The University of Bamberg –
Catalyst for a Modern Knowledge Society

Founded in 1647, the University of Bamberg prepares students to be part of a dynamic knowledge society. We strive for excellence in all our endeavours while upholding international standards: our scholars collaborate in interdisciplinary and international networks and are recognised for their excellent research.

We have recently secured 30 new professorships from the Bavarian State's Hightech Agenda funding initiative and the Bavarian AI competition. Beyond that, many of Bamberg’s degree programmes receive excellent scores each year in the Centre for Higher Education (CHE) university rankings. The transfer of knowledge is particularly important to us and is reflected in our contributions to our city, region, and society.

We are proud of four large, interdisciplinary reasearch fields in which Bamberg scholars have outstanding track records in both research and teaching:

• Digital Humanities, Social and Human Sciences
• Empirical Social Research on Education and Labour
• Analysis and Preservation of Cultural Heritage
• Medieval Culture and Society

Researchers at the university cooperate with our two affiliated institutes, the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) and the State Institute for Family Research at the University of Bamberg (ifb). We also cooperate with the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Nuremberg and numerous other national and international partners. Moreover, we have greatly expanded our research capacities in applied computer science and artificial intelligence. In collaboration with colleagues in other research focus areas, scholars develop innovative solutions for tackling challenging research questions. Resources like our Graduate Centre support researchers in the early stages of their careers.

Our more than 80 bachelor’s, master’s and teacher training programmes from a wide range of disciplines offer numerous possibilities for combining subjects, studying individual modules, and pursuing studies part-time. Our comprehensive quality management system is regularly assessed by external experts and safeguards the highest quality in learning and teaching. Internal reviews at fixed intervals also ensure that our degree programmes remain cutting-edge. Several of our departments' top positions in the German CHE rankings prove that you can be part of an institution with outstanding student satisfaction rates and excellent degree programmes.

Our particular success in the Bavarian State Hightech Agenda funding initiative has resulted in 30 new professorships across all four of the University of Bamberg’s faculties. In the field of artificial intelligence, Bamberg is one of Germany’s largest and most prominent research hubs. Our computer science professors aim to cooperate with every other discipline at the university, and thereby strengthen the digitalisation of research and teaching in all faculties.

Digital technologies help us all to develop new research topics, questions, and methods. This affords us new perspectives on established theories and allows us to scrutinise our modes of thought and to fundamentally reimagine research processes. We are committed to the responsible handling, sound management, and accessible publication of research data – in a word: open access.

Instructors from all four faculties collaborate to develop new software solutions, didactic formats, and video infrastructures – particularly since the establishment of the extensive DiKuLe project (Developing Digital Cultures of Teaching). In the university’s digital teaching and learning labs (DigiLLabs), we are testing how best to combine modern e-learning elements with traditional classroom teaching methods.

We believe that knowledge transfer implies actively shaping partnerships in business, public policy, culture, and society. We consider it to be our shared responsibility that all sectors of society can benefit from our scientific and academic expertise. Come join us as regional leaders for social, economic, technological, cultural, and ecological innovation.

Exchanging knowledge and ideas with external partners inspires our teaching and research. Conversely, we can provide the impetus for knowledge-based solutions to current challenges in business, society, and politics.

University of Bamberg members impact society and the region in diverse ways, such as …

• supporting companies and cultural, municipal, social, and educational organisations with our specialist expertise and practical research and teaching projects.
• promoting dialogue between academia and actors in society at university events, many of which are held in cooperation with trade associations.
• cooperating with the universities in Bayreuth, Hof and Coburg as part of the TechnologieAllianzOberfranken (TAO) in order to further strengthen the region’s innovative capacities.
• contributing to the responsible and modern organisation of educational and learning processes in schools and society with our robust, research-based teacher training programmes.
• supporting university employees, students, and alumni in establishing their own companies in the region or starting independent businesses.
• enriching city life with numerous and varied public events and collaborative projects.

Research, teaching, and institutional structures at the University of Bamberg are important factors with real-world impact. Democratic values form the foundation for developing progressive ideas for overcoming societal challenges. The University of Bamberg regularly welcomes a large number of international scholars. We regularly host renowned international visiting professors to strengthen global academic exchange at the highest level.

Our internationally focused teaching programmes encourage students to not only welcome but also benefit from cultural diversity. We aim to provide an accepting and inclusive environment for all members of the University community. We oppose all forms of discrimination and instead see our diversity as a strength that inspires innovation.

A large number of university members are actively involved in regional projects, like students participating in university groups or seminars that combine university teaching and community engagement (service learning). As an EMAS-certified Fairtrade University, climate protection and sustainability are very important to us. We assume social responsibility and are committed to implementing economically and ecologically sound measures that promote social equity. With a view to sustainable development, we are making an academic and institutional contribution to the transformation of society.

We strive to create an environment where lecturers and students can reach their full potential and achieve the highest quality of academic performance. Collegial collaboration characterises the close inter-relationship between research and teaching. The result is a body of research findings whose international publication highlights Bamberg’s academic excellence worldwide.

We strongly believe that education is a lifelong learning process, and our mission is to encourage and help shape it. The size of our university is ideal for cultivating highly personalised academic relationships between lecturers and students. Our location provides the setting for a unique and inspiring learning environment: as a World Heritage Site, Bamberg is a culturally rich, cosmopolitan, and innovative city with a vibrant social scene.

We treat all people with respect, regardless of their individual life circumstances. At the University of Bamberg, we are committed to promoting a culture of inclusivity and equality of opportunity for university members of all genders or from different cultural, ethnic, or social backgrounds. A wide range of measures promote equal opportunities, appreciation of diversity, and protection against discrimination. Our strong commitment to reconciling studies and professional careers with family life has earned us the “family-friendly university” distinction since 2005. The University of Bamberg holds its entire staff to the ideal of respecting the diverse interests and experiences of all people. We strongly support the advancement of women in academic careers: compared to the rest of Germany, the proportion of female professors at our university is particularly high.