The University of Potsdam (Universität Potsdam) is one of Germany’s youngest research-intensive comprehensive universities, renowned for its motto “Small but Fine” (Klein aber fein). Founded in 1991, it has consistently ranked 201st–250th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and first among Germany’s young universities over the past three decades. It lacks the traditional university walls, as its campus itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site—studying beside Frederick the Great’s Sanssouci Palace is a unique daily experience at this institution.
█ History and Legacy: From East German Party School to World Heritage Site
❖ Three Sources Converge: On July 15, 1991, under Brandenburg’s Higher Education Act, the former Karl Liebknecht University of Education (founded 1948), the former Walter Ulbricht State and Law Academy of the GDR, and the Potsdam-Babelsberg University of Law and Administration merged to form the young University of Potsdam, continuing its tradition of teacher education to this day. Earn a German university degree
❖ Cold War Legacy: The former East German Ministry for State Security Academy on the Görlitz Campus now houses the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences—from intelligence hub to academic sanctuary, the building bears witness to systemic transformation.
❖ Classrooms on the Prussian Crown: The main campus’s New Palace (Neues Palais), situated within Sanssouci Park, is a Baroque structure completed in 1769. It once served as Frederick the Great’s hall for receiving Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire. Students now traverse its 18th-century colonnades and walk beneath its domed ceilings daily, with the Faculty of Philosophy, History Department, and Department of Languages and Literature housed within the former royal “Annex Palace.”
❖ Excellence in Teaching Award: In 2009, the University of Potsdam stood out among ten German universities, receiving the “Excellence in Teaching” honor from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs. The award included a prize of one million euros—a national endorsement of educational quality for a young university.
█ Campus Facilities and Environment: Three Campuses, Three Faces of Germany
❖ New Palace Campus (Classrooms within a World Heritage Site):
▸ Adjacent to Sanssouci Park, the university’s largest lecture hall (Audimax) is housed within an 18th-century Baroque complex
▸ Home to the Faculty of Philosophy, the President’s Office, and administrative bodies—making it Germany’s sole university utilizing a World Heritage Site as its daily teaching space
▸ The Departments of Sports Science, Sports Medicine, and Mathematics are also located on this campus
❖ Görlitz Campus (Berlin-Brandenburg’s Largest Science Park):
▸ Home to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities, featuring highly modern, innovative experimental buildings
▸ Three Max Planck Institutes and two Fraunhofer Institutes are located here—an innovative ecosystem where the university coexists with top-tier research institutions
▸ The business incubator “GO:IN” provides comprehensive support for faculty and student entrepreneurship from lab to market
❖ Grünbutz Lake Campus (Berlin’s Legal Hub at the End of the S-Bahn):
▸ Adjacent to the Berlin-Potsdam border, the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Digital Engineering are situated lakeside
▸ Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) shares laboratories and faculty resources with the Faculty of Informatics—Germany’s first public university institute fully funded by a private foundation
❖ Living Amenities:
▸ Germany’s premier university sports center: Offers over 200 sports courses ranging from fencing to sailing, including specialty programs like historical fencing
▸ More than 60 student clubs: Spanning a wide spectrum from student-run pastoral counseling hotlines to cultural and political communities
▸ Tuition-free in Brandenburg, with only an approximate €316 registration fee per semester, including a semester ticket valid throughout Berlin and Brandenburg—enabling unlimited travel on all public transport except ICE trains
▸ Studentenwerk provides 2,855 student dormitory rooms, with cafeteria main courses starting at €1.50
█ International Cooperation & Exchange: From Franco-German Dual Degrees to the European Digital University
❖ German-French Law Flagship Program: The Law School collaborates with Paris Diderot University to offer Germany’s only “German-French Law Program”—French visiting lecturers teach French law in French during the first two years. Graduates gain entry into both countries’ legal professions. This represents a rare cross-cultural training model in German legal education.
❖ European Digital University (EDUC): As a core member of the EU’s 17 pilot university consortiums, the University of Potsdam collaborates with eight research-intensive public universities from France, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Norway, and others to build the European Digital University Alliance. Nearly 200,000 students and 13,500 scholars can cross-register for courses and study across universities in five countries, leveraging digital technology to drive innovation in teaching, research, and social responsibility.
❖ International Ranking Performance:
▸ 2019: Ranked second in Germany for international course offerings and second in Germany for number of visiting lecturers
▸ Number of international students completing doctoral degrees: Ranked third among Germany’s 32 major universities
❖ Collaborative Networks: Partners with 33 external research institutions and 9 affiliated organizations while maintaining 58 university partnerships.
In 2024, Vice President Dr. Barbara Höhle emphasized at the Times Higher Education rankings launch: “Potsdam research has international reach”—the ultimate testament to over three decades of internationalization strategy.
█ Campus Dining & Housing: Affordable German Student Living
❖ Dining Network: Studentenwerk Potsdam operates its own cafeterias on every campus, with main courses starting at €1.50. From the Baroque arcades of the New Palace Campus to the modern lab buildings of the Golm Campus, students enjoy convenient access to nutritionally balanced hot meals.
❖ Housing System: Studentenwerk provides 2,855 student housing units citywide, distributed across multiple neighborhoods in the Berlin-Potsdam metropolitan area. Rent is significantly lower than in central Berlin.
❖ Tuition-Free Advantage: Brandenburg State fully waives tuition fees, charging only a registration fee. For the 2023/24 winter semester, the registration fee is €316—including a semester ticket for all public transport in Berlin and Brandenburg, covering trams, buses, regional trains, and more.
❖ Cost of Living Advantage: Compared to major German cities like Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg, Potsdam offers 15–25% lower living costs. Students benefit from: Berlin’s metropolitan cultural resources, Potsdam’s garden city livability, and Brandenburg’s affordable expenses.
❖ Campus Dining Highlights: Cafeteria menus emphasize nutritional balance and sustainability, with dedicated vegetarian and vegan sections available at select campuses. The New Palace Campus cafeteria adjoins Sanssouci Park, allowing students to enjoy a €1.50 lunch beside a UNESCO World Heritage Site—a dining experience unique among German universities
