University of Rostock

Founded in 1419, the University of Rostock is the oldest university in the Baltic Sea region. True to its motto “Traditio et Innovatio”, the University of Rostock has continued to develop. Today, the many new buildings stand for the modernity of the university.
In addition to the facultas artium (today’s Faculty of Philosophy), the founding faculties were the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Medicine. In 1432, theology completed the classical canon of subjects of the historical studium generale. In the middle of the 20th century, the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and, in 1950 – a novelty among the classical German universities at the time – the Faculty of Engineering were added. Finally, at the beginning of 2004, a Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology and a Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering were created.
The university now has nine faculties, which are subdivided into numerous institutes and clinics. In addition, the Interdisciplinary Faculty is the central academic institution that brings together researchers and students from all disciplines. It brings together the main areas of research that have grown out of the university’s tradition. At the same time, this institution serves to sharpen the profile through an interdisciplinary combination of strengths in interdisciplinary communication and cooperation.
The University of Rostock is more of an insider tip than a mass university. If you appreciate a university rich in tradition and the courage to innovate in equal measure, the University of Rostock is the right place for you. Around 12,800 students study here. They can choose from an above-average range of subjects from over 170 degree courses.
In recent years, the University of Rostock has undergone significant changes in terms of content and organization with a cross-faculty, interdisciplinary profile in order to be able to meet future social challenges in an innovative and competitive manner. This included in particular the pooling of expertise and research activities in the cross-faculty departments of the Interdisciplinary Faculty (INF). The establishment of the INF is a unique feature of the University of Rostock. It bundles research resources and interests in cross-faculty focus areas in order to make optimum use of the interdisciplinary potential available locally in the sense of a focused, networked diversity. The focus areas organized in the departments of the Interdisciplinary Faculty are:

The “Life, Light and Matter” department deals with fundamental issues relating to energy, materials and life sciences. Atomic and molecular processes are investigated and laser optics are used for medical issues.

The “Maritime Systems “ department investigates the influence of global and regional changes on coastal zones, the use of maritime systems and methods for the sustainable development and management of coastal and marine areas.

The Department “Ageing of the Individual and Society” is looking for new solutions to enable an independent and self-determined life in old age, in good health and with full participation in society.

The department “Knowledge – Culture – Transformation” is dedicated to questions about the relationship and development of culture and knowledge from both a synchronic and diachronic perspective.

Joint research projects with other universities in Germany and abroad serve the purpose of networking and enable the University of Rostock to expand its portfolio of experts and expertise. Supra-regionally, joint research concepts are realized through contractually formalized cooperation with non-university research institutions such as the Max Planck Society, Helmholtz Association, Fraunhofer Society, Leibniz Association, federal and state research institutes and industry. Regionally, the focus is on the future fields of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in order to support positive effects for the development of companies and employment in the state.