The University of Bonn (Universität Bonn), formally known as the Rheinisch-Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, is a core member of Germany’s elite universities and the U15 University Alliance. Located in the former capital of West Germany, this institution stands as both the third monument to Humboldt’s educational philosophy and a witness to the intellectual legacy of Marx, Heine, Nietzsche, Beethoven, and Adenauer.
⁕⁕⁕ History and Legacy: From the Cologne Duchy Academy to the Prussian Royal University ⁕⁕⁕
✧ Dual Origins: The University of Bonn traces its roots to the Cologne Duchy Academy, established in 1777. It was elevated to university status in 1784 by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II. Disbanded temporarily during Napoleon’s eastern campaign in 1798, it was reestablished in 1818 by King Frederick William III of Prussia, becoming the third Humboldtian university after Berlin’s Humboldt University and Breslau University
✧ Enlightenment Legacy: University of Bonn is a direct product of the 18th-century Enlightenment. The bourgeois democratic ideas introduced during the French occupation transformed it into a battleground for debates between feudal conservatism and liberal ideology, a legacy that persists to this day
✧ Origin of the Name: In 1828, the university incorporated the name of its restorer, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III, into its full title: “University of the Rhine-Friedrich-Wilhelm,” commonly known as the University of Bonn. Its motto, “For the sun rises, I came into this world,” embodies its idealistic foundation.
✧ Historic Architecture: The main campus is located in downtown Bonn. The former Palace of the Electors of Cologne serves as the university’s iconic landmark. Together with 371 buildings scattered throughout the city, it forms a campus fabric spanning classical and modern eras.
⁕⁕⁕ Faculties and Programs: Seven faculties and an interdisciplinary matrix ⁕⁕⁕
✧ Faculty Structure: The University of Bonn comprises seven faculties—Theology, Law, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Agriculture—encompassing a comprehensive spectrum from humanities and social sciences to natural sciences.
✧ Flagship Disciplines:
▸ Economics: A German hub for economics, the undergraduate program (B.A.) employs a dual-major model allowing specialization or minor tracks, with stringent local admission restrictions
▸ Chemistry: The English-taught master’s program (M.Sc.) focuses on four cutting-edge areas: materials science, chemical biology, catalysis, and molecular mechanisms, open to international students with no admission restrictions
▸ Mathematics and Physics: Deeply integrated with the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics and the Institute for Radio Astronomy, housing one of the world’s largest radio telescopes
✧ Distinctive Platforms: The Medical School operates applied teaching-research institutions including the National School for Medical Laboratory and Radiography Assistants, School for Patient Care, School for Pediatric Care, and School for Patient Rescue, forming a complete training chain from theory to clinical practice to nursing
✧ Sinology Tradition: The Department of Chinese Language and Literature gained prominence in the Chinese-speaking world due to renowned Sinologist Professor Gu Bin’s incisive critiques of contemporary Chinese literature, establishing itself as one of Germany’s leading centers for Sinology research
⁕⁕⁕ Scholarship and Financial Aid System: Exemplifying Germany’s low-cost, high-benefit model ⁕⁕⁕
✧ Tuition-Free Policy: As a public German university, the University of Bonn fully waives tuition fees for EU and international students (excluding select programs like medicine and dentistry). Students only pay a semester contribution fee of €300–345 per semester, covering administrative services, student union activities, and a semester ticket for public transport across North Rhine-Westphalia.
✧ Four-Year Budget: Total administrative fees for a four-year undergraduate program (8 semesters) range from approximately €2,400–4,000. Including living expenses, the total four-year cost is about RMB 300,000–400,000—just one-third to one-quarter of comparable universities in English-speaking countries. Fast-Track Tips for Obtaining a German University Degree
✧ Scholarship Matrix［citation:8］:
▸ DAAD Scholarship: Flagship program of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), covering full living expenses and insurance.
▸ Excellence Scholarship: University’s highest honor, providing a monthly stipend of 500 euros
▸ Erasmus+: EU-wide exchange program offering additional travel and living allowances
▸ Sino-German Joint Scholarship: Collaborative initiative between the China Scholarship Council and University of Bonn, supporting doctoral candidates and visiting scholars in agri-food economics, law, and related fields
✧ Work-Study Opportunities: Germany permits international students to work legally for 120 full days annually. On-campus assistantships pay €12–15 per hour, while Chinese teaching or translation gigs offer higher earnings
⁕⁕⁕ International Collaboration & Exchange: From Sino-German Agri-Food Economics to Rhine Rule of Law Dialogue ⁕⁕⁕
✧ Sino-German Agricultural and Food Economics Flagship Program: In 2025, the “Sino-German Agricultural and Food Economics & Policy Innovation Talent Development Program” jointly proposed by China Agricultural University and the University of Bonn was officially approved as a National Scholarship Council Innovative Talent International Cooperation Project. From 2026–2028, the program will annually select 2 doctoral students, 5 joint doctoral candidates, 1 postdoctoral researcher, and 1 visiting scholar, implementing a “dual Sino-German mentorship, full-cycle overseas training” model.
✧ Law Exchange Channel: Tongji University School of Law and the University of Bonn Faculty of Law have established an annual exchange student mechanism. For the Spring 2026 semester, two graduate student spots are available, requiring German proficiency at CEFR B1 level. Outstanding students will be selected to study international law in Germany.
✧ Global Partner Network: As a member of the Europaeum University Alliance, the University of Bonn maintains intensive collaborations with top European and global institutions. The Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics share talent and equipment resources with the university.
✧ Academic Diplomacy: In May 2017, President Prof. Michael Hoch visited Beijing Foreign Studies University. He humorously illustrated Bonn University’s century-spanning academic ties with China through three names: Marx, Heine, and Li Xuetao. In 1907, Li Fuji earned a PhD in physics, becoming China’s first physicist. By 2017, Prof. Li Xuetao had become a distinguished faculty member at BFSU.
