University of Cologne, Public university in Cologne, Germany.
The University of Cologne is a public higher education institution in the city center that enrolls around 48,000 students across six faculties offering 200 degree programs. Teaching facilities spread through several buildings, including the main structure and various institutes throughout the inner city.
Founded in 1388 as the fourth institution of its kind in the Holy Roman Empire, it closed in 1798 under French occupation. Reopening came only in 1919 after more than a century had passed.
The name derives from Latin Colonia, referring to the Roman settlement on the Rhine. Campus buildings today mix postwar architecture with modern structures where thousands of students gather between lectures and seminars.
A semester fee of about 300 euros covers public transport throughout North Rhine-Westphalia while also including administrative costs. Most facilities sit close together in the center, so walking distances stay short between buildings.
The Great Seal from 1388 remains in the institution's possession today, documenting its long tradition. This artifact survived all closures and political upheavals over the past centuries.
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