Leipzig University, located in Leipzig, Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university in Germany in terms of consecutive years of existence. The university was founded on December 2, 1409, with the four scholastic faculties. The university has been engaged in teaching and research without interruption for over 600 years.
Today, the university has 14 faculties as of November 2021, with institutes and centers associated with each. It is Saxony's second-largest university, with over 29,000 students. There are now over 150 institutes, and the university offers 190 study programs leading to Bachelor's, Master's, Staatsexamen, Diplom (Master's equivalent), and Ph.D. degrees.
The university offers a variety of courses in English and other foreign languages, as well as several programs designed specifically for international students. University exchange partners include Arizona, Oklahoma, Houston, Alberta, Ohio, and Edinburgh. Contacts with universities in Eastern Europe and the Far East have traditionally been strong.
International students abound at Leipzig University. In the winter term of 2017, approximately 11% (3,174) of its 28,797 students were international students. There are several International Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs taught entirely in English. Erasmus Mundus Global Studies is an interdisciplinary, research-based Master offered by a consortium of five European universities: Leipzig University, the London School of Economics, University of Vienna, University of Wroclaw and Roskilde University.
The urban campus of the university is spread across 38 different locations in Leipzig. Aside from the faculties and other teaching institutions, the university is served by several other bodies, including the University Library, a university archive and administration, numerous museums (including the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Museum of Ancient Egypt), and the university hospital. The Leipzig Botanical Garden at the University of Leipzig is Europe's second-oldest botanical garden.