Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen

About the University
Justus Liebig University (JLU) offers an excellent setting for students and researchers from all over the world. It proudly bears the name of one of its most renowned scientists, Justus von Liebig, who is regarded as the founder of modern agricultural chemistry. Through 11 faculties and five research centres, JLU secures high-level interdisciplinary research and teaching. The combination of the fields of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Nutritional Sciences and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is unique among the universities in Germany. Moreover, disciplines like Biosciences, Material Science, Humanities and Cultural Sciences, Law, Business and Economics, Psychology, Teacher Training and Educational Sciences round up the research and teaching profile of JLU Giessen. Graduate Schools of the Humanities and of the Life Sciences welcome international doctoral students in its programs. JLU is the second largest university in the state of Hessen. With a strong tradition of 400 years, JLU enjoys now formalized co-operation with over 160 universities in Europe and worldwide and is a member of international university networks like the SANTANDER-group (SG).

About the City
Giessen was chartered in 1248 and sold to the landgraves of Hessen in 1267. It was part of independent Hessen-Marburg from 1567 until 1604, when it passed to Hessen-Darmstadt. Historic landmarks include the “ new castle” (1533–37), the ruins of the old castle (14th century), and the Schiffenberg Monastery. At Justus Liebig University, founded in 1607, the laboratory of the famous chemist Justus von Liebig may still be seen. Socialist Wilhelm Liebknecht, born in Giessen, attended the university. The Upper Hessian Museum and the botanical gardens are also noteworthy. Giessen is a busy traffic centre; its industries include the manufacture of machinery, textiles, pottery, rubber, and tobacco products. Thus, students dominate the face of the city.

Departments

• Law
• Economics and Business Administration
• Social and Cultural Sciences
• History and Cultural Sciences
• Language, Literature, Culture
• Psychology and Sports
• Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography
• Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
• Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Home Economics and Environmental Management
• Veterinary Medicine
• Medicine

Prominent Teachers

• Karl Theodor Follen (1796-1840), revolutionary, private lecturer in law, emigrated in 1824, became professor of German language and literature at Harvard University
• Justus Liebig (1803-1873), invented fertilizer, professor of chemistry in Giessen from 1824 to 1852
• August Wilhelm von Hofmann (1818-1892), synthetized aniline dyes, private assistant to Liebig, professor at the Royal College of Chemistry in London from 1845 to 1865
• Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845-1923), discovered x-rays, professor of physics in Giessen from 1879 to 1888, received the very first physics nobel prize in 1901
• Walther Bothe (1891-1957), professor of physics in Giessen from 1930 to 1932, Nobel Prize in 1954
• Kostas Simitis, Greek prime minister, professor of law in Giessen from 1972 to 1974

• Charlotte von Siebold (1787-1859), midwife, assisted Queen Victoria at the birth of the Duchess of Kent, second woman to receive a doctorate in Germany
• Georg Büchner (1813-1837), writer and revolutionary, student of medicine
• Wilhelm Liebknecht (1826-1900), along with August Bebel first leader of the German Social Democratic Party, student of theology
• August Kekulé (1829-1896), discovered the structure of benzene, received his doctorate in chemistry in Giessen
• Franz Fischer (1877-1947), created synthetic fuel, received his doctorate in chemistry in Giessen

Statistics (2009)

• Year of foundation . . . . . . . . . . . .   1607
• Number of students . . . . . . . . . . . 23,893
• Foreign students . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1,829
• Professors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   303

Justus Liebig Universität Giessen
Akademisches Auslandsamt

Goethestraße 58
D-35390 Giessen
Phone: +49 (0)641 / 99 121 40
Fax: +49 (0)641 / 99 121 49
e-mail:akademisches.auslandsamt@admin.uni-giessen.de

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