Theology, Social Sciences, Law and Economics, University Medicine, Philosophy and Philology, Translation Studies, History, Physics Mathematics and Computer Science, Chemistry Pharmacy and Geosciences, Biology
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, known as JGU, has two founding dates. The first university in Mainz was founded in 1477 under Archbishop Diether von Isenburg. The present Johannes Gutenberg University was reestablished in 1946 by the French occupying power, and it carries the name of the inventor of printing with movable type, who came from Mainz. The city lies on the Rhine, opposite Wiesbaden.
The university counted about 32,000 students in 2018, against about 36,000 in 2010. The record does not state the number of staff or the share of international students, so applicants should consult the official pages for the latest data. The address of the university is Saarstraße 21 in Mainz.
The university has ten faculties since 7 April 2024, although the introduction of the public record still mentions eleven. They are Catholic and Protestant Theology, Social Sciences, Media and Sports, Law, Management and Economics, University Medicine, Philosophy and Philology, Translation Studies, Linguistics and Cultural Studies, History and Cultural Studies, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Chemistry, Pharmacy and Geosciences, and Biology.
University medicine is one of the faculties, and the University Medical Center is located off the main campus. This arrangement is common in German universities with a large hospital, and students in medicine should check the sites of their classes. The wide range of faculties makes JGU one of the few German universities with such a broad scope.
The rankings give some context. QS 2024 placed it 464th in the world and 27th in Germany. Times Higher Education 2024 placed it in the 251 to 300 band worldwide. The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022 gave the 201 to 300 band, and 10th to 19th in Germany. Paul J. Crutzen, Nobel laureate in Chemistry in 1995, and Fritz Strassmann, co-discoverer of nuclear fission, belong to the faculty. Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci are also linked to the university. Alumni include Malu Dreyer, Rainer Brüderle, Kristina Schröder, Jonas Mekas and Ruth Pfau. Tuition at public universities in Germany is low or free. Check the current tariff.
Domains taught:
Chemistry, Data Analytics, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Microbiology and Genetics, Physics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
University Medical Center Mainz located off campus, ten faculties.
Research:
Physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, humanities and social sciences.
Famous Alumnis:
Paul Crutzen, Fritz Strassmann, Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci, Malu Dreyer, Rainer Brüderle, Kristina Schröder, Ruth Pfau
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
N/A
Current students***:
32000
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Ten faculties, University Medical Center, Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen on its faculty, co-discoverer of nuclear fission Fritz Strassmann, ARWU 201 to 300 in 2022.
Cons
Medical center is off campus, large student body, teaching mainly in German.
Best For
Students looking for a large comprehensive German research university in the Rhine-Main region.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
Think of University of Regensburg when microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics is the priority: it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and is smaller, enrolling about 21,088 students against roughly 32,000 here.
In terms of fields, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is the nearest neighbour, with microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics again at the core; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Dresden University of Technology takes a similar route through chemistry, physics and mathematics, and it covers civil engineering and electrical and electronics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 29,000 students.
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg sits close to this institution on microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics; it covers astroscience and bioinformatics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 29,000 students.
A good alternative in the same country is Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, which likewise covers microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics; it is slightly larger, at about 45,000 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Charles University, in the Czech Republic, takes a similar route through microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
If this university is on your list for microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics, University of Barcelona in Spain deserves a comparison, because it is larger, enrolling about 62,995 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Valencia, in Spain, takes a similar route through microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
University of Szeged in Hungary pursues a similar profile in microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics, and it is slightly smaller, at about 22,693 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on chemistry, physics and mathematics is Masaryk University in the Czech Republic, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz?
In Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine.
When was the first university in Mainz founded?
In 1477, under Archbishop Diether von Isenburg.
When was the present university reestablished?
In 1946, by the French occupying power.
Who is it named after?
Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of printing with movable type.
How many students does it have?
About 32,000 in 2018.
How many faculties does it have?
Ten since 7 April 2024.
Where is the University Medical Center?
Off the main campus.
Which Nobel laureate belongs to its faculty?
Paul J. Crutzen, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1995.
How is it placed in the QS ranking of 2024?
464th in the world and 27th in Germany.
What does it cost?
Tuition at public universities in Germany is low or free. Check the current tariff.
Biology, Chemistry, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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