Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TU BAF) was founded in 1765. It is one of the world's oldest technical higher education institutions, with an outstanding international reputation for its education and research following the principle of perpetual innovation.
TU BAF is known for its famous graduates, such as polymath Alexander von Humboldt, who studied in Freiberg, as well as for the discovery of two chemical elements: Germanium (C. Winkler, 1885) and Indium (F. Reich & Th. Richter, 1863).
TU BAF is the "University of Resources". With its four core themes – geosciences, materials, energy, and environment – TU BAF has a distinct profile addressing the specific issues of our modern industrial society. Teaching and research reflect a practical orientation in responding to the actual demands of industry. Thanks to its financial backing, including private sources, TU BAF is one of the 10 best research-focused universities in Germany. This guarantees a high level of education in the fields of science, engineering, and economics.
TU BAF receives top positions in nationwide rankings due to its outstanding conditions for studying and its intensive mentoring programmes.
The university's underground teaching and research mine is open to visitors and serves as a natural laboratory. The mine allows for "hands-on" exploration of the subterranean world of Freiberg, with its extensive mining history dating back to the 14th century.
About 40% of the university's 4,000 students are international students. Being a small university the campus offers numerous advantages. Short distances on campus and face-to-face contact between students and professors are major benefits.
The university is structured into six faculties and has several research centres, such as the Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre (IÖZ), the Scientific Diving Centre (SDC), and the Mine Water Research Centre. The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, which was founded by TU BAF and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), researches new and innovative ways to explore high-tech metals like gallium, indium, germanium, and rare earths.
University and student initiatives offer a large variety of cultural events and leisure activities, plus more than 50 different types of sports activities at the university sports centre.