University of Bremen

University of Bremen
Universität Bremen
TypePublic
Established1971 (1971)
Academic affiliation
TPC
Budget€ 422 million[1]: 37 
RectorJutta Günther
Academic staff
2,244[1]: 27 
Administrative staff
1,288[1]: 27 
Students18,391[1]: 3 
Location
Bremen, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
,
Germany

53°06′31″N 8°51′13″E / 53.10861°N 8.85361°E / 53.10861; 8.85361
CampusUrban
Websitewww.uni-bremen.de

The University of Bremen (German: Universität Bremen) is a public university in Bremen, Germany, with approximately 18,400 students from 117 countries.[2] 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.[3][4] 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",[5] 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.[6]

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.

Bremen was rewarded with the title "Stadt der Wissenschaft 2005" (City of Science of 2005), which science, politics, business and culture won jointly for Bremen and Bremerhaven, by the Foundation for German Science (Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft).

The University of Bremen became 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 since 2012. With the Cluster of Excellence “The Ocean Floor – Earth’s Uncharted Interface” of MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, the University of Bremen is still part of the German Excellence Strategy and will receive funding from 2019 – 2025. In the current call for proposals, the University of Bremen is once again participating in the excellence strategy competition.[7] The universities of Bremen and Oldenburg have submitted their joint University Excellence Consortium proposal entitled “Northwest Alliance: Connecting for Tomorrow” to the German Council of Science and Humanities as part of the federal and state governments' Excellence Strategy.[8]

In 2020, the university had more DFG Collaborative Research Centers than ever and is regarded the science hub of Northwest Germany. Since the foundation of the Bremen Technology Park in 1988, many research institutes and facilities have settled near the University of Bremen campus. These include the Bremen Innovation and Technology Centre (BITZ), the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), the Bremen Institute for Production and Logistics GmbH (BIBA), the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL), the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS GmbH (BIPS), SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP), Leibniz Institute for Materials Engineering (IWT), the German Aerospace Center Bremen (DLR), the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI), the Data Science Center, Digital Hub Industry (DHI), and the “MaTeNa innovate! Center” for accelerated technology transfer.[9]

Faculties

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

Academics

Admission

Admission to University of Bremen is highly competitive with big differences in the admission rates between programs.[10]

Teaching and learning

The University of Bremen is a campus university which offers more than 100 different programs.[11] In 2024 it granted 1,574 baccalaureate degrees, 1,289 master's degrees, 118 State Examination in Law and 313 doctoral degrees.[12] Each year the University of Bremen awards the Berninghausen Prize for excellent teaching.[13] The prize was started in 1992 and is considered to be the oldest teaching award at any German university.[14] Tuition is free for national and international students at the University of Bremen. There is, however, a semester contribution of approx. €430, which includes the Germany semester ticket (D-SeTi) valid nationwide on all local public transport.[15]

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.[16]

Scientific focus

  • Marine, polar and climate research
  • Social change, social policy and the state
  • Materials science and its technologies
  • Minds, media, machines
  • Health sciences[17]

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.[18]

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.[19]

Collaborative research centers

The university has as of November 2024 the following SFBs:[18]

The University of Bremen is also involved in the following special research areas:[18]

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)[24]
  • SFB/TR8: Spatial Cognition – Inference, Action, Interaction (2003– 2014)[25]
  • SFB 637: Self-control of logistic processes (2004–2012) [26]
  • SFB/TR4: Process chains for the replication of complex optical components (2001–2012)[27]
  • SFB 570: Distortion Engineering – Warp control in manufacturing (2001–2011) [28]
  • SFB 517: Neural Basics of Cognitive Performance (1996–2005) [29]
  • SFB 460: Dynamics of Thermohaline ciculation Variability (1996-2006)[30]
  • SFB 372: Spray compacting (1994–2004)[31]
  • SFB 186: Status Passages and Risks in the Life Course (1988-2001)[32]

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.[33]

The Central Research Units at the University of Bremen currently include:[33]

Research institutes in Bremen and the surrounding area

The University of Bremen has concluded a cooperation agreement with the following research institutes in the region:[33]

  • Bremer Institut für angewandte Strahltechnik GmbH (BIAS)
  • Institute for Applied Systems Technology Bremen GmbH (ATB)
  • Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL)
  • ZARM-Fallturm-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (ZARM-FaB)
  • Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH (BIBA)
  • Fibre Institute Bremen e.V. (FIBRE)
  • Research Centre for Eastern Europe (FSO)
  • Institute for Information Management GmbH (IFIB)

Research cooperation on site

U Bremen Research Alliance (UBRA)

The University of Bremen and twelve non-university research institutes funded by the federal states collaborate within the U Bremen Research Alliance. The collaboration spans four key scientific areas: "Marine, Polar and Climate Research", "Materials Sciences and Production Engineering", "Health Sciences", and "Minds, Media and Machines". The U Bremen Research Alliance aims to closely interlink research in Bremen across institutional boundaries. Its activities include research data and data science, as well as artificial intelligence. The U Bremen Research Alliance Welcome Center assists international researchers and their families with planning and carrying out their stay in Bremen and Bremerhaven. The Alliance also offers targeted support in the form of seminars and training courses, including those on acquiring third-party funding.[33][34]

In addition to the University of Bremen, the members of the U Bremen Research Alliance are:[34]

Rankings

University rankings
Overall – Global & National
QS World 2024[35] 514 32
THE World 2024[36] 301–350 32–33
ARWU World 2025[37] 501–600 36–40
QS Europe
QS Employability
THE Employability

According to the QS World University Rankings of 2024, the University of Bremen was placed 514th globally and ranked 32nd within its national context.[35] In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2024, the university was positioned within the 301–350 range worldwide, while nationally it fell within the 32–33 range.[36] The ARWU World Rankings for 2023 also showed a similar trend, with the university ranked between 601 and 700 globally and between 37 and 40 nationally.[37]

University partnerships

National partnerships

The University of Bremen collaborates with various partner universities in Bremen and the region to tap into synergies.[38]

European partnerships

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.[41]

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.[42]

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.[43]

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.[44]

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.[45]

The University of Bremen's strategic partner universities currently include:[45]

Notable alumni

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Universität Bremen.

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d "Rechenschaftsbericht des Rektorats: "Uni in Zahlen" 2024" (PDF) (in German). Rektorin der Universität Bremen. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025. 3,4 MB
  2. ^ Universität Bremen, Germany. "Facts and Figures". Universität Bremen. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. ^ "DFG, German Research Foundation – Institutional Strategies (2005–2017)". www.dfg.de. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  4. ^ Universität Bremen, Germany. "Excellent". Universität Bremen. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  5. ^ Universität Bremen, Germany. "Teaching and Studies". Universität Bremen. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  6. ^ "DFG Research Centres". Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  7. ^ "Excellence – Universität Bremen". www.uni-bremen.de. Archived from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Connecting for Tomorrow: Universities of Bremen and Oldenburg Submit University Excellence Consortium Proposal". www.uni-bremen.de. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  9. ^ "University of Bremen as a Pioneer: 30 Million Euros for the First Center for Accelerated Technology Transfer". www.uni-bremen.de. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Universität Bremen weiterhin beliebt: 33.000 Bewerbungen zum kommenden Wintersemester". nordbuzz.de (in German). 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  11. ^ Universität Bremen, Germany. "University of Bremen Studies". www.uni-bremen.de/en. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Rechenschaftsbericht des Rektors: "Uni in Zahlen" 2024". University of Bremen (in German). President of the University of Bremen. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  13. ^ Schröder, Sandra. "Preis für gute Lehre". Universität Bremen (in German). Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  14. ^ Jorzik, Bettina (2010). "Ausgezeichnete Lehre!" Lehrpreise an Universitäten. Münster: Waxmann. p. 118. ISBN 978-3-8309-2304-6.
  15. ^ "Re-registration and Semester Contribution". Universität Bremen. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  16. ^ Universität Bremen, Germany. "High-Profile Areas at the University of Bremen". University of Bremen High Profile Areas. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  17. ^ Stefan Lüttgens. "Wissenschaftsschwerpunkte der Universität Bremen" (in German). Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  18. ^ a b c "DFG – Laufende Sonderforschungsbereiche". DFG.de. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  19. ^ "DFG – EXC 309: The Ocean in the Earth System – MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences". www.dfg.de. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  20. ^ "DFG – Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – DFG fördert 15 neue Sonderforschungsbereiche" (in German). Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  21. ^ Universität Bremen, Germany, "DFG bewilligt weiteren Sonderforschungsbereich der Uni Bremen", Universität Bremen (in German), archived from the original on 31 May 2017, retrieved 7 June 2017
  22. ^ "Oceans as Carbon Sinks: DFG Funds New Collaborative Research Center on Marine Sugars". www.uni-bremen.de. 30 May 2025. Archived from the original on 20 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  23. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – TRR 420: Carbon sequestration at Å resolution – CONCENTRATE". gepris.dfg.de. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  24. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – SFB 597: Staatlichkeit im Wandel". Gepris.DFG.de. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  25. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – TRR 8: Raumkognition – Schließen, Handeln, Interagieren". Gepris.DFG.de. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  26. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – SFB 637: Selbststeuerung logistischer Prozesse – Ein Paradigmenwechsel und seine Grenzen". Gepris.DFG.de. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  27. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – TRR 4: Prozessketten zur Replikation komplexer Optikkomponenten". Gepris.DFG.de. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  28. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – SFB 570: Distortion Engineering – Verzugsbeherrschung in der Fertigung". Gepris.DFG.de. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  29. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – SFB 517: Neuronale Grundlagen kognitiver Leistungen". Gepris.DFG.de. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  30. ^ "DFG - GEPRIS - SFB 460: Dynamik thermohaliner Zirkulationsschwankungen". gepris.dfg.de. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  31. ^ "DFG – GEPRIS – SFB 372: Sprühkompaktieren". Gepris.DFG.de. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  32. ^ "DFG - GEPRIS - SFB 186: Status Passages and Risks in the Life Course". gepris.dfg.de. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  33. ^ a b c d "Central Research Units - Universität Bremen". www.uni-bremen.de. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  34. ^ a b Joost, Timo. "Research Alliance". U Bremen Research Alliance (in German). Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  35. ^ a b "QS World University Rankings 2024". QS World University Rankings. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  36. ^ a b "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education World University Rankings. 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  37. ^ a b "2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities". Academic Ranking of World Universities. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  38. ^ "Local Partner Universities - Universität Bremen". www.uni-bremen.de. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  39. ^ "Northwest Alliance". Northwest Alliance (in German). 13 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  40. ^ "A Voice for the North – Hanse University Alliance Brings Together Ten Higher Education Institutions". www.uni-bremen.de. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  41. ^ "Erasmus+ - Universität Bremen". www.uni-bremen.de. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  42. ^ "Universität Bremen". Yerun. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  43. ^ "YUFE - Young Universities for the Future of Europe - Universität Bremen". www.uni-bremen.de. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  44. ^ "International Partner Universities - Universität Bremen". www.uni-bremen.de. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  45. ^ a b "Strategic Partnerships - Universität Bremen". www.uni-bremen.de. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
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