Founded in 1388, the University of Cologne is one of the oldest and largest universities in Germany. As a member of the “German U15,” Germany’s association of leading research-oriented universities, it is also among the country’s top-level research institutions. In 2012, the University of Cologne was awarded extensive funding within the framework of the Excellence Initiative, a nationwide competition tendered by the German federal and state governments to promote cutting-edge research and enhance quality in education. The University of Cologne covers a broad spectrum of disciplines. It encompasses six large Faculties: ‘Management, Economics and Social Sciences’, ‘Law’, ‘Medicine’, ‘Arts and Humanities’, ‘Mathematics and Natural Sciences’, as well as ‘Human Sciences’. Currently, approximately 48,500 students are enrolled, taking advantage of a wide variety of courses including joint degree programmes with renowned international partner universities such as Paris-Sorbonne University, University College London, Maastricht University or the Warsaw School of Economics. Academic excellence, internationality, a strong focus on research and a wide range of study programmes create a vibrant and inspiring environment, making the University of Cologne an appealing modern university in the centre of Europe.