Young, modern, and focused on the future: Founded in 1991, the University of Potsdam occupies a prominent position among the universities and research institutions of Berlin and Brandenburg. With more than 22,000 students, it is the biggest university in the federal state of Brandenburg.

The University of Potsdam offers a broad range of degree programmes in the fields of the arts, economics and social sciences, law, human sciences, natural sciences, and digital engineering. Important research areas are cognitive science, Earth sciences, and functional ecology and evolution as well as plant genomics and systems biology.

Situated in a region with more than 40 research institutions, the university closely cooperates with numerous institutions of international acclaim, such as the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics, and the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. Students greatly benefit from these co-operations, which open up job opportunities for graduates.

Teaching at the University of Potsdam is always strongly influenced by up-to-date research and driven by the latest scientific findings within and outside academia. Study programmes are also continuously checked for quality.

The University of Potsdam is an international community of great diversity. With its numerous English-language Master’s programmes, it welcomes international students from everywhere. To help them feel at home in Potsdam, the university offers German courses and a buddy programme, which matches new students with experienced ones. For advice on how to plan their studies, international BA and MA students can turn to the International Office. PhD students will receive information from the Welcome Centre. International students considering a short-term stay are invited to attend one of the university’s summer courses in German or English.

Individual PhD students and members of structured PhD programmes at the university receive wide-ranging support from the Potsdam Graduate School (PoGS). As an umbrella institution of the different departments, it offers workshops for careers in various fields.

The University of Potsdam believes that equal opportunities are fundamental to education and research. The Equal Opportunity Coordination Office coordinates various offers to promote gender equality, such as programmes for young female researchers. Students with children receive assistance from the Family Service, which will help them organise their studies in a family-friendly way.

During and after the studies, the Career Service helps students prepare for their job applications. It also offers workshops on key skills and establishes contacts to companies. Graduates with business ideas can seek advice from the university's start-up service, which is named Potsdam Transfer.

The University of Potsdam is one of the most beautifully situated universities in Germany. Each of its three campuses benefits from its special location. The central campus is located just opposite the Baroque palace “Neues Palais”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Golm, Potsdam’s largest campus, is idyllically surrounded by pastures and meadows. The Griebnitzsee campus is situated right at the border of Berlin and Potsdam.

Once a city of kings and royal residences, Potsdam is famous for its large number of palaces and parks. But it is also a thoroughly modern city with a strong orientation towards the future. In fact, 10,000 of Potsdam’s 160,000 citizens work in academic institutions. No other German city has a higher ratio of scientists per capita.

Lovers of nature and culture will immediately feel at home in Potsdam. Because of its unique location, you will find green oases where you can unwind within walking distance, and at the same time, you can reach the German capital, Berlin, in just 30 minutes by public transport. In the historic city centre of Potsdam, the Hans Otto Theater, the Nikolaisaal Concert Hall, the House of Brandenburg-Prussian History, and the Film Museum provide opportunities to enjoy classical as well as modern culture.

As a young city, Potsdam offers good conditions for families, providing lots of childcare and family support facilities. In fact, Potsdam has been ranked as the most family-friendly city in Germany. Moreover, it is a very safe living environment.

In a nutshell, Potsdam has the infrastructure of a metropolis while still retaining its charming ambiance.