Look beyond the university name
The University of Cologne is a public research university in Cologne, Germany. It was established in 1388. It closed in 1798 before being re-established in 1919. It is now one of the largest universities in Germany with around 43,594 students. The University of Cologne is a member of the German U15 association of major research-intensive universities and was a university of excellence as part of the German Universities Excellence Initiative from 2012 to 2019. It is consistently ranked among the top 20 German universities in the world rankings.
| Location | Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Institution type | University |
| Total students | 49,382 |
| Faculty & staff | 4 |
| Research works (OpenAlex) | 150,330 |
| Total citations | 11,294,508 |
| Rector | Joybrato Mukherjee |
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 07 October 2026)
What can you study at University of Cologne?
University of Cologne offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programmes across multiple disciplines.
Research strengths (by indexed output): Nuclear physics research studies, Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies, Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies, Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment, Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism.
For the complete programme catalogue with entry requirements per degree, check the official website.
Official source: Official website ↗
Know your admission route
Admission requirements, deadlines and required documents vary by programme and intake. The university publishes these on its official admissions pages.
Always verify current deadlines on the official website — third-party sites may carry outdated dates.
Official source: Official website ↗
Tuition & costs
Tuition fees change each academic year and differ by programme, study level (undergraduate/graduate) and residency status. JournalsWorld does not publish estimated figures that may be outdated.
Check the university's official tuition & fees page for the current schedule applicable to your intake.
Official source: Official website ↗
Research at University of Cologne
According to OpenAlex, University of Cologne has 150,330 indexed research works with 11,294,508 total citations.
Humboldt Rankings During the years 2018 through 2022, 142 international scholars and scientists sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation chose to spend their research years at the University of Cologne. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
Most-cited affiliated researchers
- Hans‐Henning Flechtner — 16,287 citations
- Daniel Bachurski — 11,587 citations
- Frank Jessen — 10,975 citations
- Erland Erdmann — 10,470 citations
- Jürgen Thiele — 10,415 citations
Source: OpenAlex (most-cited affiliated authors)
Official source: Official website ↗
Who leads University of Cologne?
The current Rector is Joybrato Mukherjee.
Joybrato Mukherjee is a German professor of English linguistics and the president of the University of Cologne. When he took office as president of the University of Giessen in 2009, he was the youngest university president ever appointed in Germany.
Official source: Official website ↗
Campus & student life
University of Cologne is located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
For housing options, campus facilities and student services, see the official website.
Official source: Official website ↗
Contact University of Cologne
Official website: https://uni-koeln.de/ ↗
For admissions enquiries, department contacts and phone numbers, use the official contact page.
Official source: Official website ↗
Frequently asked questions
When was University of Cologne founded?
University of Cologne was founded in 1919.
How many students attend?
Approximately 49,382 students.
What are the admission requirements?
Requirements vary by programme. Check the admission section above and verify on the official website.
How much is tuition?
Tuition changes yearly. See the official tuition page for current figures.
Who is the rector?
Joybrato Mukherjee.