering (EASE) (2017–)

The University of Bremen is also involved in the following special research areas:

• TRR 420: Carbon sequestration at Å resolution – CONCENTRATE (2025–)
• SFB 1464: Relativistic and quantum-based geodesy (TerraQ) (2021–)
• TRR 172: Artic Amplification: Climate Relevant Atmospheric and Surface Processes, and Feedback Mechanisms (AC)³ (2016–)
• TRR 181: Energy transfer in the atmosphere and in the ocean (2016–)

Past SFBs:

• TRR 136: Function-oriented Manufacturing based on Characteristic Process Signatures (2014–2022)
• SFB 1232: From Colored States to Evolutionary Construction Materials (2016–2021)
• SFB 747: Micro Cold Forming – Processes, Characterization, Optimization (2007–2017)
• SFB 597: CRC 597: Changing Statehood (2003–2014)
• SFB/TR8: Spatial Cognition – Inference, Action, Interaction (2003– 2014)
• SFB 637: Self-control of logistic processes (2004–2012)
• SFB/TR4: Process chains for the replication of complex optical components (2001–2012)
• SFB 570: Distortion Engineering – Warp control in manufacturing (2001–2011)
• SFB 517: Neural Basics of Cognitive Performance (1996–2005)
• SFB 460: Dynamics of Thermohaline circulation Variability (1996-2006)
• SFB 372: Spray compacting (1994–2004)
• SFB 186: Status Passages and Risks in the Life Course (1988-2001)

Research at Central Research Units (CRUs)

CRUs are independent of any particular faculty and fall directly under the responsibility of the University of Bremen's Academic Senate. To be granted CRU status, the objectives and tasks must be interdisciplinary or cross-institutional in nature. There must also be a common thematic focus and the subject of research must be of central strategic importance to the University of Bremen.

University partnerships

National partnerships

The University of Bremen collaborates with various partner universities in Bremen and the region to tap into synergies.

• University of Oldenburg
• Northwest Alliance (NWA)
• Hanse University Alliance

Erasmus

The University of Bremen has around 300 partner universities across Europe through the Erasmus program. Over 650 departmental-level agreements facilitate the mobility of students, lecturers and staff. Furthermore, the university coordinates a number of Erasmus cooperation projects. The university also cooperates with partner universities outside Europe via the Erasmus International Dimension program.

YERUN

The University of Bremen is a founding member of the Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN). Comprising seventeen young, research-intensive universities, the network aims to strengthen their collaboration and represent the interests of young universities at the European level.

YUFE

The University of Bremen is part of the YUFE (Young Universities for the Future of Europe) university alliance. YUFE offers students and university staff across Europe opportunities to develop in education, research and careers. Alongside the University of Bremen, the alliance comprises nine young and innovative universities and two non-university partners: Maastricht University, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Carlos III Universidad De Madrid, University of Antwerp, University of Cyprus, University of Eastern Finland, University of Essex, University of Rijeka, Sorbonne Nouvelle Université, ETS Global and the Adecco Group.

Partnerships worldwide

The University of Bremen has partnerships with several hundred universities worldwide, both within and outside Europe. These include institutional-level cooperation agreements, as well as numerous individual student exchange contracts and agreements.

Strategic partnerships

Extensive contacts and cooperation in research and teaching in several subjects, as well as their comparability in terms of size, objectices and resources characterize University of Bremen's strategic partner universities. There is a mutual agreement to sustainably develop the partnership together.

The University of Bremen's strategic partner universities currently include:

• Cardiff University
• University of Guelph
• Mahidol University
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Université de Ngaoundéré
• University of Groningen

Notable alumni

Yuliia Fediv, a Ukrainian cultural manager and diplomat.

Hans Koenigsmann, a German aerospace engineer, best known for his work on SpaceX.

Michael Kölling, a German computer scientist, currently working at King's College London, best known for the development of BlueJ.

Andreas Bovenschulte, a German lawyer and politician (SPD) who has been serving as the President of the Senate and Mayor of Bremen since 2019.

Sarah Ryglewski, a German politician (SPD) serves since 8 December 2021 as Minister of State for Federal-State Relations in the first Scholz cabinet.

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)