University of Strasbourg

The University of Strasbourg was founded in the 16th century by Johannes Sturm, a protestant scholar. Sturm created a Protestant Gymnasium in 1538 with the mandate of disseminating knowledge, one of the core values of Humanism. Through the years, the Gymnasium progressively developed into an Academy and a University before it finally became the Royal University in 1631.

The University of Strasbourg has over 400 partner institutions in Europe and 175 in the rest of the world. It is a founding member of the EUCOR network and LERU and belongs to several international academic consortia: the Franco-German University, Utrecht Network, AC21.

In 1870, Alsace and the Moselle department of Lorraine were annexed by the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War. Strasbourg, capital city of the Reichsland (the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine), experienced rapid growth and prosperity that lasted until the First World War. The University - which had become the Kaiser-Wilhelms-Universität - benefited from this development though the creation of libraries and institutes, the collaboration with eminent scholars and the diversification of academic disciplines. The traditions of research and openness to the world inherited from this period are still at the heart of the University’s values today.

The University became French again in 1918, but was relocated in Clermont-Ferrand during the Second World War as Alsace was annexed one more time. Many students and teachers from Strasbourg became involved in the Resistance. Among them was an important figure of the University’s history: Marc Bloch, a history professor who was tortured and executed for his actions as a Resistance leader. The University came back to Strasbourg after the Liberation and was awarded the Medal of Resistance in 1947.

Strasbourg offers 60 international dual degrees in partnership with universities around the world. As a member of Eucor, it also gives its students the opportunity to complete binational or trinational courses at its Swiss and German partner universities (Karlsruhe, Basel and Freiburg-im-Breisgau). The university is committed to promoting student mobility and has many cooperation agreements with institutions in Europe and beyond.

Strasbourg is a pioneer in cross-border cooperation and is located at the heart of the Eurodistrict, which promotes Franco-German partnerships and projects in transport, urban planning, education or health. The city is the seat of the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Parliament. It hosts the headquarters of many other European organisations including Eurocorps, the European Pharmacopoeia, Arte (Franco-German cultural TV channel) as well as 30 consulates and 46 embassies.

The University of Strasbourg has 72 research units that encompass all disciplinary fields. A centre of excellence in biology, biotechnology, medicine, chemistry and material physics, the University also actively participates in the development of social sciences and humanities.

Strasbourg has many museums, theatres, concert venues and hosts various cultural events throughout the year. These events include music, art and film festivals such as the Ososphere Electronic Nights, the European Fantastic Film Festival or St-art (European contemporary art fair). The city also has a lively nightlife, with plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs. Strasbourg is renowned for its Christmas market, one of the oldest and most famous ones throughout Europe, which draws millions of visitors each year.

A city mixing cultural diversity and firmly rooted traditions, Strasbourg is the country's top city for international students. Its human size, its pedestrian city centre and 500 km of cycling paths make it a very pleasant city to wander around. Vibrant and affordable, Strasbourg is a true student city providing a great learning and living environment. The University of Strasbourg aims to provide its students with a stimulating learning and living environment. All the campuses offer a wide range of services and learning resources.

The Faculty of Fine Arts is dedicated to education and research in the fields of visual, performing, design and digital arts. It also hosts the Centre de Formation des Musiciens Intervenants, which trains music students to run workshops for diverse audiences. From Bachelor’s to Doctorate degree, the various courses and subjects all aim to connect creation, training and research.

The University of Strasbourg's 37 departments of studies cover 5 major academic fields: Arts, literature and languages; Law, economics, management and political science; Humanities and social sciences; Science and technologies; Health. Listed below are the University's departments, faculties, schools and institutes. Over 2000 students, 31 lecturers-researchers and 80 doctorate students are enrolled or work at the Faculty. You wish to undertake higher studies at the University of Strasbourg and you know to which training to guide you check the conditions of admission. The admission procedure depends on your level of education and your situation. If you meet all these criteria, you still have to proceed to your administrative registration. Also see all the information about your schooling throughout the year.